my cat has been diagnoised with diabites. the vet said she ...

Hi,

Many vets choose to hospitalize the cat to stabilize them on insulin.

My cat too, is diabetic; he was diagnosed 6 yrs. ago. My vet told me the same thing, and besides the cost, I felt it would be too stressful for my cat to be away from home, plus this particular animal hospital does NOT have 24 hr. monitoring. I loved my vet at the time, but didn't want this for my cat, so I started calling around to all the animal hospitals in my local area. I finally spoke to a senior vet at one of the hospitals who agreed with me that hospitalization is too stressful and unnecessary for stabilization--needless to say, he's been my vet for the past 6 yrs.!    : )

My cat was seen intially, blood test results were transferred from the first vet, and he was started on a low dose of insulin--2 units/twice daily. He was also put on a food best for diabetic cats (at the time, Hills Science Diet w/d; now, he's on Hills m/d--it's a new food which came out a few years ago).

I brought him back in one week for a blood test to monitor blood glucose levels and based upon that reading, the insulin was increased. I kept doing this for about a month. The vet told me it could take several months to stabilize him on the correct dosage of insulin. I didn't have to bring him every week, after the month's time, though. I then brought him every few weeks, then every month. His dosage kept being changed until the blood tests showed he was on the correct amount.     
It took about 5 months to stabilize him totally--but that's just MY cat's situation. He now has blood tests every 6 mos. to see if changes are necessary.

I monitor him carefully and if I see any symptoms which could indicate anything is wrong, he sees the vet immediately, of course!

It's very important that your cat be started on insulin as soon as possible, once this diagnosis is made, so don't take too long.

If you can find a vet who's willing to work with you on this AND, if your cat's diagnosis warrants this type of stabilization, check it out. It will cost less and cause less stress to your cat. Stress can raise the blood sugar levels, you know.

Please let me know if you have any further questions re: feline diabetes and I'll try my best to assist you further. Keep me posted on how your cat is doing, and I hope things go smoothly with the stabilization process!    

Cher

Edited by Cerecita on August 30 2006 at 3:05pm

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i forgot to mention she had a unire infection.
would this cause blood levels to be off and
maybe test for diabiates?

Edited by Customer (name blocked for privacy) on September 2 2006 at 1:27pm

Hi,

Whenever a cat's body has an infection, stress is caused to the body, and stress can cause blood glucose levels to rise. However, if your cat was diagnosed with a urinary infection at the same time your vet made the diagnosis of diabetes, wouldn't he have mentioned this to you? Also, was she already on any medication when the test for diabetes was done? It's possible that the medication could have caused a false positive reading for the blood glucose test. But, there are not just 'positive and negative' readings for this test. There is a normal 'range' and if a cat's blood glucose levels are way above the normal range, that's the main reason diabetes will be diagnosed.

What were your cat's first symptoms that brought you to the vet to have her tested for diabetes? Was she brought to the vet because of the urinary infection, a blood or urine test was done, and you were told her sugar level was very high? Was the diabetes diagnosis then based upon that?

Besides the urinary infection, what symptoms did she display before you brought her to the vet?

Cher

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she was urinating and drinking alot and seemed to have lost weight. the vet did a blood test and i was told
she had urinary tract infection and diabiates. it is 1 week since she has been on medication and has gained weight.

Edited by Customer (name blocked for privacy) on September 2 2006 at 7:43pm

Hi,

What's the name of the medication she's been on for a week? Was the medication for the urinary infection or diabetes? Is the medication finished now?

Do you know if they did any thyroid tests? She's gained weight since the medication and is she eating well, drinking normally and urinating normally now?
Or is she still drinking an greater amount than usual and urinating more than usual? How is her appetite? Is she lethargic?

Cher

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