cat diabetes / need help

**tracks** · 03-31-2003, 05:07 AM

Our cat Torrie is having problems. She seems to be doing fairly good for a few days and then will throw-up and stop eating and drinking. The vet gave us some maintenance liquid to give her during these times (force feed using a oral syringe). We have also started running her special food through a blender in order to force feed that also.

While she is in the above condition we have tried not giving her insulin and after a few days she will eat again only to stop again. Insulin is given after only after she starts eating on her own.

We've also tried giving her insulin, while in the non eating mode, along with the forced feeding. She starts eating again only to stop again.

She seems to have normal bowel functions but she is losing wieght (30% of what was her high of 19 pds.)

We are finding it very hard to judge the amount of insulin to give her, so, if any of you have a way to do this at home please let us know (vet is out, we live in the mountains 100 miles from the nearest one).

She also has a problem with her jaw, vet says that is common with diabetes. Very well could be but I've found that often the nonpros have answers also.

Torrie has been a good ole gal for 12 years and we want to give her all the chances that her dumb ole humans can learn to give her.

Thank in advance,

**sasvermont** · 03-31-2003, 05:21 AM

From what I understand, diabetes in cats is not always easy to deal with and may take test after test to determine the amount of medication it will need each day.

I would either go back to the Vet or find a different Vet.

I did not elect to treat my 18 year old cat with diabetes, years ago, and had him put out of his misery. He was too old and too cranky to go through all of the testing and treatment.

From what I have learned, diabetes is often created when the cat is over weight. That is not always true, but in my cat's case, it was true...so I now make every attempt to keep my cats on the slim side. Of course, diabetes is not the only threat to their lives. I have proof of that, having lost two cats for other reason(s) just last month.

Good luck and keep us posted. I am sure other folks will have some good advice for you!

Sas

**jenluckenbach** · 03-31-2003, 06:35 AM

I know what it is to have a diabetic cat. And yes, it takes a blood workup, done by your vet, to adjust the amount of insulin. It is not something that you can judge yourself. And it often takes more than one of these day long tests to get to the correct dosage.
You do know that you cannot give the insulin if the cat does not have food in its system, or the cat will go into diabetic shock. My vet said that it was better for the cat to NOT have its insulin than to have it have too much.
One of the signs of diabetes is losing weight. If the cat is eating and still losing weight it is because the body cannot process the food without the insulin. But in your case, it could be that the cat is throwing up the food.
I hate to sound like a terrible person, but sometimes when the cat gives up eating it is their way of saying "life is too hard, I need it to end". This is what happened that made me decide to let Y.Lee to go peacefully.
So it looks like you have a hard choice. Make the effort to get the cat to the vet for the crucial testing or put the cat down as an effort to comfort her suffering.
Please forgive me for sounding harsh. I mean only the best for you both.

**tracks** · 03-31-2003, 08:58 AM

We have had Torrie to the vet and had all the work ups and recieved the amount of insulin she should have.

What appears to happen is the need for the amount of insulin varies. So, we need to know how to check the blood sugar level so adjustments can be made.

I was just reading that she should eat the right amount of calories that she requires in a certain manner and at certain times in accordence with her daily insulin intake. What a mouth full that was, but, how is one to know what the amount of calories should be?

Our son is diabetic and tests himself daily. Using this equipment is there a way to test the cat? If so, how?

Thanks, Tracks

**catmandu** · 03-31-2003, 09:30 AM

I tried with Mr.Scrappy , but his age 16 , e=was against him , and he wouldnt eat the Medical food provided by the vet. He was in pain , so I had to let him go ,plus I was on layoff at the time . Best of luck , please keep in touch.

**Denyce** · 03-31-2003, 08:14 PM

Hi,
This is my first day and first time posting on this site. I registered just so I could respond to your post. We had a diabetic cat for 8 years. Dusty developed diabetes at 8 years old when we lost his littermate due to Hepatic Lipidosis and Pancreatitis. Dusty mourned so deeply he became diabetic. He was not overly overweight and in the prime of his life.

Yes you can use human testing equiptment to monitor blood sugar levels in cats. You have to have a manageble cat that doesn't mind having his paws played with. We would clip a small amount of hair away from a pad and then place the paw in a bowl of warm water to draw the blood into the pads. But Dusty was really good about all the fussing. He even used to remind us to give him his shot. He received 2 shots a day and the amount of insulin changed frequently depending on exercise level, appetite and many other unknown reasons. You just have to watch the signs along with the testing. Watch for urine output, water intake, appetite and the dreaded low blood sugar. For that keep Karo sryup handy and place lots on the gums.

It is not a simple disease but it is managable with lots of love and patience. However, it does also depend on the cat.

Good luck!

Denyce

**tracks** · 04-08-2003, 10:05 AM

Glad to see the many helpful people out there, esp the one who replied even though she had to join up first.
We are in the wait and see stage as of right now. The other night after Torrie had eaten well we gave her one unit of insulin and a couple of hours later low blood sugar. We brought her out of that by rubbing cake iceing on her gums (our diabetic son says that is a good way to do it wither anmial of himan and the small tubes are easy to carry around).
The vet says that she may have dropped below the stage of having to have shots and only eat the diabetic food now.
She seems to be doing pretty good right now so "wait and see".
Thanks again for all the advice.
tracks

**tracks** · 04-08-2003, 10:21 AM

Just think I used to have a brain ( most have missed placed it ).
Sorry about the spelling but the thoughts are kind.

tracks

**Denyce** · 04-08-2003, 02:11 PM

I was talking to my vet just the other day about diabetic cats. She said that all but one of the cats in the clinic that are diabetic they can now control with diet and oral medications. It came up because Deirdre had a blood sugar of 279 but that was because of stress. The next evening at home it was only 58.

Denyce

**DaisyMcCat** · 04-10-2003, 10:20 AM

Tracks, I urge you to post your questions to the folks at www.felinediabetes.com. They are extremely knowlegable and helpful, and the site includes a video showing how to do homestesting (using the same blood monitor/strips your son uses) with your cat.

Good luck.

**tracks** · 04-10-2003, 03:02 PM

large red

Real good info at www.felinedaibetes.com

small dark blue Thanks for the tip of course Torrie will benefit too.
Right now she seems to have dropped below the level of having to take insulin shots,hasn't had one in several days. She is just eating the diabetic food and doing pretty good, not drinking to much, eating in her normal snacking manner and the coat is showing signs of belonging to a cat again. She still has particial paralysis of the jaw that the vet says sometimes happens.

tracks

**tracks** · 04-10-2003, 03:12 PM

I just posted a update and guess I don't understand all I know about changing colors etc.
I did notice a "rate this tread" and based solely on the reponses then this tread is great .

tracks

**tatsxxx11** · 04-11-2003, 09:01 AM

My Mr. B was diagnosed in January 2003 and is not only doing great, but apparently is one of those rare kitties (about 3% of the feline diabetic population) that actually becomes "non-diabetic" on their own! He was very ill with a blood sugar of almost 700 when he was initially diagnosed; contanst peeing of large volumes and excessive thirst and wt. loss were the signs. Now after a 2 month course of insulin therapy (progessively lower doses) and a diet of Rx feline diabetic food, (Purina DM wet and dry; the wet seems to "work" better than the dry) he is now completely insulin free; treated by diet alone! As a nurse, it was perhaps a little easier for me to observe him and judge his need for insulin, but as Jen has said, it is FAR BETTER to forego the insulin if there is any question and let your kitty's sugar rise, rather than give him his insulin and drop into the danger zone. HYPOglycemia is an actue emergency but not so with a gradual rise in sugar. At first I would take him every few days to the vet's for a blood sugar check, but then opted to do testing at home with a standard blood sugar testing kit. Your vet would be happy to teach you how to use it and it really isn't difficult and doesn't hurt them. I shudder to think that my beloved Mr. B would have been deemed "untreatable" after that first visit and diagnosis. I'm going to post a link to fantastic Feline Diabetes forum, info. board filled with a ton of useless info., advice and support, including a members forum/message board. Oh, just saw you posted the same link! Couldn't click on it though; try this. (I'll be saying special prayers for your baby!!)

www.felinediabetes.com/index.html