Diabetes in cats

Hi,
I took my 10 year old kitty, Maggie to the Vet on Monday as she had started drinking water more than usual and filling the box urinating.  This just started within the last couple weeks or so.  I had a gut feeling it was either diabetes or kidney disease.  I got the bad news yesterday she has diabetes.  She has lost no weight, and the only symptoms she was showing was the water and urinating.  Is it somewhat easy to help them maintain?  I hate to see her go thru this, but I'm going to learn all I can on this disease and how to care for her.  I pick up the insulin and food for her today.  Does anyone here have a diabetic cat?  Wish me luck.

[Thomas Dock, CVJ, Vet. Technician]

Its a good thing you are so observant and caught this early!  Many pet owners never realize how dangerous diabetes can be.

Your veterinarian will help you with a game plan for regulating her diabetes.  Some cats need insulin, others can do just as well on special diets.   Many veterinarians are now recommending trying to keep the cat on a grain free canned diet, but not all cats are accepting of that type of food.

Beyond the information you might get here, I would recommend asking questions in our Ask the Vet expert forums here on MedHelp.  Another good resource is caninediabetes.org.  And yes, I know I typed canine instead of feline...but the site has resources for both species.

Good luck to you!

[Maddie6]

Thank you so much Thomas.  It was a shock at first even though I had it in the back of my mind that it might be diabetes.  She's a little overweight, too!  Yes, I hope we caught it early.  I just had her to the Vet this past May, and her labs were okay.  It was very strange, as her behavior was very good; it was just the excessive amounts of water and urinating that made me think something is wrong with her.

I am on my way shortly back to the Vet for a lesson on how to give my kitty insulin.  She is to have a shot every 12 hours, and then after a week I'll take her back for another visit, and they will take some blood and check her.  Yes, my Vet is recommending she go on strictly diabetic canned food, and I picked up a case of Purina Veterinary Diets DM Diabetic Management.  I gave her a little mixed in with some of her old canned, and surprise, she liked it!  Thanks for the link and definitely I will keep in mind the "Ask the Vet expert column."

Thank you.

[Jade59]

Oh Maddie, I'm so sorry to hear of this diagnosis, but you sound like the rest of us in which you will do anything and everything it takes to help Maggie continue to have the very best life she can.    

You will get used to giving the shot...soon it will be just an everyday thing that needs to be done and as far as Maggie is concerned, just part of her routine.  

Best of luck and please give an update after Maggie has her recheck :)  

[Maddie6]

Thanks so much Jade.  I feel so sorry for her, too, that she has to go thru this disease.  I feel like I should have been more diligent with her losing some weight.   The shot doesn't seem too difficult, and the needle is so small and just a small amount of insulin.  I will keep you posted on her recheck.

[opus88]

oh I am so sorry to hear of Maggies diagnosis, but the good part is that you did catch it so fast before she got terribly ill.
that will take real committment on your part to be there every 12 hrs...
when my Opus was on BP meds it was the same for 3 years I went no where, when my husband was ill and in hospital in the city 3 hrs away I would drive home for the night so Opus could have his meds a.m. and pm......man the things we don't do for those little guys eh!!
you will get onto it and will do fine and Maggie will do good also now that she's had a diagnosis.
take care.

[Maddie6]

Hi Opus,
Thanks for your support.  Yes, once I get the hang of things, I know it will be okay.  You are so right; the things we do for our babies.  Wow, you sure did make that commitment for Opus every 12 hours, and I'll need to do same here.  I'm already thinking ahead as to what I'll do if I need to make a trip back east.  My Vet said the clinic boards some diabetic cats, so that may be the answer even though I've never boarded a cat before.  This way she will get checked and be in good hands and get her insulin on time.  I'm not planning on a trip, but just in case of family emergency!  I haven't given her the insulin yet and after talking to one of the Vet Techs, I decided to wait til the morning.  She has to have food in her stomach, and she just seems to be licking the juice from this new diabetic food, even though I mixed in some of her old food.  In the morning she'll eat more, so I'll give her the shot after her breakfast.  Thanks again.  I'll keep you posted.

[Maddie6]

Hi,
Just an update on Maggie's progress.  After asking for some advice on Ask an Expert about getting her used tp the new dietetic food, I was able to get her to eat a good meal yesterday.  I did need to mix mostly her old food in with a small amount of the  new just to gradually get her used to this new food.  I was in touch with the Vet, and he said it was important to get her started on the insulin.  I may need to try a different brand DM food.  I gave her the two units insulin shot, with the help of a friend holding her this first time.  I observed her the rest of the evening and checked on her throughout the night, and she seems fine, whew!  Thanks for all your support.

[PrettyKitty1]

Maddie,

Aw Honey I am so sorry to hear this. You are so observant! Thanks to you little Maggie's diabetes can be treated and managed very well. Just please keep us updated on her progress. We are all praying for her. I hope you'll buy that camera soon and post some pictures of out little princess, our little Maggie :)

Hugs! And remember we are all with you!

[Maddie6]

Thanks PK for your support.  Maggie is such a sweetie; she is starting to get used to the shot.  It's a very small needle.  She does not like the new dietetic management food (canned), so right now I'm mixing in more of her old food in with the new and gradually increasing the new one.  Yes, I need to do some camera shopping.  Take care.

[Tiaria]

My little girl Billy has dietetic for 6yrs, she jumps on the bed when I need to give her her insulin she stands there and waits I also do her blood so I know if it's low or not, once again she waits until its done, she's still doing well, first week I had ups and downs but after that no probs keep a eye on her teeth as if she has a bad tooth it can effect the insulin so her blood can be high or when she has her flea suff it can be high for a day or two, they can often get cystitis you have to go to the vets for meds to help, and always look at the eyes and then by looking at her you will know if she has a prob,you begen to recognise how she is,