Diabetic Cat Stopped Eating

[mdobbe2]

Our cat has been given insulin for about 6 months.  She is on 3 units every 12 hours.  In the last two days we have noticed she stopped eating.  She is not refusing water and her breathing is labored.  We cannot get to the Vet until tomorrow, do we give her insulin at this point or stop since no food is entering her body?

[Cliff Redford, DVM]

Sorry to take so long getting back to you. Definitely do not give her insulin if she is not eating. The worry is that if her blood glucose levels are not as high as usual and you give her insulin without her having food in her to counter the insulins effect, she could succumb to hypoglycemia (low blood glucose level). forcing a little bit of canned food can help with her blood sugar levels (smearing a little on her paws where she will lick it off or onto the roof of her mouth) as can giving a little corn syrup orally.
A visit to the vet is urgently needed however. There is a small chance she is reverting ack to being non-diabetic, which would be great. Lets hope.

[mdobbe2]

She is NOW refusing water...sorry I typed the wrong word.