Cat Diabetes

Tillytrotter1

My 14 year old cat has just been diagnosed with diabetes. I have an appointment with the vet tomorrow where I am to learn how to give the insulin injections. I have just paid £70 for the blood tests and am extremely worried about how much the insulin will cost me as money is very tight at the moment.

Can anyone give me an average cost?

paddypaws101

Most vets use caninsulin these days which is not very expensive at all. Do ask for the vial rather than the far more expensive pens though.
You can also buy the insulin online which may be cheaper, although the vet may charge for the prescription. Syringes are cheaper online too.
http://www.animeddirect.co.uk/search/all/caninsulin/relevance
The best way to cut costs is to learn how to home test the blood glucose which means you will not have to pay for expensive 'curves' or fructosamine tests at the vets.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zE12-4fVn8

the best advice I can give you is to join a group such as https://www.diabeticcatcare.com where you will learn how to care for the cat your self at home rather than relying on expensive vet visits. Many cats can go into remission if proper treatment is given properly, and sadly vets in uk are a bit behind in how to go about this.

Tillytrotter1

Thanks so much paddypaws, very helpful post

TiddlyPom

I had a cat with diabetes who was treated with injections twice a day for just over 12 months before he went into total remission.
He had to go back to the vets every 3 months for a full blood work up and adjustment of insulin doses.

Dealing with the injections was actually easier than I thought it was. You will need two of you get him onto a higher surface, say a dining room table, one to hold him and one to administer the injection. I was taught to inject into the thigh alternating sides, but if you make sure they teach you to inject into the scruff, it should be almost painless for the cat.

It is many years in the past now and may test my memory, but if I can be of any help,please do feel free to contact me.

Tillytrotter1

Thank you TiddlyPom

eco

my cat had diabetes for 4 and 1/2 years, he was injected twice a day.

choose your vet with care, the first vet I saw, didn't take his weight every time they did his blood, blamed me for his blood levels been erratic and after saying they wanted to keep him in for a 2nd curve, I decided to move to a different vet.

The new vet was excellent and we saw the same vet every time, she weighed him and he thrived, I only moved from that vet has they couldn't get my food order's right, and the final straw came when they gave me the wrong insulin.

The third vet had my cats care for 2 1/2 years, and again I saw the same vet every time, they did a blood test that showed his levels for 3 months, which is more accurate than the day they have it done and there stressed from travelling. I wanted to see the same vet to keep my cat happy and would know what he was like, the first vets we saw different vets and it wasn't any good.

if your not happy with your choice of vets and you think something isn't right, move to a new one.

Dillence

My 16 year old cat has just been diagnosed with diabetes too. It's early days and I decided to use the pen as I'm not very good with needles

. He has also been switched to special food abd I have another appointment today to check bloods.

I hope you are getting on ok.

Gold_Dust_2

I hope that both of your cats are well, Tilly & Dillence, and that you're both coping with the extra care. I had a diabetic cat and joined the forum as suggested above, and it really helped me to manage everything better (the process, the finances, the emotional aspect) and eventually my cat came off of the insulin, and lived without it for months.

sulphate

Our cat had diabetes for 3 years before she passed in 2008 so my memory is a little fuzzy, but this is what I can remember.

As already said, you can get the hang of the blood glucose kits yourself they will help you cut costs. Unfortunately we never did.

As with all chronic conditions they come at a cost but once your cat's levels are stable you will "only" have to pay out regularly for food and insulin, and obviously check ups when required.

Injections were very easy, and we were able to inject her into the scruff whilst she was eating.

Something to watch out for is that stress can affect the blood glucose levels - we had to watch her very closely around Bonfire night etc.

the_devil_made_me_do_it

MY old girl was diagnosed with diabetes. I joined this forum:


http://www.felinediabetes.com/


Although it is based in the US, it is very informative and there are so many kitty owners whose cats have become diabetic.


Cats pancreas can renew it's self and the cat can go into remission and survive without out constant insulin injections.


As with people you need to check their blood glucose levels and adjust the dose accordingly. Testing the glucose level is very easy. You buy a blood sugar monitor (same as what a diabetic human would use), you buy the the lancets and strips and basically it's as simple as pricking the ear and placing the blood onto the strip. Obviously the meter then asses how high or low the blood sugar level is.


I have made it sound very simple, however it certainly worked in the case of my kitty. I would advocate this totally. As I have said, unlike humans and dogs, cats can go into remission and monitored correctly can reduce the need for insulin to the point where you no longer need to administer it.


Please take a look at this forum. it is very informative and talks about issues which vets don't want to discuss with owners. You don't need a vet to charge you to take bloods from your cat. Doing the correct research and joining a forum where others have diabetic cats will be a massive help.


I also never put my cat on a special diet, I just made sure she ate no dried kibble and she was fine.


I would also advise you to ask the vet what insulin they offer. Caninsulin isn't really suitable for felines. It's an insulin developed for use in dogs.


I'm really happy with the fact that I managed, without any help from the vet, to get my cat in remission. If it was left to the vet, my kitty would be constantly on insulin and I'd have been paying huge amounts for them to check her blood sugar levels. She remained in remission for about 5 years before she passed away at 19. The one thing I noticed was stress had a tendency to cause a spike in her blood glucose level.


I really hope your kitty goes into remission.

Meowhouse

TillyTrotter and Dillence - I have a cat that was diagnosed with diabetes about 3 years ago now - at first it was a bit scary as his blood sugar was so high it was off the reader at the vets! Thankfully now he is in remission again and it is just a case of maintaining his diet and checking his blood glucose levels regularly.
(Jack is now 15)
I always try to see the same vet as he knows both me and more importantly my cat very well now - so if your not happy then please change.

Initially we spent quite some time getting his blood glucose levels under control and then his body took over and he went into remission - this is amazing.

I went to boots and bought myself a human blood glucose monitoring machine and test strips etc so that I could home test ( as advised by my vet) at first I was testing x2 daily, prior to each meal, however now it's just a couple of times per week.
Cats need to have their insulin x2 daily as they metabolise it quicker than humans the vet told me. I had a lesson from him on how to inject into the scruff of the neck and how to get the blood sample for checking the levels too.
The biggest problem was encouraging my husband to do it he was really scared of hurting the cat.

For me the easiest way of checking the blood sugar is to !!!!! the outer side of the back of the ear as there is a little vein running up near the outer edge (not easy to see at first as my cat has black ears) or you can do it inside the ear and then put the strip against it and the machine will do the rest.
I agree to lifting the cat up to a higher level table (in my case the island in the kitchen) as that does make it easier, but as you become more confident I am sure you will find you can complete the injections whilst they are on the floor. I have got now that I can do everything alone without help as my lovely cat just knows what's coming and will just sit so that he can get it over with more quickly

My cat currently eats hills prescription diet both biscuits and the canned meat version (feline MD) this is a low carbohydrate food to help keep things stable. However he does also have tuna or as a real treat some tinned salmon (these are obviously carb free)

I cannot stress enough that you need to communicate all of your concerns to your vet and get them to help you in looking after your cat. Mine even gave me his work mobile and said I could call /text him anytime if I was worried or wanted some advice - this in itself gave me great piece of mind, and actually to date I've never needed to call him,
Trust me if your cat is unwell you will know as you know him/her the best and if you can check their blood yourself it will give you great piece of mind, usually if they are unwell this does increase the readings so you can then contact the vet for advice.

It can be scary in the beginning, but believe me it is all very easy just give yourself time and don't panic.

Hope this helps x