There is a wondeful site for pets with diabetes...  If you go thru it you
will also find some pretty good message boards... they were VERY helpful a
few months ago when my parents' dog was diagnosed with diabetes...

http://www.petdiabetes.org/

Paul,
Please find out what the name of the insulin is and post it here. I pay
$53 for a 100 unit bottle of Lantus(glargine) each month. The worst part
is that I only give Sandy 1 unit per day and then at the end of the
month have to throw out the remaining 70 units. Lantus is working better
for her then the Humlin so if that is what I have to do, so be it. But
if there is something less expensive that works just as well I would
like to tell my vet about it.

A word of warning to you, if your cat also has high blood pressure the
combination of the 2 can cause blindness. Unfortunately that is what
happened to Sandy about 2 months post diagnose of her diabetes. She has
been taking Norvasc for 2 years for hi BP but the 2 conditions combined
caused her retinas to detach. I will admit that she adjusted much faster
than I did.

Michele,
(N.C.)

I know of no insulin that usually works with one shot a day.  Almost all
kitties need two shot daily.  There are two insulins for kitties in USA.
One is beef PZI and  there is 10% pork/90% beef. Only one vendor for the
pork/beef and a few for the all beef. The $60 insulin sounds like Lantus
based on price but many kitties still need two shots daily.  It can last 1
year if dose is small.  For the Lantus there are 1000 units in a vial.  So
it could last a year if dose is 3 units per day.   Myself, I use insulin
until bottle is empty or it stops working.  So far I have used up vials of
Humilin U and beef PZI.

Also go to the feline diabetes message board at
http://www.felinediabetes.com/ for information/help.  Good luck.

<<< a new machine, PetTrac DC1000 coming out soon (www.pettrac.us). It
is completely non-invasive, results in 15 seconds, no pain, & unlimited
daily testing. It uses "near-infrared" technology rather than test
strips and needles. It should cost around $350. I called the company in
August and told them to put me on their waiting list but have not heard
back from them yet. One of my vets found out about them at a conference
she attended. If it does all that it claims it will be a definite
advancement.>>>

<<<<If it did all you mention above, I would have expected to hear about
it on the diabetes newsgroups. Human diabetics don't have anything like
that -- that works. I greatly doubt they're developing these for cats
before they do for people.
Priscilla>>>>  

Priscilla,
I hope that the information my vet received is accurate. She gave me a
copy of the brochure she got from the conference she attended. Instead
of needles and test strips you attach an ear clip. When I called in
August they said the meters were not quite ready for public distribution
yet but would be within a few months.

Although I give subQ's and insulin shots
to my cats I have watched the vet techs test Sandy and I would be very
hesitant to test her myself. That's why I'm hoping this is what it says
it is going to be.

I was surprised that I got no response when I mentioned it on the
diabetes newsgroup that I joined when she was diagnosed. I admit that it
does sound too good to be true.

I can assure you that when it does come out (if it does) I will only
purchase it if it has a guarantee and I will have my vet check it out
too. For Sandy's sake I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it is the real
thing.

Michele
(N.C.)