 |
 | Home | Contact Us | FAQ | Search & Site Map | Link to Us |
 | Sign In | Join | Other 45 Sites in Network |
| HomeDiscussion GroupsGeneral TopicsCat AnecdotesHealth and BehaviorRescue CatKB.com Contact UsLink To UsSearch & Site Map |
Cat Forum / General Topics / September 2004cats and diabetes
I'm hoping someone with a diabetic cat can help me out. My 14 year old male cat recently lost weight and began drinking extreme amounts of water. The vet's blood test showed high glucose, and the diagnosis was diabetes. Ten days ago I started him on insulin shots, but he hasn't really stabilized. His thirst is less extreme but still more than normal, and he may have gained a little weight. However, his energy level is way down, and this morning he seemed a little shaky. Before the insulin shots, his behavior was pretty close to normal, but now he's behaving like a sick cat. I'm puzzled by this. If the insulin dose is too high, why would he still be so thirsty? And if the insulin dose is too low, why would his energy have dropped? Should I give him something sweet (honey) because he's a little shaky? (He's not having convulsions and isn't extremely shaky). I'm planning on taking him back to the vet in a few days, but I wonder if there's anything I can do in the meantime. Gray Come on over to http://www.felinediabetes.com/. There are many experienced FD people there. Someone is usually available on the message board 24hr/day. In short too much insulin can cause rebound which raises BG. You can hoe test BG via using human sipping meter and getting blood from the edges of the ear.  SignatureLarry - Owned by eight cats, 3 have FD > I'm hoping someone with a diabetic cat can help me out. > [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > > Gray >Come on over to http://www.felinediabetes.com/. There are many experienced >FD people there. Someone is usually available on the message board >24hr/day. In short too much insulin can cause rebound which raises BG. You >can hoe test BG via using human sipping meter and getting blood from the >edges of the ear. Wow, thanks Larry--that's an excellent website. From what I've read there so far, it sounds like my cat had a (mild) hypoglycemic episode. Today he drank only a little water, and he's lethargic and earlier seemed a little dizzy, all of which adds up to too much insulin. Since the dosage was never that high, I'm hoping this means he's going into a "honeymoon" period. He's eaten some food and perked up slightly over the last few hours. I'm planning to skip tonight's and tomorrow's shots and take him into the vet Monday, but I'll keep reading that site to see if that's the best thing to do. Gray Hello Gray, Yes, please go to the message board on that website. They helped me many times with our diabetic cat, Bob. Insulin should always be started in low doses and then increased if necessary, after several weeks of monitoring. Bob was started a 1 unit, once per day. He eventually had to have 2 shots per day. I have heard of vets starting out cats at 4, 5 or more units per day, with disastrous results to the cat. Rebounding is something that happens when the dose is too high. Bob once had a hypo attack and it was a rebound -- the body didn't know what to do with that much insulin and sent him into a fretful. There are many experienced people on that message board, and they are always willing to help. Good luck, Rhonda >>Come on over to http://www.felinediabetes.com/. There are many experienced >>FD people there. Someone is usually available on the message board [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > > Gray Yike, I got stuck in spellcheck-hell, and couldn't get out! The last word was changed and could not be changed back without sending. It is supposed to be "free-fall." Hope all goes well with your kitty, Rhonda > the body didn't know what to > do with that much insulin and sent him into a fretful. Thanks, Rhonda. The message board on that website is incredibly helpful--they seem to know more than most vets on the topic. And they answered my questions almost immediately! Mike's having a good day today. I skipped last night's and this morning's shots, and I plan to start him again on one or one and a half units, twice a day, and see how that goes for a couple weeks. I'm also off to Wal-Mart for a blood tester. The vet didn't mention that, but everyone else is convinced it's necessary. Gray Good luck with your cat, Gray. I'm glad he's feeling better and that you found the message board to help. Take care, Rhonda > Thanks, Rhonda. The message board on that website is incredibly helpful--they > seem to know more than most vets on the topic. And they answered my questions [quoted text clipped - 8 lines] > > Gray > >Come on over to http://www.felinediabetes.com/. There are many experienced > >FD people there. Someone is usually available on the message board [quoted text clipped - 14 lines] > > Gray Are you using a glucometer to monitor his blood glucose level? This sounds like you may be "guessing" at the level, and that can lead to disaster. MaryL >Are you using a glucometer to monitor his blood glucose level? This sounds >like you may be "guessing" at the level, and that can lead to disaster. That's it, Mary. I'm buying one today. The vet said not eating was the best signal, but apparently not! Gray > I'm hoping someone with a diabetic cat can help me out. > [quoted text clipped - 18 lines] > > Gray Take a look at this web site. It is a new site and is still under construction, but it has a number of excellent diabetes links (including information on selecting a glucose meter and a BG testing video). It is *very* important to give your cat the correct insulin dosage and not to simply use guesswork. MaryL (take out the litter to reply) Photos of Duffy and Holly: >'o'< http://tinyurl.com/8y54 (Introducing Duffy to Holly) http://tinyurl.com/8y56 (Duffy and Holly "settle in") > > I'm hoping someone with a diabetic cat can help me out. > > [quoted text clipped - 4 lines] > really > > stabilized. <snip> > > Should I give him something sweet (honey) because he's a little shaky? > (He's [quoted text clipped - 13 lines] > > MaryL Well, it's early in the morning, and my mind obviously isn't functioning well. This is my third message to say what one message should have covered! However, I described a new web site in my last message but forgot to include the link. The URL is www.thecatlady.org. This site contains links to some excellent advice on feline diabetes. MaryL |
Reply to this Message |
 Sign In
 Join
 My Latest Posts My Monitored Threads My Blog My Photo Gallery My Profile My Homepage Start New Thread Enable EMail Alerts Rate this Thread
|
©2008 Advenet LLC Privacy Policy - Terms of Use
This website includes both content owned or controlled by Advenet as well as content owned or controlled by third parties.