Who has a diabetic cat?

[spinbaby]

We're taking our 15-year-old cat to the vet this afternoon. He's got symptoms of diabetes--sleeping a lot, drinking lots of water, peeing a lot. I had a friend with a diabetic cat which died just a few months after diagnosis in spite of a lot of fussing and insulin shots. I'm not looking forward to this.

[phantom power]

1. we had a diabetic dog

In our case, the insulin appeared to be successful. Molly didn't mind getting the shots at all, but maybe cats aren't as easygoing. I was surprised at how "cheap" insulin was. Something like $25 per vial. With a cat, a 100ml vial should last for a while.

Molly was already old when she got diabetes. It's hard for me to say how long she would have lasted on insulin if she had been younger and otherwise healthy. As it was, she lasted about a year and a half. She didn't die from diabetes directly, but she had spine deterioration that might have been a side effect. Impossible to say.

[Mr. McD]

2. We use to have a cat with Epilepsy.

She somehow got out of the house while medicated (barbiturates), we never found her.

[Piltdown13]

3. I know some folks who had a diabetic cat

She died a year or so ago. I'm not sure how long she had been on insulin, but it was at least since I moved here, so 6 years or more. She would have been younger than your cat when she went on insulin, but definitely an adult, I think. I guess the success of the treatment really depends on the cat. I hope your kitty gets better!

Edit: typos

[Jokerman]

4. Used to pet-sit for a diabetic cat

The insulin injection was through a small needle & the cat hardly noticed. He had to have fluids through an IV and that was a little trickier.

The worst part is trying to determine how much insulin. No quick little glucose test that I'm aware of.

Unfortunately my friend gave his cat too much insulin one night and it proved fatal.

[trof]

5. I do!

It's important to get the insulin dosage right.
Took a bit of trial and error.
Some cats are fine with one injection a day, some need two.
Now I give Ace 2 1/4 units, morning and evening.
They're easy to give in the scruff of his neck.
He doesn't mind at all.

On edit: Been doing this about 3 years.
He actually purrs when I shoot him up. It's as if he understands this makes him feel better.

[trof]

6. More info:

Right, Humulin U (insulin) is cheap. So are the needles. I get a 10 pack of the smallest, finest, for 3 or 4 bucks.
They are "disposable", but I use one for about a week before it starts getting too dull.