Anybody here have experience with diabetes in cats?

[harper]

I'm afraid my oldest girl Callie has developed diabetes. She's lost lots of weight pretty quickly, she's peeing like crazy and her breath smells like ketones. I'm taking her to the vet this week, but I'd like to know what the drill is from somebody who has already been down the road.

This is an old cat who hates leaving the house for any reason, so I'm worried that getting too involved in vet care is going to make her miserable. I've heard that diabetes in cats is difficult to control, but I'm not sure what all treating it entails. Any advice is welcomed...

[Mojambo]

1. I didn't even know cats could get diabetes

Good luck with it.

[democrat in Tallahassee]

2. my dog had diabetes; we had to test him twice a day and give

him shots. the insulin was not very expensive and he got used to the shots. not sure about cats.

[miss_kitty]

3. Yes. I treated my cat for 10 years

I found Iletin (Beef, pork or beef/pork) was better than humulin (synthetic insulin) I gave him 2 small shots a day, 12 hours apart, instead of one big shot. I used BD needles, the 28 gauge, not the Ultra fine needles. Ironically, he found those to be noticeable.

You grab up a clump of skin on the back of the neck and stick them there. It's a piece of cake really.

Get the carrier out tonight and open it. That way she won't get that "Oh Fuck!" thing going on. Stress can alter the blood sugar leavel readings so you may need to leave her there overnight.
Good luck to you.