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Question

I have an 8 year old rag doll. She is active and seems to feel fine. I took her in because she was drinking and peeing too much. She was diagnosed with diabetes with a blood gluclose level of 525 on 1-7-09. The vet put her on Purina DM food and she was rechecked a week later and the gluclose level was down to 475. I had her checked again today and the glu was 424. She has been on a strict diet of the Purina DM and has had nothing else to eat except 2 days ago she chewed a hole in a loaf of bread bag and ate about 1/8 of a slice before we caught her. The vet said today that she will have to do better or go on insulin. Does this sound right? Thanks, Dick

Submitted: 295 days and 7 hours ago.
Category: Cat
Value: $15
Status: CLOSED
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Optional Information

Age: 8; Female; Breed: rag doll

Already Tried:
special diabetes diet

Accepted Answer

Hi Dick,

 

Yes I agree, this cat needs to be started on insulin. Some cats will regulate on diet alone, but most will need insulin injections. They are easy to give and well tolerated. I would recommend a glucose curve at the hospital to determine the best insulin dose for her as cats can respond differently to insulin. Some will regulate on once daily injections, but more often than not twice daily injections are needed. I'd start with something like Vetsulin and determine dosage based on the curve. Some cats, FYI, will need multiple curves the first couple months as their body begins to adapt to having insulin injections.

 

Hope that helps, let me know if you have any other questions.

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Expert: Dr. Gary
Pos. Feedback: 98.9 %
Accepts: 
Answered: 1/29/2009

Cat Veterinarian

DVM, Emergency Veterinarian; BS (Physiology) Michigan State Univ

295 days and 5 hours ago.

Reply

DR. Gary, could the bread she ate cause a spike in the GLU? If so could the GLU look better on Monday or is that just wishfull thinking? the vet said he was very pleased with the inital drop and thought she could get along without insulin.

Posted by Dr. Gary 295 days and 5 hours ago.

Answer

The bread may make the GLU go up a little, but not up to the 400's. I would bet that her GLU will be over 400 the next time you test it, and insulin therapy will be needed. I'd be careful how long you wait to start insulin as well as we don't want her going into DKA- diabetic ketoacidosis. These are very sick cats that need days of hospitalization to get them recovered. If any vomiting or lethargy I'd get her in right away.

 

 

295 days and 4 hours ago.

Reply

Thanks, I am doing everything per the vets instructions and am very willing to put her on insulin if that is what should be done. The vet is the one that is reluctant to do it as he said it can be very had to find the correct dosage and he doesn't want to do it without trying diet first. Thanks for your concern.

Posted by Dr. Gary 295 days and 3 hours ago.

Answer

you're very welcome, hope everything goes well for you this week

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