Julie said....
>Thank you, Deb, for your information. You were very helpful and almost all of what you told me was validated by my veterinarian. I am happy to report that my cat, Cookie, is doing much, much better. She is now on twice-daily insulin injections and this marks the second week exactly that I have been giving her the shots. She is on Hill's m/d diet which is nicknamed "Catkins Diet" as it is for diabetic cats in that is high protein/high fiber/low carb cat food. She likes it moderately well and eats both the canned and dry m/d. She is eating well, though, as I give her boiled chicken breast occasionally. She is doing fine.

I'm glad you found the info helpful. Diabetes can be a kinda overwhelming disease when you are first faced with it...I can't imagine having to deal with it with a cat where you cannot test her sugar all the time like a person can.
I have a friend who had a diabetic cat...she did quite well for a long time...finally died of old age.


>The needles are ultra-fine and only about an inch in length. They are about the width of a human hair and you use a new needle each time you give an injection. I truly believe that Cookie does not even feel the injection as she does not flinch nor cry out nor give any negative reaction to the shot. I feed her right after her shot and she likes that.

I can guarantee you it does not hurt Cookie at all. My Husband is on insulin and the needles he uses are a 30 gauge...they sound alot like you describe. A person injects insulin into their tummy...a much more sensitive place then the scruff of a cat and he said he almost never even feels it. So that should be the least of your worries.
It's funny...I was at the endo's office with him last week and the doc was telling us how people resist insulin so much because of the needle factor..and it really is such a small issue once you get used to it.


>I will keep you posted.

please do...I'm interested...poor baby! I know how she feels!


>To answer a couple of your questions: Cookie is not considered elderly. She is 8 years old. Yes, she was/is over-weight and the vet has been on me about this for some time. She weighed 14# about three months ago and then dropped to 11# over the course of about two/three months which is what mainly alerted me to the fact that she was ill and something was very wrong. I do feel a certain amount of guilt about not putting her on a lite diet a few years ago. But, we are getting back on track now; better late than never.

Oh yes..that big weight drop was a BIG signal. I'll bet she was in the water bowl and litter box constantly too.

Well no point in feeling guilty now....believe me a whole lot of people don't understand how being overweight can effect a body and some of us are just more sensitive to that weight then others....unfortunately Cookie fell into that category. But it's not your fault. Most diabetics are prone to weight gain anyhow...and can find it difficult if not imposable to keep the weight off...it's a VERY complicated thing having to do with metabolism and such. Her condition may be mostly genetic and may not have been totally avoidable anyhow.

You understand it better now and are learning how to deal with it...that is what is important for Cookie.



>I will continue to follow the instructions and advice of my veterinarian and there is no reason to believe that Cookie will not have a long and healthy life if we can just get this diabetes under our control.

that's right.

I'm going thru a thing with my 10 m/o kitten right now...she is sick and needs to be on steroids and is just piling the weight on. I am in the process of switching her to canned food...Dr. Tobin suggested it to keep the carbs away from her so she doesn't become too overweight and diabetic eventually. it's a struggle...she has gone from 9 lbs to 12 lbs just since April 1....so I know the struggle you are going thru with the weight!


Good luck with her!!!!!
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Deb
owned by Booger and Tiny Dancer and the mom of the late, great Kakel

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