About Insulin Dosing for Feline Diabetes

Giving an insulin shot to a cat isn't as hard as it might seem.

Any cat can develop diabetes. The most noticeable symptoms are frequent urination, increased water intake and weight loss, but only a veterinarian can properly diagnose diabetes in your cat. The idea of giving daily insulin shots to a cat is often quite scary to people, but really, anyone can do it. If your cat is diagnosed with diabetes, do not despair; diabetes is a manageable disease. With proper treatment and a little know-how, you and your cat can spend many more happy years together.

Dosage

Only a veterinarian can properly measure how much insulin your cat should get and how often. Once the initial diagnosis has been made, however, there things you can do at home to monitor your cat's glucose levels. Urine strips are a popular option, although for a more accurate glucose reading you might consider asking your vet about learning to take blood sample readings at home. The benefit of monitoring your cat's glucose levels at home is that you can catch dangerous fluctuations in glucose levels early, thus avoiding dangerous hypoglycemic episodes. Most veterinarians recommend having your pet's blood-glucose levels professionally tested every six months.

Feeding

Your veterinarian will be able to recommend the best food for your diabetic cat. It is very important to follow your veterinarian's advice in both the type of food as well as the time and amount of food your cat should be fed. You should also avoid giving your cat table scraps or other types of cat food, because these things can lead to dangerous fluctuations in blood-glucose levels. If you have other pets, you should try to feed them separately, and put away all food between meals. The most common feeding schedule is twice a day, approximately 12 hours apart.

Indoors vs. Outdoors

If your diabetic cat is an outdoor cat, you should consider making it an indoor cat. It is very important to feed your diabetic cat on a regular schedule, as this will help it maintain normal glucose levels. Also, if your cat is an outdoor cat, it could be finding other things to snack on. The only reliable way to monitor what your cat eats is to keep your cat indoors.

Insulin Injections

Giving your cat an insulin injection is not as difficult as it might seem. The needles used are very fine, and if done properly, the injection causes very little discomfort. Your veterinarian will work with you and show you the best way to give your cat insulin. The insulin is injected subcutaneously--beneath the skin--and it is quite easy to learn.

Using your fingers, you pull up a small "tent" of skin, then insert the needle into the tent. Once you have mastered the technique, your cat will barely notice the procedure. Insulin is usually given twice a day, with meals. The optimum spacing for injections is 12 hours apart. If you miss an injection by more than two hours, you should just skip that injection and wait for the next regular time. Your veterinarian can help you pick a schedule that works well for both you and your cat.

If there is more than one person in the household caring for the cat, you should keep a daily log of the injections, so you do not accidentally give the cat too much insulin, as this can lead to hypoglycemia--insulin shock--and can lead to a coma or even death.

Hypoglycemia/Insulin Shock

Hypoglycemia occurs when the glucose levels in the blood become too low, and it is considered a medical emergency. Your veterinarian will discuss symptoms of hypoglycemia with you in more detail, but any unusual behavior in your pet should be noted. Emergency symptoms include shivering, staggering, weakness, extreme lethargy, disorientation, convulsions and coma. These symptoms should be taken seriously and treated immediately, either by giving your cat some food to raise its blood sugar, or, in more severe cases, administering glucose in the form of Karo syrup. You can dip a cotton swab or your finger in the syrup and rub it on your cat's gums and under its tongue. If you suspect your cat is going into insulin shock, call your veterinarian immediately.

Managing

The best thing to do if you discover you have a diabetic cat is to educate yourself. Diabetes is a manageable disease, and a diagnosis does not necessarily mean you have to say goodbye to your pet. Many cats can live for years with well-managed diabetes. It will take a little more effort on your part, and some patience from both you and your cat, but diabetes is not a death sentence. Many resources are available online, and more people than you might realize have diabetic cats!

References

• Feline Diabetes
• Cat Owner's Home Veterinary Handbook by Delbert G. Carlson, DVM, and James M. Giffin, MD

Resources

• Feline Diabetes
• Feline Outreach
• Binky's Page