I got some bad news this morning about Rumble

I was woke up to some bad news about Rumble's Blood work. His Glucose level
is 437 instead of a norm of 170. He is diabetic. I am going to have to go
in next week and learn how to give him insulin 2 times a day. I am going to
definitely need some help from the group on how to deal with it. I have
never had a cat with diabetes before. I have no idea what to expect at all

Marina...

I'm so sorry, Matthew. We are sending lots of purrs that you can figure

polonca12000...

I see you as someone who has a great outlook on life, so many obstacles
were/are put in your way and yet you handle your life admirably, you
have a positive outlook and last, but not least, you are a purrfect
catslave.
You are a great and wonderful person, Marina, and we are wishing you
have a very enjoyable summer (even though we'll miss you a lot)
Polonca and Soncek

Marina...

Wow. Thank you Polonca. You've made me blush.

And I'm leaving in a few hours. Finally, I'll be back with the cats!

it out with Rumble. I've had type I diabetes since I was 5 years old,
but I don't really have any advice on how to care for a diabetic cat.
Karen can probably be of more help. Anyway, positive vibes on the way
from this diabetic to that one.

I don't know whether to break down and cry or be happy that I saw
something wrong with him and got him to the vet to nip it early. All I can
do is ask why this? Hasn't he been put through enough in his life?

Takayuki...

Poor Rumble. But the posters here with diabetic cats seem to do well,
so hopefully it will go smoothly for you too. I'm sure you'll want
and need plenty of purrs for you and Rumble to get used to the new
routine.

Monique Y. Mudama...

I just saw this ... haven't read the rest of the posts in reply, but
Matthew, this is not necessarily a horrible thing. About 15 years
ago, I knew a cat who had diabetese and needed insulin -- she lived to
a ripe old age. She didn't even mind the needles; she was pretty laid
back and a huge food fiend, so you could just put down her wet food
and stick the needle in between her shoulder blades. No problem. I
even did it as a teen when I catsit her.

Also, what does Rumble eat? My vet claims that many of her diabetic
feline patients have gotten off of insulin just by switching to an
exclusively wet diet.

Winnie...

I didn't know that. Rusty has been on an exclusively wet diet for 10
years for his urinary problems. Hopefully this will help prevent him
getting diabetes. I am really bad with needles. Used to work with
animals and never could stick a needle in them.

Monique Y. Mudama...

You and Rusty sure don't need yet another reason to go to the vet!

Winnie

Sorry I am just really upset right now. We have a joyous occasion to
celebrate with the new kitten coming home and I receive this news. I am so
happy and sad that I am crying for both

polonca12000...

I have no experience with feline diabetes, but other members of rpca do!
We are wishing you learn quickly how to give insulin to Rumble and that
he is not bothered by it. Purrs for Rumble and you,
Polonca and Soncek

Joy...

Of course you're upset! OTOH, as you said, it's wonderful that you got him
when you did. You no doubt saved his life. With the support of everybody
here, and advice from those who have experience with this sort of thing,
you're going to give him a long, happy life. And you know he's already much
better off than he was.

((((((((((Matthew and Rumble))))))))))

Adrian A...

Lots of purrs for Rumble. Marina's Frank had diabetes, he still had a good
life.

Karen...

Please sign up here:

You will get oodles of help, usually someone has a monitor that they
can send you if you can't afford one. Definitely great advice. I'm so
mad, I actually have gotten Pearl regulated and today, I could not give
her a shot because she was too low, and when I came home from an
excruciating day, I shot through her! First time ever. You don't dare
reshoot. So hopefully this will not be a set back and we will get back
to her nice normal numbers we've been getting.

You will want to read through the info (tons of it) and ask questions.
It really isn't has hard or overwhelming as it seems at first.

kilikini...

Matthew, I've never had a cat with diabetes before either. What were the
signs, may I ask? My Miss Pua drinks water up the Whazoo, and I'm wondering
if I may be facing that in the future as well.

Victor Martinez...

I hope that the diabetes is very manageable and that Rumble is able to
have many happy years with you.

Sam...

So sorry to hear about Rumble's condition, but remember that it's just
that - a condition. One that can be treated to give him a good quality
of life for the time you two have left together. Purrs on the way that
all goes well for you, Rumble, and the little one.

Shiral...

I'm so sorry about the bad news about Rumble, Matthew. However, I'm
sure that in your hands, he will get the best and most loving care and
diabetes management from you. It does seem unjust that one cat has to
deal with so many of life's unkindnesses.
Nina and Francesca send their purrs to Rumble,
Melissa

Kreisleriana...

Purrs for Rumbles and for you to have many more happy years.

Kreisleriana...

Theresa

Make Levees, Not War

Jo Firey...

Karen...

It can *certainly* be triggered by dietary habits. "can be" Doesn't
mean everyone will develop it, but you certainly can develop it. Type
II diabetes doesn't just happen like Type I does. I guess my point is
that it is not "if you are going to get it, you are going to get it".
That just isn't how type II works.

MaryL...

kilikini...

Okay, Mary, how did you transition your cats to eat the wet, 'cause mine
won't touch it. It ends up all ant-infested.

Well stated. Thanks.

Purrs and prayers both on the way. Diabetes in cats is apparently fairly
common. A friends cat had to have injections twice a day, and it was kind
of cute the friends father learning to give the cat shots and going over to
take care of him when ever his son had to work out of town. Which was
fairly often. Dad was NOT a cat person, except of course for this
particularly special cat that happened to really like him.