My Siamese Cat age 9 yrs had diabetes. Do you know of any cures or aids other than insulin injections daily?

Question

I am looking for holistic or any answers other than insulin injections (which do not cure or cover symptoms and cat dies usually within a year or two even with the injections)...and am currently on a Glucose support powder, wet food only regimen with my little cat. Any input welcome. He is doing OK but cant seem to regain his weight and is still very hungry - his fur looks great, as do his lively bright eyes and attitude though!

Answer 1

I gave twice a day injections to my diabetic cat for 3 years after diagnosis, which is how long the vet gave at diagnosis. So, with good care, your cat can live longer than a year. My cat did not mind the injections at all, in fact he looked forward to them because after the shot, he got to eat, which was his favorite thing in the world to do. I know of no wholistic way to care for diabetes.

Answer 2

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Answer 3

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Answer 4

My cat developed diabetes when he was about 7 years old. I gave him twice daily insulin injections, which are really quite easy to do as the go under the skin rather than into muscle. Dempsey enjoyed life for another six years. I had to have him put to sleep after he was paralyzed by a blood clot, which may have been indirectly related to the diabetes, or may have been completely unrelated. The only thing he had a problem with was the diet - he wanted food all the time. We called him Hoover because he'd suck up any speck on the floor, and spit it out if it wasn't food.

Dempsey also lost a lot of weight when he first developed the disease, but once we got his glucose levels straightened out, he wanted to eat like crazy. We had to determine the correct weight for him and then work to maintain it by feeding him a measured amount of special calorie control food - NOT the same thing as the weight management food you get in the grocery store.

The most difficult thing about having a diabetic cat is the time commitment. If you're giving insulin shots, you have to give it at fairly specific times of the day, which means rearranging your schedule. If you're sticking him at 7:00 a.m. and p.m., you'd better be there at those times every day. Consistency is key. It sounds like you're pretty committed to making sure your cat stays well.

You also need to take an active role in your cat's health. I tested his blood sugar using a regular glucose meter like people use. I stuck his ear to get the blood, after warming it up with a light bulb to get the blood flowing. He really didn't mind it much, especially since I gave him lots of affection both during and after. Once he's on insulin, you need to watch for LOW blood sugar - Dempsey had spells where he would start sniffing everything uncontrollably, and turning his head over and over. When that happened I checked his blood sugar and usually gave him some corn syrup to bring him back up. In six years, though, this only happened about a dozen times.

There's a great support website for people with diabetic cats. Check the link below - they might have more info to help you.

Answer 5

My cat was diagnosed with diabetes three years ago, so your info. about them dying within 1-2 years is incorrect. My cat does well with injections of Humulin-U twice each day. I also do a glucose curve on my cat every month or so to make sure that she is still responding well to the current insulin dose. If she is not, I adjust the dose per my vet.'s instructions. There is a relatively new insulin on the market that has been shown to reverse the condition in newly diagnosed cats. It is called Lantus and worked for a friend's cat. If you have not started any standard treatments, ask your vet if this insulin is a good option for your cat. My friend only had to give her cat shots for a couple weeks. Good Luck!

Answer 6

Unfortunately, diabetes in cats is usually caused by overfeeding by the owner. I know you want to treat your cat without insulin but most cats do much better with insulin. There are veterinary prescription diets that have high protein and low carbs. When insulin is started as well as the special diet, 25% of cats will no longer need insulin later. It doesn't help much by itself. Remember that diabetes took years of you overfeeding your cat to develop. It is a serious problem but with good follow up, many diabetics live for much longer than 1-2 years. Very few live a year without treatment.

Answer 7

It really depends on which type of diabetes your cat has. There are two types of diabetes. Type I or insulin dependent diabetes is the most serious form and affects 50 - 70% of cats diagnosed with diabetes. This type of diabetes is caused by a failure of the pancreas to produce insulin. It is an auto-immune disease for which there is no cure. Thus, insulin must be supplied through injection in order to convert blood glucose into energy. Without this insulin, the cat's blood sugar will rise to dangerously high levels resulting in kidney failure, coma and eventually death. Type II diabetes or noninsulin dependent diabetes is much less serious than type I. The most common cause for this disease is through continually eating too many sugars (carbohydrates) over a long period of time. Thus this type is generally associated with older, overweight cats and can be controlled through weight loss, proper diet, and possible medication. In humans you can actually reverse type II diabetes through diet alone. You CANNOT treat Type I diabetes through diet and you should NOT attempt to.

It is very possible to live with diabetes, but it requires special care on your part. Assuming your cat has type I diabetes, you must adhere to a strict feeding schedule. If you give your cat insulin with no food, your cat's blood sugar can drop to dangerously low levels that can lead to seizures, shock, coma and again, death. You should work with your vet to test the cat's blood sugar levels to find the perfect balance and schedule for feeding and insulin injections. Good luck.

Answer 8

I have two diabetic cats, both male, and they are not related. One was diagnosed in 2000, and the other in 2002. They are both on insulin, and have taken to it very well. Our vet has tried different types of food, and they are currently on a prescription brand by Purina. Just keep working with a vet, preferably a feline specialist, to find out the treatment that works best. And I know it can be frustrating, and you feel bad because your cat can't tell you how it is doing, but stick with it and just keep giving him all the love you can!

Answer 9

Isn't it strange that an animal can get these diseases? I hate to hear that. Have you gotten any other opionions from other vets? I would if you haven't. This is not something like you're saying that it will get well from. There are so many complications with diabetes. Just in humans, its horrible and probably easier to control . You're cat is already lived a pretty long life and I know you want to give it the best. Animals can't talk and tell us what is wrong so you will have to watch it closely.

Answer 10

You can't cure diabetes with an insulin injection.