• Upon first diagnosis patients are started on a low dose of glargine insulin twice daily. The first three days are spent in the hospital for initial insulin dose regulation. We do this mainly to ensure they aren’t getting too much insulin and developing hypoglycemia (low blood sugar).
• At the end of the third day the patient is sent home on a dose of insulin to be given twice daily.
• Patients will then need to come back every week for 4 weeks. Each time, patients will need to be dropped off for the day (here by 8 a.m./ home between 5-6 pm.). These weekly visits are required for initial insulin regulation. Please feed them normally the day they come in. Please also bring their insulin with them, as we do not stock glargine in the hospital. Give morning insulin as you would regularly. If you give it after 8 am, we can give it here.
• For those patients who are still on insulin after the first 4 weeks, less frequent daily stays are required (monthly, initially, then every 3-6 months thereafter). Once on a stable dose of insulin, as needed glucose checks will be scheduled.
• For those interested, after the initial 4 weeks, follow up testing can be done at home. That is, we can teach you how to check your cat’s blood sugars at home.
• Bear in mind, our goal is to get your cat off of insulin. This process generally takes 1-3 months and most newly diagnosed diabetic cats will be weaned off insulin. We want diet to be the ultimate control of your cat’s diabetes.

Diet plays a HUGE role in regulating glucose in the diabetic cat. Studies have shown that high protein, low carb diets are the diets of choice. Cats are known as obligate carnivores, meaning they are uniquely adapted to eating a diet high in protein, contains a moderate amount of fat, and includes a VERY small amount of carbs (3-5%). Cats are lacking the enzymes to adequately break down carbs to meet their energy needs. Carbs in excess are broken down and stored as fat. Fat cells produce a substance that increases the resistance of the body’s cells to insulin. That’s why the characteristically obese cats are the most commonly seen diabetic. Diets such as Hills m/d and Purina DM are prescription diets formulated to treat diabetic cats. Unfortunately most commercial cat foods, especially dry, contain amounts of 35-50% carbs and a moderate amount of fat. That’s why changing diets to something lesser in carbs, dramatically changes the diabetic cats condition. It is possible to see an instant change in your cat’s behavior once the proper diet is fed.

Insulin and Syringes