| Learning your kitty has diabetes can be | | | | sad that he has it. These feelings go with the |
| overwhelming at first. You may be wondering | | | | territory. You'll need to accept that you'll feel |
| how in the world you'll ever learn everything you | | | | these emotions sometimes. But try not to dwell |
| need to know, and how you're going live with a | | | | on your feelings or your buddy's illness too much. |
| diabetic cat. | | | | It's best to move forward and learn how to live |
| When your kitty is first diagnosed, he'll more than | | | | with it. |
| likely need to be hospitalized for a few days until | | | | Finding a friend or a relative who can give you |
| his blood sugar levels are stabilized. Then you and | | | | emotional support is important. A fellow |
| your vet can work together to develop a | | | | pet-owner, who understands what you're going |
| long-term treatment plan. | | | | through, will be more sympathetic. Look online to |
| The most important thing you'll need is a good | | | | find support groups and forums for owners of |
| working relationship with your vet. You'll have | | | | pets with diabetes. |
| many questions about managing diabetes, and | | | | Some people won't understand why you're |
| your vet is the best person to answer your | | | | committed to taking care of your kitty. They'll |
| questions. You need to feel comfortable talking to | | | | make comments about wasting time and money |
| him or her. Being satisfied with the answers you | | | | on a "silly cat." It hurts to hear comments like |
| receive is very important. If you don't understand | | | | that, especially if they come from well-meaning |
| something, keep asking questions until you do. | | | | relatives and "friends." Don't worry about trying to |
| Developing a treatment plan you can live with is | | | | explain anything to them, as they won't |
| essential. The biggest reason pet owners put | | | | understand anyway. Don't waste your time and |
| diabetic cats to sleep is because the owners don't | | | | energy. Just smile and change the subject or |
| understand how much time is required to treat | | | | wander off if they persist in bugging you about it. |
| and monitor this disease. It's not because the | | | | Your good friends will understand! |
| kitty doesn't respond to treatment well. To | | | | Vet bills can be a financial strain, so be upfront |
| manage this disease successfully, you'll need to | | | | with your vet. Very few of us have unlimited |
| work out a schedule that you can actually stick | | | | funds, so you may need to work out a payment |
| to. Plus your kitty needs to tolerate it, too. | | | | plan with him or her. Your vet can show you how |
| Most people are horrified at the thought of giving | | | | to check your kitty's blood sugar at home, and |
| their furball a shot, but it's not that difficult. Your | | | | how to give insulin shots if necessary. If you can |
| vet will show you how to give the injections. The | | | | learn how to do these things, you can probably |
| needles used are very small, so it won't hurt your | | | | keep your vet bills lower, especially after your |
| furry friend much at all. It's scary at first, but | | | | cat's blood sugar is stabilized. |
| believe it or not, most kitties would rather get a | | | | There's so much information about feline diabetes |
| shot than have someone give them a pill! Giving | | | | online that it can be overwhelming. Concentrate |
| your buddy his shots every day will soon become | | | | on learning what you need to know first. The |
| part of your daily routine. | | | | more you can learn about this condition, the |
| You may feel guilty and wonder if it's your fault | | | | better off you and your furball will be. There is no |
| your kitty developed diabetes. You may feel | | | | cure for this disease, but if properly managed, it's |
| angry about having to deal with this condition, or | | | | neither fatal nor progressive. |