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