How To Test Your Diabetic Cat's Blood Sugar At Home

You can monitor your diabetic cat's blood sugar at home using a glucometer -- the same over-the-counter device used by human diabetics. Hometesting can save your cat's life! For more information on this topic go to felinediabetes.com

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  Pets & Animals

[thewritereflection]

Thank you for this video. My cat was just diagnosed, and I am finding that I have to really be careful with the vet, because they are doing their best to get the most money out of me right now. Knowing I can test my cat's glucose level at home like this, and how easy it is to do, made me feel a lot better about my choice to treat him. Thank you, and rest in peace dear Buddy.

[Mark Portier]

Thanks for your note, TWR. My heart goes out to you and your little pal - who is so very lucky to have you. Please read the forums at feline diabetes dot com for excellent ideas on how to treat a diabetic cat without breaking the bank. There are more and more vets who are supportive of hometesting. I went through 3-4 vets before I found a practitioner who would work with me and wasn't threatened by my hands-on approach. Good luck! -Mark

[popesnose]

Rest in peace Buddy...what a cool customer he was. Thank you for this video. I am fostering a 16 year old diabetic cat that the local SPCA wants to euthanize. But he has so much heart after what he has been through, I would love to help him if I can. His last owner had put Boots into a carrier and left outside the small town I live in. Luckily the land owner found him and took him to the shelter. Boots looks a lot like Buddy, having a really cool tux and four white socks.

[Mark Portier]

Popesnose, you are a beautiful person. The truly wonderful thing about posting this video has been getting messages like yours, and the knowledge that there are so many people in the world who are fundamentally decent, kind, and determined to do good. Boots is a lucky guy.

[lthobbes1]

ok- This coming from an Ex- Combat medic- haha- I have never heard the term "staunch" it with gauze... Can you please explain what you mean? Thanks

[Mark Portier]

To firm up, make watertight - or in this case, "blood" tight... Thank you for your service under fire, LTH.

[Mark Portier]

BUDDY UPDATE: July 2011. Friends, I am sorry to inform you that Buddy, the cat featured in the video, died on July 13, 2011, after a six and a half year run as a diabetic cat. He was fourteen years old. Buddy had been experiencing complications and weight loss from Pancreatic Insufficiency (Maldigestion Disorder). He died peacefully in my arms. If you'd like to honor Buddy's work as a diabetes educator, please make a donation to felinediabetes . com.

[doxielover0126]

I just started fostering a diabetic cat and was really nervous about doing ear sticks without someone else to help hold the cat. This video gave me the confidence to try it on my own. After a 3-4 tries, I finally was able to get blood and get a reading. Thank goodness the cat was patient with me. Again, thanks for the video.

[CaptainRandom]

Mark, thank you so much for this video. My cat, Houston, is almost 15 and was just diagnosed with diabetes. The vet wants me to test her urine for glucose, but I'm pretty sure that it's going to be way easier for me to get a tiny drop of blood from her ear to test her blood sugar than to spend my days off stalking the litter box trying to get a urine sample. So sorry to hear that Buddy has passed on, he was certainly a dapper fellow and you seem like a devoted owner. He was a lucky guy.

[dimond numero uno]

my cat looks alot like your cat. he has lost a lot of wieght to. hopefuly he'll get better. but sockey's still a happy kitty! right now he's doing fine though

[ChattyV]

Oh no...I'm so sorry about Buddy. I was just seeing the video on Junior and read that he passed as well. FD.com is a godsend. Thank you for sharing this video with us...Buddy was a love and you were great doing his tests! I learned a lot from you both. RIP sweet Buddy.

[thewritereflection]

I found the website group you're talking about and they are very helpful. Thanks again for posting this and for helping those of us who are just getting started!

[Renata Almeida]

Today is Feb 7, 2013.

I noticed changes in my male cat's weight, and the excessive water consumption. I knew something was up. He was diagnosed diabetic 2 days ago.

I am here doing some research and found this lovely video.

Thank you so very much for sharing.

And I am sorry to hear about Buddy.

[snowflakemtn]

Although, the number one reason for diabetes is an overweight cat. Not all overweight cats will become diabetic, but definitely most diabetic cats were overweight. The overweight problem is caused by too much carbs in their diet. Once changed to a totally protein diet you can really see a difference in your cat's fur and behaviour....and he will actually lose weight!

[thefeet]

you have a diabetic cat GET a home-test glucometer! MOST pharmacies give the glucometer for free when you buy the strips! Here, in Canada, it was pricey for the strips but worth it! about $75/100 strips. AND if you spend the extra $39 you can get a glucometer that hooks up to your computer with software that is just awesome! This's NOT for everyone, but if you take the time to LEARN about this terrible disease...love your cat... wow... start here--- catinfoDOTorg and also google feline diabetes