Case Highlights

Boo Boo and Family Work to Defeat Diabetes!!

Boo Boo is an 11 year old cat with elegant black and white tuxedo markings. In December of 2009, Boo Boo’s owners noticed that he was drinking more water and visiting the litter box frequently so they brought him to Dr. Vincent for a checkup.

Dr. Vincent thoroughly examined him and sent out basic blood tests to evaluate his organ function. Obesity was the only problem identified on his physical exam. Boo Boo weighed almost 20 pounds! The extra weight he was carrying around put him at risk for joint problems, cardiac problems, and diabetes.

His blood tests were normal except for very high blood sugar. Because cats can have temporary spikes in blood sugar from the stress of being in the clinic, Dr. Vincent followed up by asking the lab to measure the amount of fructosamine in Boo Boo’s blood. Fructosamine is a compound that builds up in the blood when a pet has consistently high blood sugar because they are diabetic. The final diagnosis was confirmed – Boo Boo was diabetic.  

Following a consultation with Dr. Vincent, Boo Boo’s family felt comfortable giving him insulin injections at home to regulate his blood sugar. They committed to a regular schedule of twice daily insulin injections and to modifying his diet to help him lose weight. A canned diet with high protein content and low carbohydrates was recommended.

Boo Boo’s owners brought him in to AMC often in the first few weeks to check his blood sugar and help determine the correct dose of insulin. Though the initial phase of treatment was labor-intensive, they eventually they settled into a regular routine of insulin dosing and Boo Boo adjusted to his new diet plan.

In May of 2011, Boo Boo came into AMC for a checkup. He had lost almost 4 pounds since the initial diagnosis of diabetes. His fructosamine levels were low.  Because of his weight loss and change in diet, Boo Boo no longer needs insulin to regulate his blood sugar. He and his dedicated owners beat diabetes!