My cat has diabetes. Is a fructosamine test really necessary?

Hi, it depends on the test. If you suspect your cat has diabetes, you could just start with a urine test which is pretty cheap but can give lots of information. If your cat has diabetes and is on treatment your vet might recommend a general biochemistry panel, check her pancreas, and a fructosamine test, depending on his clinical findings and that would be more expensive. We also perform blood glucose curves in cats that suffer with diabetes, to see if the insulin dosage is appropriate.. I would recommend to see your vet and discuss all the various options with him. Hope this helps !

I would be concerned by the lack of normal urination in a diabetic pet - they are very prone to urinary tract infections due to higher than normal sugar content in their urine which can encourage bacterial infection. I strongly recommend a urine test to determine exactly what is going on. Your vet may have special cat litter to collect a urine sample or may be able to draw a sample directly from the bladder with a needle in order to investigate fully what is going on

Yes, it is possible with a glucose level that high that Sam has diabetes. However elevated blood glucose can occur secondary to stress in cats so it's impossible to say if Sam is truly diabetic based on only one blood glucose reading. I'd recommend taking Sam to be examined by a veterinarian. A blood glucose curve or a specialized blood glucose test called a fructosamine level can be done to decide if Sam is truly diabetic. Signs of diabetes in cats include increased drinking and eating, weight loss, poor hair coat, and increased urinating. If Sam is exhibiting any of these signs, then I'd recommend getting him checked out right away. This article may be helpful to you as well: https://www.petcoach.co/article/5-early-warning-signs-of-diabetes-in-cats/ Thanks for using PetCoach!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! There is not a set number of times per day or anything like that. That is something that is determined based on the current control of the diabetes and is adjusted accordingly. That should be recommended by the veterinarian who is prescribing the insulin and keeping tract of the case closely. There is no way to accurately measure glucose in the urine for these cases. How long it takes to achieve steady levels also varies widely per case but possibly within a week or so. Best of luck!

Poor Puck. Since FIV is a transmissible virus and Diabetes is linked ot diet and genetics, these two can definitely occur in 1 cat around the same time. I would make it a priority to get his urine tested to confirm if this is truly diabetes or not. You can simply take him in to your vet to get his urine tested instead of having to catch it yourself. YOu may have to leave him for the day in order to collect the sample successfully, but it can be done. High blood glucose can be caused by stress as wel, so its important to confirm by viewing glucose in the urine. Diabetes can be reversible in cats in some cases with proper diet (i.e. Purina DM, Hill's M/D) and proper insulin therapy. I hope that everything works out well for your pet Puck moving forward. Best wishes and take care.

Glucose levels in cats should not change based on size. However, levels can increase with stress but anything over 300 is very concerning for diabetes. Several tests can be done to diagnose diabetes. A fasting blood glucose level in addition to a urinanalysis will diagnose most cats, but occasionally a test called fructosamine may be needed. Overweight mid aged male cats are more predisposed to diabetes than others. It sounds like you may need to visit with your veterinarian to make a plan for BB.

Increased thirst and urination can be commom symptoms of many disease processes and you are right that the first things we check for are metabolic (kidney disease, diabetes, etc.). The answer to your question is both. A urinalysis should always be performed as part of a blood panel, otherwise you are missing crucial information. Your vet will likely order a senior kitty wellness panel from an outside lab which will include cbc, chemistry panel, thyroid testing, and urinalysis. I hope this helps and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!