Ollie's diabetes management

I have been struggling a bit with Ollie lately. He is my 8-year-old tabby and we found out he has diabetes about six months ago. I am adjusting to the insulin injections, but his urination has increased significantly. He is going to the litter box much more often than he used to, and I am worried he is dehydrating or that the dosage is off. He is a very polite cat, but I can tell he is uncomfortable. Has anyone else dealt with this specific issue with their diabetic cats? I want to make sure I am not missing something obvious.

Hi Joan, I am sorry to hear Ollie is having such a hard time. This is a very common concern with new diabetic diagnoses. I have Holly, my 8-year-old calico, and while she has thyroid issues rather than diabetes, the frequent urination is similar. I recall reading that the body tries to flush out excess sugar, which leads to more urine. You might want to look at Diabetic cats and frequent urination to understand the mechanism better. In the meantime, ensure he has access to fresh water at multiple locations. I also found that Litter choices for cats who pee a lot helped with my own cat's needs. Are you keeping a log of his output?

Joan, I am a vet tech, so I will be direct. Increased urination is a hallmark of uncontrolled diabetes, not necessarily a side effect of the treatment itself unless the dose is too high causing hypoglycemia, which presents differently with lethargy. The fact that he is urinating more suggests his blood sugar may still be high. You need to call his vet today to report this. Do not adjust the insulin yourself. Also, check for any signs of dehydration like dry gums or skin that stays tented. If he is not eating well, that is a red flag. I would also suggest looking at Dealing with sudden litter box avoidance to rule out any urinary tract infection, which can happen in parallel.

Joan, I am well aware of the stress this causes. I have Nala, a 16-year-old DSH with arthritis, and Simba, an 18-year-old DSH who is deaf. Managing their bathroom needs has been a long process. With Ollie, you must be careful about his mobility. If he is urinating more, he needs to get to the box more often. If he has any stiffness, the extra trips could become painful. I have a thread on Arthritis and litter box access that might offer some tips on making the box easier to get into. Also, since he is diabetic, you should monitor his water intake closely. I keep a detailed log for my cats, and I think you should too. My post on Keeping a diabetes log for cats has a format that might help you track Ollie's water and urine over a few days to show the vet.