Diabetes is said to affect about 1 in 200 cats, and is quite a common illness we see in practice. It is often not an easy diagnosis for cat owners to come to terms with, as it is generally a lifelong disease that requires quite intensive management. Twice daily injections, regular veterinary check ups and diet changes can make treatment seem quite intimidating, not only for the time management, but for costs as well.
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It is important to remember that treatment costs vary from practice to practice. However, a breakdown provided by the insurance company ‘Animal Friends’ shows that the average cost of claims made for diabetes in 2020 was £1096.00. If your cat has received a diagnosis of diabetes, what sort of things do you need to consider in the treatment costs? And where do these costs come from?
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Initial diagnosis and hospitalisation
The initial costs for treatment really depend on how critical your cat is on presentation. Your vet will come to the diagnosis usually by blood and urine tests, indicated by suspicion of your cat’s presenting clinical signs. If they are very unwell then hospitalisation will be required on top of the diagnostic tests; which can quickly add to your bill.
Typically hospitalisation costs will vary depending on the intensity of the treatment required. But with intensively sick pets that require multiple days in hospital and a lot of intervention, these costs can quickly accumulate. It’s important to ensure you keep an open communication with your veterinarian about any financial concerns you have in the treatment plan.
Medication
Once the diagnosis has been made, and other illnesses have been controlled or ruled out, the next cost to consider is the insulin treatment, and syringes. The cost of insulin can vary depending on the type used, but can range anywhere from £50-100 per bottle. Insulin only has a 28 day shelf life once opened, so this is ordinarily a monthly cost. However it also depends on the dose required for your cat.
You will also need particular syringes for injection of the insulin, and a box of 100 will last nearly two months. You can source these from your veterinary clinic, but a box varies from approximately £20-40. Your vet may also provide you with a sharps container and subsequent disposal for a small fee.
Rechecks
Diabetes management requires frequent rechecks with your vet until their blood glucose levels have stabilised. This is very dependent on each individual case; your cat may stabilise very quickly, or they may require many tweaks of the insulin dose before reaching the right one. These rechecks are very important as too much or too little insulin is detrimental to their health; and the doses need to be changed under veterinary advice. Your cat may need days in hospital so that they can do glucose curves. And if their blood sugar is not stabilising, they may need further tests to figure out why.
You can talk to your veterinarian about home monitoring. Many cats are perfectly amenable to having their glucose levels monitored at home, if you are comfortable doing it. This saves the stress of taking your cat to the vet (which invariably affects their blood glucose levels), and can save costs in the long run after you have made the initial purchase of the blood glucose machines and strips. You can also buy urine dipsticks and check your cat’s urine frequently for evidence of diabetic control.
A veterinary grade alphatrak starter pack costs approximately £90-120. There are excellent monitoring apps on your phone that you can use to record the data, to then send into your vet for their own records. It is a good way to subsidise the costs of ongoing treatment. And to also keep your cat happier with fewer trips to the veterinary clinic.
Diet
Along with insulin treatment, consideration of diet is a cornerstone in managing diabetes in cats. With appropriate management and diet control, some cats can actually achieve remission from diabetes, estimated at a 17-60% rate. Although expectations here are to be tempered, because for many, remission isn’t unfortunately the case. However, appropriate dietary management and weight control will help this become a possibility.
Diabetic cats require a low carbohydrate diet, and there are specially prepared prescription diets for this purpose. These diets, again, can vary in cost depending on the brand and where they are sourced. They can often be sourced online for a cheaper price. But it is best to have the conversation with your vet about which particular diet is recommended for them. For prescription food you can expect to pay approximately £20-50 per month dependent on their weight and recommended feeding guidelines.
Summary
As you can see, management of diabetes is no simple task, however with appropriate treatment your cat can happily live many years of good quality life. If they are already insured, this will take a lot of the pressure off the ongoing costs, so it is important to seriously consider- if you don’t have it already- whether insurance is a good option for you. However, if you don’t have pet insurance and your cat has been diagnosed as a diabetic, it is important to keep the conversation open regarding finances between you and your vet, so that we can come up with the best treatment plan and options for your circumstances.
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