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Cat diabetes series 4 :Case Sharing "Chan Pei’s" Journey to Recovery from Diabetes and Ketoacidosis

Today, we are thrilled to share another diabetes remission cat case. - Meet Chan Pei!


Feline diabetes case sharing

Sudden Inappetence & Drastic Weight Loss

Chan Pei is a 4-year-old domestic shorthair. In late April, he was brought to our clinic after suddenly refusing to eat for two days, accompanied by a rapid drop in weight. Upon examination, Chan Pei weighed 5.9 kg. However, his owner mentioned that just a few months ago, his weight was actually over 8 kg.

"His appetite seemed completely normal before, so why did his weight plummet so suddenly?" This immediately led me to suspect diabetes. One of the classic symptoms of feline diabetes is an increased appetite ("eating a lot"); because they seem to eat so well, owners often mistake this for high vitality and overlook the underlying warning signs.


A Race Against Time: Life-Threatening Complications

Further blood and urine tests confirmed my suspicions. Chan Pei’s blood glucose levels were exceptionally high. More alarmingly, his urinalysis revealed not only glucose but also the presence of "ketones"! This meant that because his body had been unable to utilize insulin effectively for a long time, toxic acidic substances had begun to accumulate. If left untreated, excessive ketones can trigger life-threatening Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) at any moment. Furthermore, because Chan Pei was a chronically overweight cat, going without food for several days put him at an extremely high risk for another fatal crisis—Hepatic Lipidosis (Fatty Liver).


The Challenge during Hospitalization

Given that Chan Pei’s condition was precarious and urgent, we immediately admitted him to the hospital to correct his dehydration and initiate insulin therapy. However, we quickly faced a challenging obstacle—Chan Pei turned out to be an incredibly sensitive and anxious cat.


Once in the hospital cage, he became highly defensive and aggressive. Any attempt to approach him triggered extreme distress, to the point where we had to administer mild sedation twice a day just to perform basic checks and treatments. After 24 hours, seeing Chan Pei in a constant state of high stress, I evaluated that staying in the hospital might do more harm than good for his recovery. After discussing with client, I decided to discharge Chan Pei so his owner could take over his care at home. This involved administering subcutaneous fluids, insulin injections, and medications, alongside reporting his blood glucose levels to us daily.

BG curve

Progress Through Dedicated Home Care

During the first few days at home, Chan Pei’s appetite slowly began to improve, though he could still only manage a little over half of his recommended daily food intake. During the first week of insulin therapy, although his blood glucose showed improvement, it remained unstable, requiring precise daily adjustments to his insulin dosage based on the daily updates.




BG curve

By the second week, his blood glucose finally began to stabilize within the ideal range, and his appetite returned to normal! As his blood glucose curve flattened, we were able to gradually taper his insulin dosage. By the third week, we

successfully reduced it to just a single injection per day.






After one month of treatment, Chan Pei’s blood glucose consistently remained at a

BG curve

perfect, normal low baseline, suggesting he had entered remission. I advised the owner to discontinue the insulin injections while continuing to monitor his blood glucose daily. Over the following weeks, even without any insulin therapy, Chan Pei's blood glucose remained beautifully stable and healthy—Chan Pei has officially achieved remission! This was truly the most exciting and joyous news for both our team and his owner, especially since I had initially worried that Chan Pei might have been suffering from diabetes for quite some time, which could have lowered his chances of recovery.


A Friendly Reminder from Dr. Ryan

Most cases of feline diabetes are "Type II," meaning the body cannot utilize insulin properly due to underlying factors (such as obesity, inflammation, hyperlipidemia, etc.). The key to successful treatment lies in addressing the root cause and providing precise insulin support while the body's natural glucose-regulating mechanism recovers.


The earlier proactive treatment begins, the higher the chances of clinical remission (going off insulin entirely)! The success to achieve remission includes adequate dose of insulin, diet and other supportive medication. The challenge in the beginning is often unstable glucose levels, so close monitor to adjust the treatment if the key.


If treatment is delayed or managed inappropriately, cats may require lifelong insulin injections—a process that can be highly demanding for both the pet and the owner.

If you notice your cat displaying signs of "increased drinking, increased urination, and weight loss despite a good appetite," please bring them in for a veterinary checkup immediately. Most importantly, keep your cat at a healthy weight and providing healthy diet, as avoiding obesity remains the number one priority in preventing feline diabetes!


🏥 Appointments & Inquiries

For any medical needs or assistance, please contact Paws and Tails Veterinary Hospital：


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