Norman left the hospital 1 month ago: I need advice
Norman (14/male) was diagnosed with diabetes and hospitalized for 6 days. He had to stabilize, he had hepatic lipidosis and ketones, but not acidosis. We just caught it before it got worse.
Long story short: he throws up wet food, so that's not an option (I tried). He also has a poultry allergy.
He was adjusted to 4 units of glargine in the hospital. Came home, went hypo (passed out), then went down to 3 and went hypo (only on the CGM), then 2 and went hypo, then now he's at 1.
This has been so freaking hard. He drinks water constantly. Out of the toilet, bathtub, anything. Today he starting yowling over his water bowl and pawing around it. But he looks good though, and he's eating, and last night I tried changing his food to a lower carb kibble (I think that's why he may have been yowling?) He was on instinct rabbit limited ingredient recipe...but that gives MY OTHER cat Ollie diarrhea. So I tried the new food (mixed it in), but I think it upset his stomach? I genuinely don't know.
So obviously I know he's not stable or he wouldn't be drinking/peeing this much. His labs were taken on the 19th though, and everything looked great, and his liver numbers are almost completely cleared. No ketones, etc. But his BG ran high while his monitor was still on him. high 300s, then would dip into like the 150 range for a period, then go up.
My biggest fear is this: 2 units made him go hypo, but 1 seems to be dysregulating him. The glargine doesn't come in half doses. I'm a total mess, always worrying about him. He's such a sweet boy. He's clearly uncomfortable. It breaks my heart. He came home from the hospital on May 6th, so it hasn't been that long, but his constant drinking is really starting to worry me. His next check up is on the 12th of this month, but I guess what I'm trying to gauge is, is this normal at first? Can this water drinking issue and hyperglycemic stuff clear up over time? Am I being impatient?
I love this animal with all my heart, but I will put him down if treating him means that he's always uncomfortable and sad. He comes out and hangs with us, purrs when I pet him, but like, barely hangs out with his brother anymore and mostly sleeps under my bed. But he looks so much better, is gaining weight, and if he wasn't drinking this much water, I'd honestly say he was doing pretty good. I know the hospital stay was long and upsetting for him, and I want to give him the time he needs, but I feel like I'm torturing this poor cat. I'm so nervous he'll be put up to 2 units again and go hypo.
Does anyone have any advice based on having a similar experience with their cat? The food situation with his brother Oliver getting diarrhea is a nightmare. I truly don't know what to do.