Managing Ollie's diabetes at home

I am writing this to share my current routine for Ollie, who was diagnosed with diabetes last year. Since we are not seeing the vet as often as we used to, I have settled into a specific schedule that keeps his levels stable. I find that consistency is everything when you are dealing with an 8-year-old tabby who has a chronic condition. I would love to hear if anyone else has a similar system in place.

Joan, I am glad you are posting this. I am in the same boat with Dolly, my 9-year-old grey shorthair. We do test her twice a week, usually on Mondays and Thursdays. I use the meter from Feline glucometer recommendations because the older ones gave me inconsistent readings. Do you test Ollie on a specific day of the week, or do you go by how he is acting that morning?

Thank you, Sharon. I actually test Ollie five days a week. I skip Saturday and Sunday to give him a break from the procedure. I take his insulin at 7:00 AM and 7:00 PM sharp. I found that the injection technique in Tips for giving insulin injections really helped with his stress levels. He is much calmer now that I know exactly where to pinch the skin.

It is crucial to maintain that consistency, Joan. My Duke is not diabetic, but my Penny has arthritis which makes her less active. For Ollie, have you tried the wet food diet discussed in Dietary management for diabetic cats? I found that dry food caused spikes in my previous cat's blood sugar. Also, since Mabel has kidney issues, I worry about how the two conditions might interact. Did you consult the vet about that?

Yes, Steph, I switched Ollie to wet food only about three months ago. It has made a noticeable difference in his stability. Regarding Mabel, I am keeping a close eye on her water intake. I think you should look at my thread Dealing with dual diagnoses where I wrote down the specific signs to watch for when both conditions are present. It was a difficult balance to strike, but we have found a routine that works.