This guide is designed to help new cat owners navigate the complexities of feline diabetes, offering essential information and support. If you’re new to managing a diabetic cat, you’ve come to the right place. This article will walk you through the initial steps, from understanding diagnosis to setting up vital tracking tools.
Understanding Your Cat’s Diagnosis
When your cat is diagnosed with diabetes, it’s natural to feel overwhelmed. The initial diagnosis often involves blood glucose (BG) tests, and sometimes a fructosamine test, which provides a two-week average of your cat’s blood sugar levels. It’s important to understand that not all BG readings are cause for immediate alarm; a reading of 180 mg/dL, for instance, is not necessarily a critical number.
Dietary Considerations
The food you choose plays a crucial role in managing feline diabetes. High-carbohydrate foods, including many dry kibbles, can significantly impact blood sugar levels. Some wet foods, like RC Glycobalance, may also be too high in carbohydrates for a diabetic cat. If you’re unsure about the carbohydrate content of your cat’s food, it’s best to consult resources or knowledgeable community members. There is often no need for prescription food from the outset.
Setting Up Your Support System: Signature and Spreadsheet
To help the community provide you with the most accurate advice, setting up a “signature” and utilizing a shared spreadsheet are highly recommended.
The Cat Caregiver Signature
Your signature is a brief profile that appears at the end of every post you make. It provides essential information at a glance for fellow members and moderators. To set it up:
- Click on your username at the top of the page.
- Navigate to the “Signature” section.
- Fill in the following details:
- Caregiver & kitty’s name
- Diagnosis Date (DX: Date)
- Name of Insulin (dose and frequency are not needed here)
- Name of your meter
- Diet: Specify “LC wet” (low-carb wet), “dry food,” or “combo.”
- Dosing method (if applicable): TR (Tight Regulation), SLGS (Start Low, Go Slow), or Custom.
- Any recent health issues (e.g., DKA – Diabetic Ketoacidosis).
- Specific conditions like Acro, IAA (Insulin Autoantibody), or Cushings (if applicable).
- A link to your cat’s spreadsheet. This link should be on its own line at the very bottom of your signature.
Please refrain from including your location in the signature for privacy and security reasons. You can add your country to your profile if desired. Remember to save your changes.
The Feline Diabetes Spreadsheet
A spreadsheet is an invaluable tool for tracking your cat’s blood glucose levels over time. This data helps the community understand how your cat is responding to insulin and when adjustments might be needed.
Understanding Spreadsheet Terminology:
- AMPS (AM Pre-Shot): The first blood glucose test taken in the morning. Food should be withheld for two hours prior to testing to ensure the reading isn’t influenced by recent meals.
- Units: This column indicates the amount of insulin administered.
- +1, +2, +3, etc.: These denote the time elapsed since insulin administration (e.g., +1 is one hour after injection, +2 is two hours after, and so on). Testing at these intervals helps track the insulin’s effect.
- PMPS (PM Pre-Shot): Similar to AMPS, this is the pre-injection blood glucose test taken in the evening. Food should be withheld for two hours prior.
We use the “+ numbers” for testing intervals rather than specific times because members are located in different time zones.
Setting Up Your Spreadsheet:
You can find a comprehensive guide on how to create your spreadsheet here: https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/how-to-create-a-spreadsheet.241706/
You can also review other members’ spreadsheets, accessible via the link in their signatures, to see how they are structured and what information they contain.
Insulin Dosing and Adjustment
Adjusting insulin doses is typically done in small increments, often by 0.25 units at a time. It’s important to note that insulin doses are generally not adjusted based solely on pre-shot readings.
Seeking Further Assistance
If you encounter any difficulties while setting up your signature or spreadsheet, do not hesitate to ask for help. There are many experienced members who are eager to assist new caregivers. Accessing these resources and participating in the community can make a significant difference in managing your cat’s diabetes effectively.
