Monitoring

Changes in insulin requirements

Even after a long period of stability, a cat’s insulin requirements may change as a result of:

Weight loss or gain
Presence of other diseases
Progesterone in unspayed females
Other medications

This is why it’s so important to continually monitor your diabetic cat’s progress and consult your veterinarian if there are sudden changes.

Monitoring your cat’s glucose level

Monitoring your pet’s glucose level is an important step in successful diabetes treatment. This step can be accomplished in two ways:

  1. Measuring glucose level in your pet’s blood. This is the most accurate method, but is either done by your veterinarian in the clinic or at home with a portable glucometer and blood test strips.
  2. Checking your pet’s urine for the presence of glucose. This is not quite as accurate, but can be done at home easily.

Monitoring glucose and ketones in your cat’s urine

Immediately following diagnosis, your veterinarian may ask you to check your pet’s urine one to three times a day at the following intervals:

  1. Early in the morning just before your pet’s first meal and Vetsulin injection.
  2. Late in the afternoon just before the second meal and injection.
  3. Late in the evening.

As your pet’s treatment progresses, less frequent testing will be needed. Regular examinations remain important though, because your pet’s insulin needs can change.

What you need

  1. Clean containers for collecting urine.
  2. Urine dipsticks from your veterinarian.
  3. A place to record results.

Collecting urine

  1. Place your cat in its litterbox.
  2. Have a clean, dry container (dish, bowl, or small pan) ready to catch urine when you cat urinates.
  3. When your pet begins to urinate, slowly slide the container under the urine stream.

Using urine dipsticks

  1. Follow the specific instructions for the dipsticks you’re using, particularly for the time to read results.
  2. Place the dipstick in the container with the urine and soak the test pads.
  3. Remove the dipstick and tap dry.
  4. Read the result for the time specified on the stick bottle (usually 1 minute).
  5. Hold the stick against the chart of the dipstick container to compare colors.
  6. Record the results including time of collection and times of insulin injection given for that day.

Treatment monitoring sheet

Click here for a downloadable copy of the treatment monitoring sheet that you can use to record your cat’s results.

Monitoring blood glucose at home

A stable diabetic cat should have a blood glucose range of about 120−350 mg/dL for most of the day.

Your veterinarian may ask if you are prepared to monitor blood glucose levels at home. This can be done in two ways, and your veterinarian will discuss the best option with you.

  1. Blood test strips similar to those used for testing urine can be used.
  2. A handheld glucometer can be used. Although not essential, handheld glucometers are easy to use and well worth the investment. Your veterinarian will be able to advise you on what model best suits you and your cat's needs.

Collecting and testing a blood sample

A glucometer and glucose test strip are needed for this procedure. Blood can be collected easily from the earflap of the cat by performing the following steps:

  1. Make sure your cat's ear is warm. If not, hold it between your hands or apply a warm compress for about a minute to make blood collection easier.
  2. Quickly prick a clean, hairless part of the ear at the site of the marginal ear vein with a sterile hypodermic needle or lancet.
  3. A small drop of blood will appear. Collect the drop onto the glucose test strip.
  4. Gently but firmly apply pressure to your cat's ear using a clean cotton ball or piece of gauze until it stops bleeding.
  5. Read the test strip or insert it into the glucometer as instructed. Compare the read-out to the normal levels of glucose in cats.

Blood glucose test strips

Blood glucose test strips are used to measure blood glucose concentration—read instructions provided before use. Place a drop of blood on the pad at the end of the strip. After the specified amount of time, wipe the pad and check the color against the chart on the container.

Using a glucometer

For best results, read the instructions first. Place a drop of blood on one of the provided strips; then insert the strip into the glucometer and the glucose concentration will appear.