Feline diabetes will certainly throw you for a loop, forcing all sorts of changes in your life and the life your cat. Being such a complicated condition with many variables, both known and unknown, it's vital that you avoid common errors, especially when it comes to the all-important medicine that will regulate your cat's diabetes: insulin.

1. Precision Of Dosing

Whether you need to put your glasses on, draw up the dose from the vial under a bright lamp or simply slow down a minute before, it's critically important that your cat receives the same dose of insulin prescribed by your veterinarian, for every single dose. Even a slight variance could cause major complications; thus, you need to stop, optimize all conditions, and carefully draw the insulin up into the syringe each time your cat requires the medication.

2. Schedule Of Insulin Administration

Be it fast-acting, intermediate, or long-acting insulin, the time between doses should be calculated with as much accuracy as you can muster. For example, if your cat is dosed at 6:00 am and is taking NPH (neutral protamine Hagedorn), an intermediate-acting medicine, his 12-hour follow-up dose should happen at 6:00 pm, with as little variation as possible. This is because your vet knows how long it takes for the insulin to reach its peak level and how much time passes before the effectiveness begins to taper off, necessitating the next dose. 

3. Using The Right Needle, Every Time

Since the concentrations of insulin differ between types, it's crucial that you use the type of needle your vet has advised, which will accurately dose your cat his specific insulin. The gauge of the needle is how thin it is at the tip, most likely very thin for your cat's comfort, and the length will be short, as you're administering the medicine subcutaneously, or under the top layer of skin. Once you're more familiar with the whole feline diabetes scene, all these numbers, measurements, and other data will become increasingly clear.

4. Knowing How To Use The Needles

Your method of injection (subcutaneous) means the cat's body won't absorb the insulin too quickly, thereby disrupting the precise timing of the medicine. It also means, when done properly, the animal will barely feel a pinch, if anything at all. Your vet will demo the proper technique, repeatedly, if necessary, to ensure you're confident and accurate when you inject your cat with his needed insulin.

5. Rotating The Site Of Injections

Despite the needles being very thin, injection sites can become sore after so many shots, with bumps forming where you stick the needle in, mandating a rotation technique around the cat's body or scruff, wherever you usually insert the needle.  

6. Dietary Consistency 

Particularly if your feline has been difficult to regulate or has seemingly become unregulated without cause, be painstakingly consistent with what he eats. Never offer him a nibble of your own food (no matter long he gives you those irresistible googly-eyes), and if you have other pets, don't let your diabetic cat near their food. Also, make sure everyone in the house, including visitors, adheres to the strict diet your vet has recommended. Diabetes management most often involves a combination of food and insulin, with both being equally important in keeping your cat regulated.

While you always want to be watchful for symptoms of a diabetic crisis, like lethargy, vomiting, lack of appetite, and confusion, you always want to work to avoid such hazards in the first place. It can be a tough disease to manage, especially since your cat can't speak to you in English if he's feeling a bit off or weird. Listen closely to your vet's instructions and don't hesitate to call or visit the animal hospital when you're worried about your diabetic cat. 

For more information, contact companies such as Kenmore Veterinary Hospital.