How To Test Your Diabetic Cat's Blood Sugar At Home

You can monitor your diabetic cat's blood sugar at home using a glucometer -- the same over-the-counter device used by human diabetics. Hometesting can save your cat's life! For more information on this topic go to felinediabetes.com

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• diabetic
• cat
• feline
• diabetes
• blood
• sugar
• test
• glucometer
• hometesting
• insulin
• regulate
• hypoglycemia
• ear
• earprick
• curve

[markNtime]

BUDDY UPDATE: July 2011. Friends, I am sorry to inform you that Buddy, the cat featured in the video, died on July 13, 2011, after a six and a half year run as a diabetic cat. He was fourteen years old. Buddy had been experiencing complications and weight loss from Pancreatic Insufficiency (Maldigestion Disorder). He died peacefully in my arms. If you'd like to honor Buddy's work as a diabetes educator, please make a donation to felinediabetes . com.

[markNtime]

Yes, warming the ear before testing the blood can be very helpful when trying to obtain a blood sample. Using a wet, warm washcloth in a ziptop bag, as you did, or using with a sock filled with microwaved rice both get the job done. As you mentioned, it's important to make sure that the warming mechanism isn't too hot. Testing on your cheek is a great idea. Excellent work, anlaactor!

[markNtime]

Nice work! The meter I used in the video is no longer being manufactured. I have moved onto a Contour meter by Bayer. It requires a very tiny speck of blood for a reading and you get a number in about 3 seconds. That said, I'd look for any standard human glucometer for which you can get the best deal possible on test strips. Those test strips can be expensive. Look at the price of the strips rather than the meter. And again, great work with Stella! You are awesome!

[markNtime]

BUDDY UPDATE: April 2011. Hello, friends. Buddy survived a recent death scare with what turned out to be Pancreatic Insufficiency (Maldigestion Disorder). It's hard to diagnose and for a long time was erroneously thought to be Irritable Bowel Disease. The good news is that Buddy is now on digestive enzymes (PanaKare) which allow him to process his food. He is pushing 14 years old, 6 years diabetic, and going strong. I still test his blood sugar twice each day!

[markNtime]

thanks db! Buddy is doing fine! He was diagnosed almost 5 years ago - Feb 2005! He's been on a small dose Lantus insulin twice daily for the past couple of years. He roams the garden, catches field mice and demands lap time. Buddy is proof that feline diabetes is a treatable, livable condition for cats. You can do this!

[margeryred]

Hey, my cat won't sit still... any tips? Also my cat's veins are not on the rim... I actually have to stick in a little... it is hard to do if the cat isn't just sitting there docile...

[markNtime]

Marg - If possible, try administering the tests when your cat is drowsy or just waking. Do it when they're sitting on a bed, sofa, chair rather than your lap, if that helps... Build in a reward component to the test ritual - a morsel of meat, teaspoon of yogurt, catnip, etc - something your cat will come to favorably associate with the tests... It gets much easier with practice (for you) and familiarity (for the cat).

[XXX2819]

What an awesome cat, my cat looks just like him. Great vid by the way, I watched it many times before our cat's official diagnosis. Hows Buddy doing? Is he off the juice yet?

[Shaleian]

thanks so much for producing this video. Cinder is 13 years old and just diagnosed as diabetic. Today we tested his blood sugar twice at home and it was an real ordeal. After watching your video and recommendations, our next test should be easier for us both and the cat. Best regards and sorry for your loss of Buddy.

[ppitstop38]

I'm sorry that you lost Buddy. I have a 5 yr old male recently diagnosed, and I'm heartbroken because he was healthy as an ox just wks before. I'm hoping I can reverse the disease with strict monitoring and strict diet. The vet gave us Lantus insulin, which sounds like a good insulin, though I've read about something called PZI as well. Thanks for the video. I'm about to test him for the first time with a hand-me-down OneTouch, so I'm nervous! R.I.P. Buddy.

[AlphaG33k1]

@markNtime Thank you so much for the video, it is GREAT! I'm very sorry to hear that Buddy has passed. You and Buddy are still helping countless kitties and their parents by having this video out here.

[SamIam699]

@markNtime Hi markNtime,I'm sorry about buddy,your cat who must've been very important to you. I know the complications of diabetes because I have juvenile diabetes as well. Again,I'm very sorry for what happened to him,he must've been a great cat.

[Kitschkat]

I'm very sorry for your loss. Thank you for preparing such a helpful video. My cat is on his last days, but I'm still trying to help him be comfortable and one of the things I can do is help his blood sugar levels, but I'm not good at testing him.

I will definitely send folks your way and I already help FDMB kitties with my rescue group in CT.

[mpreddig10]

@markNtime I am so sorry to learn of Buddy's death. He surely looked like a wonderful pet and it was surely appropriate that he died peacefully in your arms. Your video was very helpful to me when I started testing my cat. Frasier has been off of insulin for 3 weeks after switching him to zero carb canned food and TR with ProZinc according to your diabetic cat protocol. I continue to test him once a day.

[MsIllusionista]

<3 Buddy

[EGX500]

RIP Buddy..so sad...: (

[ajhpetlover]

I just was sending the video to my sister her cat was just diagnosed 5 days ago, and read about Buddy. My deepest sympathy and may you find comfort in knowing Buddy is still doing his work helping countless other kitties. His spirit of course lives on forever and always.

[crinnyann]

I just heard about Buddy, I'm so sorry :(

This video was such a help to me when my cat was first diagnosed. RIP Buddy, you were a good boy.