How do I Make a Curve for a Diabetic Cat?

You've just been told that your cat has diabetes, and you are most likely wondering what to do next. Feline diabetes is not necessarily a death sentence; in some cases, it can be managed effectively with diet, exercise and the proper daily dosage of insulin. One way to aid your cat's veterinarian in determining your furry friend's daily insulin needs is to create a blood glucose curve charting your feline's blood glucose levels throughout a 24-hour period.

Things You'll Need

  • Blood glucose monitor
  • Test strips
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Instructions

    • 1

      Take a base blood glucose reading immediately after administering the first daily dose of insulin. Write the number down.

    • 2

      Take the next blood glucose reading exactly two hours later, and write the new number down. Proceed to test and notate the blood glucose levels every two hours over an entire 24-hour time period.

    • 3

      Chart the results of your cat's blood glucose numbers over the 24-hour period either by hand on paper or in your computer's spreadsheet program.

    • 4

      Plot the times you took the blood glucose readings along the bottom of the chart. Use the vertical axis to plot the blood glucose level readings.

    • 5

      Draw a dot for each reading, and connect them to create the blood glucose curve if you are manually charting the information.

    • 6

      Enter the hours and blood glucose test results into your spreadsheet program if you are electronically creating the curve. Highlight the cells and insert a "line" chart, for example, if you are using Excel. Your spreadsheet program should automatically plot the information into a "curve" for you on the chart.

    • 7

      Take this information to your cat's veterinarian to determine the best insulin dosage to regulate your feline's diabetes.