Piece of cake

Today on the Feline Diabetes Message Board I commented that taking care of Isabella's diabetes is a piece of cake. That may come as a surprise to people who are new to the diabetes game. It can seem overwhelming at first. It was overwhelming at first, but now, after two years, I've got it down. It's part science, part art, part obsessive-compulsiveness, but you too can manage your kitties diabetes and have a life. A regular life. Really!

Here's how diabetes fits into my day:

6am: wake up! Feed cats (OK, I admit I don't like this part. I never get to sleep in, even on the weekends. That sorta sucks.)
6:30ish: test Isabella's blood glucose and give insulin. This takes maybe five minutes. Less if I get blood readily. There are still times that she just won't bleed in spite of poking her full of tiny holes. And yes, she sits there and lets me poke the holes.
7:00am: off to work for me, off to naps for the kits.
4:15pm: home from work and feed cats again. If I'm smart, I pee before I leave work because they get really cranky if I run to the bathroom before popping the lid off the cat food.
4:30pm: test Isabella's blood sugar. This test is really just to satisfy my curiosity.
6:30pm: test blood sugar and give insulin. This is the test that matters because it tells me that she's OK to get insulin - not too low in the sugar department.
9:00pm: one last meal for the cats. This is the one that lets me sleep all night without listening to whining. Brilliant!

That's it. No big deal at all. If I'm home I may test her more just to see what's happening, but it's not required. I can and do shift her shot times if I have to be somewhere, but for the most part she stays on an every-twelve-hours insulin schedule. When I travel, I hire a sitter to come twice a day to feed and give insulin. I've asked the sitter to keep the 12-hour schedule, but I honestly don't know if she does. I just try not to worry about little things like that because Isabella has always done fine when I've gone away.

I admit that I lost plenty of sleep at first. I admit that I used to wait until the stroke of 6:30 before giving insulin (what if I was 10 minutes early? Or late? Gasp!) And I know I'm lucky to have a pretty predictable schedule that allows for a tidy routine. Some people have more chaos to work around. But regardless, taking care of feline diabetes takes about ten minutes a day. It really is a piece of cake.

A day in the life of a diabetic cat

1:17am: Hey! The lady's arm is out from under the covers. She knows that bugs me, but I can fix this. (CHOMP) Screech! "Punky! You bitch!" Ah, that's better. Me on top of the covers; her, underneath. Just how I like it.

3:44am: It's been a while since I slept on the couch. I know the lady worries when I'm not on the bed; she wants me nearby in case I go low or something. Too bad. I'm moving. She can sleep on the couch with me if she's so concerned. Besides, Casey is out there and I can smack him around a little before I doze off again.

5:15am: Must be getting near time to get fed. I'll move back to the bed and stare at the lady to see if I can make her wake up.

6:00am: (Alarm goes off.) Food! Food! Food! Food! Get up lady! Food! Food! Food! Don't go back to sleep! I'm right here!! Food!! Food! Jeez! You can pee later! Food!! OK OK!! Open the can! Hurry! Hurry!! Food!! Ahhhhhhhh.....

6:15am: That lady is still in the shower. I know she needs to test me, but I'll just lie down here for a minute. Here she comes. Yep, she's got the treats. Oh, she's getting out the stuff. OK, I'll wander over to the couch.

6:20am: This testing deal isn't so bad since the lady started using the clicker thing. But it sure was fun before when I howled and growled. She'd get so upset! I sort of miss the drama. (beep) OK, you've had your fun and got your beep. I'll take those bonita flakes now. Yes, in a special dish - it's what I deserve. And since you recognize that it's what I deserve, I'll pretend I don't notice that you're sticking me - again. That stuff is cold.

6:50am: Yaaawwwnnnn. Time for a nap. Bed? Or couch? Bed, I think. She'll be in to make the bed pretty soon, and I'll be in the way. Perfect.

2:00pm: Uh oh! Here comes a barf. Hurp-hurp-hurp-hurp-hurp. Ahhhhhhh. That's better. I'll move to the couch now.

4:20pm: I hear the car! I hear it! There she is! Hey lady!! Food!! Food! Food! Jeez! You can pee later! Food!! OK OK!! Open the can! Hurry! Hurry!! Food!! Ahhhhhhhh.....

5:00pm: I'm feeling pretty good. Full tummy. Great sleep. Oh look - the lady is washing the bedspread. She sure does that a lot. Well, time for a test. I wonder why Casey gets tuna flakes too, when I'm the one giving blood and getting a shot? I'll have to smack him around a little, just to even things up.

5:15pm: I'll just crawl up into the lady's lap while she's watching the news. I fit just perfectly. Yaaaawwwnnnnn. Time for a nap.

7:03pm: Wha?? Where'd she go? Oh, at the computer. No problem - I'll just lay down on her papers and nap there. I know she gets lonely if I'm not around. I can give my butt a good cleaning too.

9:00pm: Food! Food! Food! Food! C'mon lady! Food! Food! Food! You don't need to wait for a commercial! I'm hungry now!! Food!! Food! Jeez! Can't you tell time??? Food!! OK OK!! Open the can! Hurry! Hurry!! Food!! Ahhhhhhhh.....

10:22pm: Lady, puhleeze. Can't you tell I'm sleeping here? You move to he other side of the bed - I was here first. And make sure you don't leave any arms hanging out. You just keep all that stuff tucked up or you know what'll happen.