Questions to ask your vet about pet diabetes

Questions to ask your vet about pet diabetes

Appointments go fast, and it's easy to leave with half your questions unasked. Take this checklist with you — it's grouped by what matters at each stage.

At diagnosis

• Which insulin are you prescribing, and exactly what dose and timing?

• Can you or a nurse show me how to store, handle and inject it?

• What and when should I feed, and should the diet change?

• How should I monitor at home, and how often?

• What does low blood sugar (a hypo) look like, and what do I do?

• What's my pet's target glucose range?

• When and how do I contact you between appointments?

For ongoing care

• How is the dose working, and does it need adjusting?

• Do we need a glucose curve, and can I do it at home?

• What weight should my pet be, and are we on track?

• For my cat — is remission a realistic goal, and how do we work towards it?

• For my dog — should I watch for cataracts or other complications?

For emergencies

• What are the warning signs that mean I must call you immediately?

• Who do I contact out of hours, and where's the nearest emergency clinic?

Bring your Mello record to each appointment — it answers many of the "how has it been going?" questions before they're even asked. For a more structured approach, learn how a vet-ready diabetes report can make your appointment more productive.