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.