Daily Care Routines
A day-in-the-life structure for managing your pet's diabetes: when to feed, inject, test, and log. Consistency builds confidence.
Morning Routine
First thing: feed, inject, log
1. Feed your pet
Give their regular meal at the same time each morning. This signals to their body that insulin is coming and helps stabilize glucose.
2. Give the morning insulin injection
Use the exact dose your vet prescribed. Inject at the same time each day. This consistency is what allows your vet to fine-tune dosing.
3. Log everything
Record the time, dose, meal, and any observations (appetite, energy, mood). These notes help your vet spot patterns.
Tip: Aim for the same time each day. Small variations (within 30 minutes) are okay, but consistency is your ally.
Midday Check
Observe and monitor
Watch, don't worry
Around mid-day, take a mental note of how your pet is doing. Are they alert? Eating normally? Drinking? Any unusual behaviour?
Note patterns, not moments
A single off day doesn't mean something's wrong. But patterns—multiple days of lethargy, increased thirst, or poor appetite—are worth logging and discussing with your vet.
Log if needed: If your vet has asked you to test glucose during the day, do it now. Otherwise, a quick observation is fine.
Evening Routine
Mirror the morning: feed, inject, log
1. Feed your pet
Same meal, same amount, at the same time as morning. This predictability helps your pet's body expect insulin and keeps overnight glucose stable.
2. Give the evening insulin injection
Same dose, same time, every day. This consistency is how your vet can safely manage your pet's diabetes.
3. Log evening details
Record time, dose, meal, and observations. Note how your pet looks before bed—calm, energetic, sleepy���all helpful context.
Tip: Keep the evening routine calm. Your pet's night glucose depends partly on this predictable wind-down.
Weekly Review
Weight and symptom check
Weigh your pet
Once a week, weigh your pet at the same time of day. Sudden weight changes (up or down) can signal changes in glucose control or appetite.
Review symptoms
Look back at the week. Has your pet's energy improved? Is thirst stable? Any accidents or unusual behaviour? These patterns help your vet make adjustments.
Note trends
Are glucose readings trending up, down, or steady? Is your pet more alert? More stable? Share these observations with your vet at check-ups.
Reminder: Small changes day-to-day are normal. It's the week-to-week and month-to-month patterns that tell the real story.
Daily Routine Checklist
Print this checklist and post it on your fridge. Check off each task as you complete it.
Morning
Midday
Evening
Weekly (pick a day)
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