managing cat diabetes for owners who are shift-workers

Hi all,

My girlfriend and I have a (wonderful) cat who was recently diagnosed with diabetes. He's been losing weight for a few months, and then he developed polyuria, and was found to have diabetes on laboratory testing. We are starting insulin (glargine BID).

I am wondering if there are owners in this community who are shift-workers, who could provide some practical advice on how to manage diabetes when owners do shift-work. My girlfriend and I have fairly unusual work schedules. We are in training at a teaching hospital. Often, we have to work 14-hour shifts, and for several months out of the year we will regularly work 30-hour overnight shifts every few days. For 1-2 months in the year, we will work all 12- to 16-hour night shifts. Unfortunately, we don't really have the job flexibility to be able to change this, at least not for a few years. Leaving the hospital mid-shift is not really an option at all.

Any practical advice from people who have experience caring for cats with diabetes through busy work schedules, in particular shift-work, would be hugely appreciated. I've been reading up on everything I can find, but haven't found a whole lot on this particular topic; so I thought I'd throw it out here. We are just getting started at this, but we are dedicated to providing our cat with the love and care he deserves!

Thanks so much!!!

Bob

 

Welcome!
While I don't quite have the shift awings that you do, I work 2 jobs and sometimes the P/T job I work on the weekends schedules me to be at work at 5am. I normally shoot cedric at 6am, so that is a 2 hour change (leave at 4am to get there by 5). sometimes I work a gradual change of shoot time, or if possible, I get my pet sitter/vet tech to come. Do both of you work the same shifts all the time? If not, you both can learn to to test and shoot and take turns.

 

Ideas:

Hire a knowledgeable vet tech for part time assistance; your vet's office may have a couple interested in picking up extra work.

See about training a pet sitter in exchange for a discount on services.

A local college or high school may have students interested in or learning veterinary science; check with college pre-Vet or Vet Tech departments or high school guidance counselors for those interested in hands on experience to build their applications for advanced study or program admission.

 

Just do the best you can. A couple of years ago I gave shots on a 16/8 hour schedule on the weekends for about two years.

 

Perhaps you can work her into possible remission and then it wont be an issue? One study shows 84% of cats can go into remission with 3 key factors - and we see it fairly often on this board!

- A good insulin like Lantus - you have this
- A low carb wet food can reduce blood sugar significantly- what are you feeding?
- Home blood testing to monitor blood changes, and keep the cat safe - we can advise on this

let me know

Wendy

 

We have another member who does the calendar fundraiser, Deanie and Boo, when she was treating Boo I believe she had extended shifts and would shoot on a 10/14 schedule.

It will be more important for you both to hometest because you will need to know if you should shoot insulin or not, or lower the dose. on those 30 hr shifts it would definitely help to have someone close by willing to stop in and test/shoot insulin but I know that may be hard to find. There may be cat sitters/vet techs experienced with testing and giving insulin that can help.