Alex Gallagher, DVM, MS, DACVIM, shares startling takeaways from research titled Priorities on treatment and monitoring of diabetic cats from the owners’ points of view <link>. While veterinarian recommendations were considered the second most influential in their treatment decision, Gallagher provides alarming details:
- Fewer than 50% of owners reported their veterinarian discussing diabetic remission, use of home blood glucose monitoring or how to recognize unstable disease.
- 25% of owners reported not being taught how to draw insulin
- 27% were not taught to administer insulin
- Owners also noted that websites they found on their own were the most useful resources
- 70% of owners chose home blood glucose monitoring as a preferred method of monitoring; 73% learned about the method from sources other than their veterinarian
Source: Clinician’s Brief, January 2020. Link. Here are the key pearls to put into practice:
- At the time of diagnosis, clinicians and staff members should dedicate time to discuss all aspects of care and monitoring of diabetic cats with owners. This should include demonstrating and having owners practice proper insulin administration.
- Owners are likely to seek information online. Clinicians should be ready to direct owners to accurate and useful websites.
- Many owners may be interested in home glucose monitoring to help manage their diabetic cat and reduce the cost of care. This may be accomplished with blood glucose meters or continuous glucose monitors.
INSIGHTS: We italicized the should in the key pearls. Every one of them needs to be MUSTs. For cat owners, starting to manage feline diabetes must not be a self-service animal health procedure. Thankfully, this study shines a light on the need for proactive client education including follow-up. Video calling and telemedicine tools will fit into the educational needs admirably. . . but ust saying so does not get it done.
Come on Doc!!