How do you track your cat's BG, insulin doses, and symptoms? Spreadsheet? App? Paper?

V

vmg

Member Since 2026
Hey everyone 👋


My cat, Jeg, was recently diagnosed with diabetes and I'm trying to figure out the best way to track everything — blood glucose readings, insulin doses, meal times, weight, symptoms.
Right now I'm using a notebook but it's getting messy. I looked at the Merck Pet Diabetes Tracker app but the reviews are... not great (crashes, data loss?).

A few things I'm curious about:
  1. What do you currently use to track? (app / spreadsheet / paper / something else?)
  2. What's the most annoying thing about your current method?
  3. How do you share data with your vet? Do you just show them your phone/printout?
  4. If there was a reliable app that actually worked — what features would be must-haves for you?
  5. How many times a day do you log something? (BG readings, insulin, food, etc.)

Would love to hear your experience and help me to find the best way to help Jeg 🙏

Thanks!
 
Welcome to FDMB.

We use a spreadsheet. The information on the spreadsheet and how to use it is in this post on helping us to help you. The spreadsheet as a column for dose ("U" for units), the blood glucose reading at shot time (AMPS -- AM Pre-Shot and PMPS -- PM Pre-Shot) and then tests that are in the hours after you give a shot. There's also a section to the far right of the sheet for comments. The spreadsheet is a Google Sheets document that member share. We make it accessible to members here so if advice or guidance is needed, we can all see how your cat is doing. You can also give your vet the link so the vet can monitor progress, as well. Or, as you noted, bring your phone or tablet so the vet can look.

I've never screened apps. I've been here a long time and have been using our spreadsheet. The spreadsheet is sufficiently popular that other feline diabetes groups keep stealing it. What I find annoying is that if someone uses another group's spreadsheet and it's been poached from us, it often blows up.

I find that simply being able to track blood glucose test data is essential. The only other info I would include in the comments is if my cat was on any other medication, a change in my insulin supply (i.e., I'd run out and started a new container), and if I was giving higher carb food to prevent numbers from dropping too low. I didn't specifically track food.

I was a testaholic. I tested a lot. I also had a cat who had an early nadir and could drop like a rock into low numbers.

Member here have their spreadsheets linked in their signatures. You can look at the spreadsheet. Just keep in mind that with people using continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) for their cats, the spreadsheets can get filled up. The minimum number of tests you need is 4 -- the two pre-shot tests and at least one test during both the AM and PM cycles.
 
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