Hello and welcome to the forum!
First and foremost everyone who comes here - the first time - you're filled with apprehension, self-doubt and that sick feeling from finding out your beloved pet has diabetes!
As for your vet showing you the ropes - it's all well and good if you can do that - many of us couldn't/wouldn't. My vet told me 'if it were my cat I'd put her down' - so obviously he wasn't going to help me in any way! He did after I set up an appointment to 'talk' - give me a prescription for Novalin Insulin, 2 units a day and a recommendation for syringes. That's it. No mention of testing her before giving insulin or anything else along those lines. He DID however tell me that he had one patient who he gave the insulin/directions, etc. to and they came home and found their cat dead - really? I was terrified at that point!! OMG am I going to kill my cat because of my stupidity? How could that have happened?
Well after reading this forum, the stickies, and absorbing the information HERE, I now know why that happened. It was because the vet gave them an Rx for Novalin and the same instructions that he'd given me - they'd gone home and without testing their cat - gave her 2 units of insulin and then LEFT for the day. Their cat died of an insulin overdose since they had no clue what her blood glucose was before/after giving the insulin; no idea what they'd been feeding it, etc.
So you see the morale of the story is INFORMATION will help you to take care of your cat. There's a ton of it here. Sometimes I felt like I was trying to drink water from a firehose - and I'd NEVER get all of this figured out!
I asked a lot of questions and reeled sometimes at the responses - they wanted me to do WHAT? TEST how often? OMG!!
I already had a full plate with working full time, a home, a husband and the usual responsibilities of life - how in the name of god was I going to drop everything multiple times a day and test this cat??? And let me tell you, every time was a horror-show. It was time-consuming, nerve wracking and awful. Trying to wrestle Luci into position took TWO of us! One to hold her down and the other to do the poking and jabbing and the trying to get the blood on that darn little stick - the whole thing was unfamiliar and I mumbled to myself - I see why that vet said what he said...I'm not sure I can do this - I felt like such a failure.
I'd end up a sweaty exhausted mess with every attempt...but I persisted...over time it became easier...it took several weeks, maybe a month or so before Luci caught on to what was going on - every time she was held on the testing towel - she'd get a treat - always a spoonful of Fancy Feast or a freeze dried piece of salmon or chicken!
Ah ha she says...they call me for this business and I get food! She started showing up at testing time and sitting in front of us...by golly this girl was catching on!
Fast forward to now - she jumps up on the counter where I test her BEFORE it's time - and waits for me. When I unfold her towel she starts purring!!! Yes, this is my cat!!! UnBELIEVABLE! I actually took pictures of her laying on the testing towel to share with this group - how far had Luci come in such a short time...she actually really likes the antibiotic ointment - something about the smell of it - to her - must be wonderful. I don't smell anything at all...she even purrs after she's eaten her meals and I pick her up to give her the shot - quick poke in the scruff - and she's off with no mind to it whatsoever - as if nothing has happened at all...
So anyway...that's our story...please rest assured - if you listen to the folks on this board you too can become a great success story - help your cat and then help others if you're of a mind to do so. There are many here who've taken their cats right to remission - I'm not one of them - Luci has been reluctant to go that far - but she's alive, healthy and full of spunk. And I think often of that vet and his words - if I'd listened to him I would have grieved my girl over a year ago - so instead I give her some of my time, and yes some money too, but after all she's a member of our family and she deserves whatever it takes to help her live a long, healthy and happy life.
Wishing you the best on the beginning of your journey - and for you I hope it's a short one.
Read the stickies, get your Spreadsheet working (there is help for all of that here, just ask) and tomorrow when you post you can put the date, your cats name, and her AMPS (her blood glucose number in the morning before you give her first dose of insulin)...Lantus?
You may also want to add all that information to your SS or your signature so that everyone will know your name, your kitties name; date of diagnosis; type of food; testing meter type; which protocol you're following; etc. You can look at the other threads to see how it's typically done. You can also look at others peoples condos (the thread for the day and all the responses) and their SS's to see how their kitties are doing and the kinds of information we all share there. I found that tremendously helpful.
I'll look for your post tomorrow
Again - welcome to the best forum on the internet for helping your kitty with FD.
I remember when I started, I was really discouraged and someone told me "it's gonna be like brushing your teeth; just a little something you add to your daily routine"! Didn't believe her at all, but she was right. Don't expect to succeed right away and at every shot! The most important thing is that you're trying and you will get all the help needed on this Forum! Never be afraid to post and ask questions!! 
