Welcome Susan.
One housekeeping detail. While I think the members of this forum are completely trustworthy, you might want to change your user name to something other than your e-mail address so you don't get blasted with spam.
There is a huge amount of information in the starred, sticky notes at the top of the Board. Probably the best way to get started is to begin with reading this information.
As you're settling in, please read the starred, sticky notes at the top of the Topics section. There is a HUGE amount of information in those notes.
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Tight Regulation Protocol: This sticky contains the dosing protocol that we use here. There are also links to the more formal versions -- the Tilly Protocol developed by the counterpart of this group in German and the Queensland/Rand protocol developed by Jacqui Rand, DVM and published in one of the top vet journals.
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New to the Group: Everything you wanted to know about this forum and more. Info on our slang, FAQs, links to sites on feline nutrition and to food charts containing carb counts, how to do a curve and the components to look for, important aspects of diabetes such as ketones, DKA, and neuropathy, and most important, info on hypoglycemia.
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Handling Lantus: how to get the maximum use from your insulin and what to not do with it!
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Lantus depot/shed: This is an important concept for understanding how Lantus works.
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Becoming Data Ready: What data you need in order to be able to work toward remission or tight regulation.
We are very data driven here. If you have not learned how to home test, this is a critically important first step toward allowing you to effectively manage Baby's diabetes. Please let us know if you need help with learning how to home test. There are other aspects of managing Baby's diabetes that you will need to become aware of with regard to the Tight Regulation Protocol that we use.
- it is more time-consuming than most other protocols, but still definitely doable if you work a regular full-time work week
- it is more expensive than most other protocols, but costs can be reduced (e.g. buying glucose test strips from online pharmacies or reputable sellers at eBay or on Amazon)
- members typically buy 3 ml Lantus/Levemir cartridges, refrigerate them after opening and routinely use them for for longer than the 28 days recommended by the manufacturer - when refrigerated, opened cartridges of these insulins are extraordinarily stable
- you will need to test the blood glucose levels of your cat multiple times per day and set up a spreadsheet to track this information.
- you will need to know about hypoglycemia and be prepared to deal with it
- you will need to test for ketones regularly to start with and know about ketoacidosis, but be aware that ketones don't occur once a cat is (and remains) properly regulated
- you will need a brand-name glucometer made for human diabetics that measures whole blood (not plasma-equivalent) and which preferably uses 0.6 µL of blood per test or less
- you will need to use syringes which allow you to measure tiny doses: U100-type, 3/10 cc = 0.3 ml volume and with the half-unit increments printed on the barrel
- you will need to feed the right diet: high-quality low-carb canned food or raw food exclusively
- you will need to feed your cat lots of small meals spread over the day, free-feeding canned food can be an option for some cats
I know this is a huge volume of information to digest. We've all been there. As Jill noted, getting started on the
Health board will help to ease you into this process.
The amount of support that's available here is amazing. The people here are very generous with their time and with their knowledge. Please ask questions and please post regularly.
First off, start reading the sticky notes. It may seem like a lot of information all at once, BUT it's very helpful. I read it more than a handful of times when we first started so I could soak it all in. 
