The change from (or to; I can never keep that straight) Daylight Saving Time last weekend resulted in the usual inconvenience and confusion at the cosy apartment. It would not have been as troublesome if I didn’t have two diabetic cats.
Every day, I wake at 5.35 a.m. On weekdays, it is because I have to go to work, so I inject Tucker and Parker with their insulin about half an hour later, after the insulin has warmed sufficiently to be given. I also scoop the litter-boxes and feed the beasts. On holidays and other days off, I wake at 5.35 a.m. as well, because I need to give the insulin at the same time each day. When I needn’t go to work, I normally go back to bed for a couple of hours.
This past Sunday, I woke at 5.35, according to my bedside clock, and began my routine. You can no doubt see where this is going. I soon realised that it was indeed 5.35, but the new 5.35, which meant that, by the ‘insulin schedule’, I was an hour early. I was told when Tucker was diagnosed with diabetes that the insulin could be given within an hour on either side of the correct time for the injection. But I thought this morning that a full hour might be too much. So I went back to bed, for half an hour.
I rose again at what my bedside clock told me was six a.m. - five a.m., by the ‘insulin schedule’. I left the insulin out to warm to room temperature; that takes about half an hour. I then administered it to the boys at 5.30 by the old schedule - only half an hour off - and then went back to bed, again. That evening, their doses were given at six p.m. It was an hour behind the schedule, but it had arrived there by two half-hour increments, which I felt would be a sufficiently mild change.
In fact, I probably could have given Tucker and Parker their medicine an hour early right from the start with no ill effects. But I didn’t want to take the chance. However, my actions resulted in a disruption of the day at its beginning, and I don’t think it - or I - recovered properly. Sunday was followed by the work-week, which of course destroys any attempt to catch up on my rest, so I will sleep properly only this coming weekend.
As I like to say at this time of year, “Only two and a half months until my holidays…”
The whole Spring Ahead, Fall Back routine is much, too much of a hassle, and there is no good reason for it anymore. Here in Michigan, one brave politician has entered a bill to get us to remain permanently on DST, but apparently there is little interest from any of the other politicos. C'mon, folks! Obviously, none of these people have pets to feed or manage...the Autumn time change is the worst! (As The Hubby shakes his head, and thinks that I over-do my dislike of the time change...)
ReplyDeleteThere was talk of abolition of the time change here in Alberta, too, but nothing came of it. You'd think the politicians were receiving bribes from clock-manufacturers...
DeleteIt makes you wonder...but then again, they obviously don't have pets!
DeleteThe time change is trickier when you're dealing with meds like that. Nicki's Flovent should be given 12 hours apart, and by and large it is. I used to be really uptight about it, insisting I do it at precisely 6 AM/6PM daily. Now I figure if I'm within an hour's difference, I'm good. It's still usually in a 15-30 minute range (say 6:15 AM and 6:30 PM), but I don't fret now if it's not at precisely 6 AM. (Not the same for a Diabetic cat, I'm not implying that in any way--that WOULD be more time sensitive.)
ReplyDeleteI think the time change bothered ME more this time than it did the boys. I was "off" and grumpy on Monday, more so than usual for a Monday morning (ha), till I realized it probably was that time shift.
Like the Eastside Cats wrote, there's no valid reason for this anymore. I prefer it lighter in the mornings, given my schedule, so would be happy to stay on standard time all year.
I suspect that the same range you give to Nicki's Flovent would be safe for the insulin, too. It may be as much for myself, though: I find that if one thing disrupts a routine, I could forget everything.
Deletethe entire time change truly is pointless; we heard the arguments what...30 plus years ago how it aided those trying to get in crops; it would cut back on crime, there would be less traffic accidents....etc etc etc
ReplyDeletelet's see; modern technology has aided the farmer
crime sure has cut back considerably and for sure there's far fewer vehicle accidents... { did I mention sarcasm is my middle name } ~~~ ☺☺♥♥
I think you're right: I recall reading that the policy was devised in the First World War to give farmers more time in the fields with the fewer labourers available. And it's definitely a subject over which one may wax sarcastic.
DeleteYou are such a good cat Dad.
ReplyDeleteYou are such a good cat Dad. I prefer the Fall back part.
ReplyDeleteThank you. I like the fall change, too, but we pay for it in the spring, darn it.
DeleteI agree with all of the comments posted above. I'm not a fan of changing the clocks, and I would prefer to stay on standard time all year. As was noted, the time change makes medicating our cats more complicated. And then there was the time I adjusted the clock the wrong way.... :-(
ReplyDeleteTurning the clocks the wrong way could have given you a heck of a lot more sleep or a heck of a lot of extra time for chores, done sleepily...
Deletei agree with everyone - I really don't see the need for daylight saving s time now. And your dilemma illustrates this well. Saskatchewan seems to have the right idea and they survive without changing their time. But Holly was happy to have her dinner an hour earlier.
ReplyDeleteHolly is a very practical creature - a typical cat.
DeleteI love daylight savings. Our clocks go back in a couple of weeks and we will miss it. The first week though always makes me feel jetlagged.
ReplyDeleteI pay no attention to clocks. I go by the birds because they do talk about time. There's also the daylight. I am one lazy son of a gun with no agenda other than to indulge myself and seek out those who think I'm perfect. DST does give people more daylight time to enjoy the sight of their favorite cat priest wandering the parish grounds. - Tom
ReplyDeleteOur clocks don't change until 2 weeks after yours, but I agree, it is difficult with the timing for regular medication.
ReplyDeleteI made the same when I had a diabetic cat. I also went back to bed after the insulin injection. But I was ok with it, it wasn't a problem for me that I need to wake up for a while :)
ReplyDeleteMy vet told us, that we can move the injecton when time changes. And nothing bad never happened. But it probably depends on how much insulin you need to inject. We used small quantity, so it wasn't a problem.