Question about Edgar's progress and feeding times

[vexedgirl]

Hi all!

Haven't been here in a while for many reasons. One was that I was out of town for two weeks. Thankfully a certified vet tech was staying at my house, so both kitties got all their meds etc. Another reason is that my other cat, Willa, has been getting lots and LOTS and LOOOOTTTSS of tests done and it turns out she has small cell lymphoma. It is most likely treatable, and she starts oral chemo today.

Anyway, on Edgar. First, good news: his neuropathy is WAY improved. He can stand for longer, is climbing the ramp onto my bed with ease, and has even jumped up on the couch once or twice. He actually TROTS to the kitchen in the morning for food, too, which is awesome.

The bad news is that he's had yet another seizure. Not diabetes related, but I have no idea how it plays into or off of the sugar diagnosis.

So, I did a couple curves recently and I was wondering what the collective hive mind here thinks of his numbers. His doctor is pleased and thinks that 2 units is an appropriate dose to keep him on. I'm semi pleased and would like a little more consistency in his numbers.

I think one of the things that may be causing an issue is related to feeding/shooting times. Here's the problem: I try to get up early enough to feed/shoot between 7:30-8:00 am. That doesn't always work. I try my best. But when it comes to dinner time, it's a different story. Both kitties get absolutely ravenous and insistent by around 5:00 to 6:00. I can hold them off a little if I give them a snack at Edgar's midday pill time, which is 4 pm. But regardless, they are eating far earlier than it is time to shoot. Is that a problem? The gap between eating and shooting I mean?

Thanks all!

 

[Robin&BB]

I think one of the things that may be causing an issue is related to feeding/shooting times. Here's the problem: I try to get up early enough to feed/shoot between 7:30-8:00 am. That doesn't always work. I try my best. But when it comes to dinner time, it's a different story. Both kitties get absolutely ravenous and insistent by around 5:00 to 6:00. I can hold them off a little if I give them a snack at Edgar's midday pill time, which is 4 pm. But regardless, they are eating far earlier than it is time to shoot. Is that a problem? The gap between eating and shooting I mean?

Thanks all!

Yes, that can be a problem: You should not feed in that two-hour window before you shoot him with insulin, as this will give you a "false" higher BG number at pre-shot testing time ("false" meaning that the blood glucose was increased by the food you gave him within 2 hours of the insulin dose).

So withhold food starting 2 hours before you give that PM dose (or any dose am/pm).
Then the sequence is: test BG/ then feed/ then shoot.

 

[Squeaky and KT (GA)]

I'm sure glad to hear how much Edgar's improved physically. As long as he has plenty of food in him when his insulin begins working, there'd be anything wrong with giving them at least a mini-meal. You do need those 2 hours with no food to get a good 'body' test at preshot so you do need to watch the time. Maybe the other half of that mini-meal when you shoot?!

HUGS!

 

[Robin&BB]

Also ... I don't think it's such a good idea to shoot him with 2.0 units of Lantus when you've got a pre-shot # as low as 122 or 129, especially when you're not around to monitor that cycle with additional BG tests - as he could be dropping down into hypoglycemia zone when you're not there to steer with food.

Normally, what you'd do when his pre-shot # is low is: Stall (don't feed) and retest in about 15-20 minutes to see if his BG is rising on its own.* We generally don't recommend shooting insulin at a BG less than 200 unless you're (a) really experienced AND (b) around to monitor BG#s.

*I've had to stall & retest up to 3 to 4 times sometimes before I could get an ok-to-shoot # on my cat.

 

[Robin&BB]

I'd recommend you go to the "stickies" on the Lantus forum and review the protocols for dosing. (I would assume you're using the "Start Low, Go Slow" method rather than TR?) Might want to read through both protocols for the safe dosing guidelines.

 

[vexedgirl]

Yes, that can be a problem: You should not feed in that two-hour window before you shoot him with insulin, as this will give you a "false" higher BG number at pre-shot testing time ("false" meaning that the blood glucose was increased by the food you gave him within 2 hours of the insulin dose).

So withhold food starting 2 hours before you give that PM dose (or any dose am/pm).
Then the sequence is: test BG/ then feed/ then shoot.

I try not to, but sometimes there's no stopping him. Admittedly, I sometimes also forget to bring the food up so he'll end up noshing before I even realize.

 

[Robin&BB]

I try not to, but sometimes there's no stopping him. Admittedly, I sometimes also forget to bring the food up so he'll end up noshing before I even realize.

Well ... seems as though you know what it is you need to do there. I know it's really hard to mind the small details sometimes ... kitties can be quick AND sneaky! (At times, dealing with Bat-Bat, I just wanted to curl up in a ball!)
We can't do it all perfectly all of the time. Just do your best to keep him out of the food in that 2-hr window from here on out. - Robin

 

[vexedgirl]

gonna try. it's especially hard when I wake up late, like today. So he didn't eat until about 8:30 this morning and I KNOW I can't keep him from food that late tonight. For one reason, I have acupuncture at 7:15 tonight and if I don't give him food first, he'll meow like crazy during my whole session. Grr.