Lantus and feedings Q

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MoeMoe

MoeMoe

Member Since 2021
Since Lantus is a long acting insulin can I feed my cat his 2 main meals (with his Lantus BID) and small snacks during the day or is that defeating the purpose?
 
MoeMoe said:
Since Lantus is a long acting insulin can I feed my cat his 2 main meals (with his Lantus BID) and small snacks during the day or is that defeating the purpose?
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Other members more experienced will reply but you can definitely feed small snacks throughout the day! Lots of members feed their cats 4 or more mini meals a day! So it sounds like you're on the right track! :)
 
As you can see I am very new not only to the forum but also to feline diabetes. I've had wonderful help from all on the forum so far and learning more every day.

My kids posed the question yesterday about the Lantus, which made sense to consider asking. By the time my boy waits between meals he gets upset with everyone (I don't blame him).

Chris
 
As long as you withhold food two hours prior to his shot, feed all you want.
Most of us give small meals throughout the cycles. I feed 2-4 times a day, free feeding at night.
 
Lots of people feed the two main meals at shot time, and then 2 to 4 snacks for the first half of each cycle, or until the nadirs. Since you are not home testing yet, you don't know when your kitty gets his nadir. I would probably feed snacks every couple hours until about +8 for now, for both cycles per day.
 
I feed him usually between 6-7am and 6-7pm. I give him a shot right after each meal.

So he should only get food up to 8 hrs after his shot. That would be for during the day and at night?
I do not feed him during the night.

The vets said 2 meals and shots only per day but I really see that as unreasonable.
Definitely will contact the vet to let her know he needs to eat during the day too.

I am having such a difficult time understanding and so overwhelmed with the entire care for him.

He is about to chew my arm off by the time 8-10 hrs after eating and makes life really rough in the house.

I am just trying to get some harmony back in the house.

I am tired and overwhelmed.
 
MoeMoe said:
I feed him usually between 6-7am and 6-7pm. I give him a shot right after each meal.

So he should only get food up to 8 hrs after his shot. That would be for during the day and at night?
I do not feed him during the night.

The vets said 2 meals and shots only per day but I really see that as unreasonable.
Definitely will contact the vet to let her know he needs to eat during the day too.

I am having such a difficult time understanding and so overwhelmed with the entire care for him.

He is about to chew my arm off by the time 8-10 hrs after eating and makes life really rough in the house.

I am just trying to get some harmony back in the house.

I am tired and overwhelmed.
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I totally understand. Sister is my second diabetic kitty, and this one is "messy" compared to my other cat in 2018. Missy's illness was uncomplicated and she went into remission in 6 weeks. Missy adored her food and ate anything you put in front of her. Sister, however, got a URI immediately before being diagnosed (received antibiotic shot & ear drops) so it has been a struggle to get sufficient food into her for the 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. shoots. Her appetite is tricky. She has been reduced from 1 unit Lantus to 1/2. I was giving her in between meal snacks when she asked (she will come find me) but then she is not really hungry for dinner, for instance. So I ceased that. I start to stress about being able to give her the evening dose. I absolutely hate all this stress. She is not the only ill cat I own and this recent diagnosis is taking its tole.
Hugs to you.
You are not alone.
Oh, and like yours, Sister was prescribed Purina ProPlan DM dry cuz she's a crunch junkie. Just ordered Young Again Zero, no carb dry on line. Nobody ever told me about that food.
 
Ann & Sister said:
I totally understand. Sister is my second diabetic kitty, and this one is "messy" compared to my other cat in 2018. Missy's illness was uncomplicated and she went into remission in 6 weeks. Missy adored her food and ate anything you put in front of her. Sister, however, got a URI immediately before being diagnosed (received antibiotic shot & ear drops) so it has been a struggle to get sufficient food into her for the 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. shoots. Her appetite is tricky. She has been reduced from 1 unit Lantus to 1/2. I was giving her in between meal snacks when she asked (she will come find me) but then she is not really hungry for dinner, for instance. So I ceased that. I start to stress about being able to give her the evening dose. I absolutely hate all this stress. She is not the only ill cat I own and this recent diagnosis is taking its tole.
Hugs to you.
You are not alone.
Oh, and like yours, Sister was prescribed Purina ProPlan DM dry cuz she's a crunch junkie. Just ordered Young Again Zero, no carb dry on line. Nobody ever told me about that food.
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I have 4 other cats and 2 dogs but Moe is the Alpha of the animal family. When this all started we didn't seem to understand he was telling us that something was wrong (not very smart humans). The last few days I have been giving him snacks during the day and letting him lay on a micro-circulation pad that has calmed him down.

Yes the stress of this disease not only for the cat but what toll it puts on the human family too.

Hugs to you as well.
 
I haven't a clue why vets suggest feeding only twice a day especially if a cat is not yet regulated. An unregulated diabetic is literally starving. I would keep an eye on your cat's weight. As long as MoeMoe doesn't become too, ummmmm.... "fluffy," it's fine to provide snacks up until 2 hours prior to your shot time.

I would, however, encourage you to get rid of the DM dry. It's very high in carbohydrates. However, I would not recommend any food change until you start home testing. Home testing is the best way to insure your cat's safety.
 
Sienne and Gabby (GA) said:
I haven't a clue why vets suggest feeding only twice a day especially if a cat is not yet regulated. An unregulated diabetic is literally starving. I would keep an eye on your cat's weight. As long as MoeMoe doesn't become too, ummmmm.... "fluffy," it's fine to provide snacks up until 2 hours prior to your shot time.

I would, however, encourage you to get rid of the DM dry. It's very high in carbohydrates. However, I would not recommend any food change until you start home testing. Home testing is the best way to insure your cat's safety.
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Moe has been about 12 lbs all of his adult life. When we first took him in he was 9.6lbs then 9.3lbs but last week he was 10.2lbs, so that is the good thing. In the last few days with the Lantus dosage of 2.5U BID and snacks during the day and right before bed (I also am feeding him 50/50 of wet DM original and DM savory selects to get the carbs down in the diet as per agreement with the vet last week). His demeanor has changed from angry and aggressive to more like himself.

The DM dry kibble I am slowly either giving some to the others or give Moe a few pieces as a treat. I figure giving the others the DM dry is is lower in carbs than the Hill's w/d kibble. I don't want to waste the expensive purchase.

I plan on getting a baby scale so I can keep an eye on all the cats. I still need to get the other supplies.
 
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