8/20 Callie PMPS 248, 201 +2, 170 +3, 157 +4, 121 +6

+2 291 - up up up we bounce :( I think we'll give her ears a little break today and hold off testing again until around +6 (just to see if she comes down a bit around her probable nadir)
 
Bandit's Mom said:
Sounds good. You could also do a +7. Fill up the odd hour gaps in your SS :)
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That works, will do +7 instead of +6.

Back to my feeding ques whenever you have a sec: we leave Callie's wet food out all the time except for the two hours before AMPS and PMPS, She grazes throughout the day but especially around +2/3 and +8/9 (loosely.) Since we are both working from home and have flexible hours, we're usually here and can just top off or freshen the bowl when we see that the food has dried up a bit or if we want her to snack for a specific reason.

I see that a lot of people use timed automatic feeders/ feed more on a more specific schedule. Do you think we should try to change what we are doing so that we feed her at specific times and then pick the food up at specific times? I'm not sure what would benefit Callie most. Our vet just says generally that Callie's grazing throughout the day is good for BG and that it used to be that people were told to only feed diabetic cats twice a day at insulin times but that they've since realized through research that cats who eat smaller meals throughout the day generally do better...
 
Jessica A said:
I see that a lot of people use timed automatic feeders/ feed more on a more specific schedule. Do you think we should try to change what we are doing so that we feed her at specific times and then pick the food up at specific times? I'm not sure what would benefit Callie most. Our vet just says generally that Callie's grazing throughout the day is good for BG and that it used to be that people were told to only feed diabetic cats twice a day at insulin times but that they've since realized through research that cats who eat smaller meals throughout the day generally do better...
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Yes, small meals through the day are definitely better than 2 meals twice a day. The 2 meals a day concept originated with fast-acting insulins like vetsulin/caninsulin which hit hard and you needed food on board. It doesn't apply to the depot insulins. Feeding small meals through the day is easier on the pancreas, keeps the cat happy (some cats also throw up from acid build up if there are long gaps between meals) and also helps prevent dives. Speaking of which, have you seen this sticky?
Using Food to Manipulate the Curve

On grazing vs structured meals, structured meals makes more sense because you want to feed at certain times to manipulate the curve. You also want to feed a bulk of the food before the nadir when the insulin action is strongest and save only a small snack for later in the cycle if they are hungry.
 
I’ll add to what Bhooma wrote regarding serving structured meals, that you want to have control of what BG you are testing, if its half an hour or 3 hours after a meal.

Nice cycle yesterday, hope she stops bouncing soon :bighug:
 
Bandit's Mom said:
Yes, small meals through the day are definitely better than 2 meals twice a day. The 2 meals a day concept originated with fast-acting insulins like vetsulin/caninsulin which hit hard and you needed food on board. It doesn't apply to the depot insulins. Feeding small meals through the day is easier on the pancreas, keeps the cat happy (some cats also throw up from acid build up if there are long gaps between meals) and also helps prevent dives. Speaking of which, have you seen this sticky?
Using Food to Manipulate the Curve

On grazing vs structured meals, structured meals makes more sense because you want to feed at certain times to manipulate the curve. You also want to feed a bulk of the food before the nadir when the insulin action is strongest and save only a small snack for later in the cycle if they are hungry.
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Great, thanks Bhooma. I have mostly been reading what other people do on the boards -- will take a look at that sticky.
 
Marina & Chico said:
I’ll add to what Bhooma wrote regarding serving structured meals, that you want to have control of what BG you are testing, if its half an hour or 3 hours after a meal.

Nice cycle yesterday, hope she stops bouncing soon :bighug:
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Makes sense, thanks Marina. I so hope Callie stops bouncing soon too!
 
+7 286 :( At least it isn't 386, I guess...

By the time we get Callie regulated, I know I will have learned loads about feline diabetes. Hopefully, I will also have learned how to be more patient...
 
Looks like we may get some action tonight: 201 @ +2. Figured we should get a +3 to see how much she drops (if she does.) She ate some of her regular LC after +2BG.
 
170 @ +3. Coming down but seems like a good pace to me so far. Callie ate a little more LC just now. We will get a +4 and then make decisions re: testing overnight and sleep.
 
Bandit's Mom said:
Is that 157 at +4 on your SS? I would get a +6 to be safe. See if you can nap in between. Feed a little more/leave some food out.
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Ha - was just posting this when I saw you post. Yes, 157 @ + 4. She's eating a little more LC now. Was going to ask you if we could wait until +6 for next test. She has her reg LC food out (but also, I'm prob not going to be able to sleep. I'm staying on the couch with her right now...) Will post +6 when we have it. Thanks.
 
Jessica A said:
Ha - was just posting this when I saw you post. Yes, 157 @ + 4. She's eating a little more LC now. Was going to ask you if we could wait until +6 for next test. She has her reg LC food out (but also, I'm prob not going to be able to sleep. I'm staying on the couch with her right now...) Will post +6 when we have it. Thanks.
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She has slowed down so it might just be a flattish blue cycle like the night of 8/11. I guess you can get a +5 and if she's more or less flat, call it a night. No need to stay up till +6.
 
Bandit's Mom said:
She has slowed down so it might just be a flattish blue cycle like the night of 8/11. I guess you can get a +5 and if she's more or less flat, call it a night. No need to stay up till +6.
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+6 actually works fine for us. Rob just went to sleep so he can get a couple of hours of sleep and if I can't get the BG myself, I'll wake him to help. What I was also wondering about is the +8/+9 period since she's breaking a bounce (so possibly later nadir) and she also just sometimes goes low then anyway...I guess we'll know more when we see her +6?
 
121 + 6 - maybe nadir? Also the first BG I got solo :) Probably do need +8/+9 to be safe? Or even +7? She ate a little more LC just now (and at +5ish)
 
Bandit's Mom said:
Safe to call it a night. Leave some LC out.
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K. Just so I understand - is that because you think this is Callie's nadir? Or because she isn't going down quickly so even if she goes a bit further, she's in safe territory? Also, if I got to bed, Callie will usually come with me and sleep with us. If she has a drop in BG, will her body automatically wake her up to tell her to eat? I know drops make them hungry if awake but am not clear what happens if they are sleeping...
 
Jessica A said:
Or because she isn't going down quickly so even if she goes a bit further, she's in safe territory?
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Yes. She is at or her near her nadir. She may stay at these levels for a while or go to 100.

Jessica A said:
If she has a drop in BG, will her body automatically wake her up to tell her to eat? I know drops make them hungry if awake but am not clear what happens if they are sleeping...
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I think it should. I really doubt she is going to go into unsafe territory tonight.
 
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