Feeding schedule

[MsF & Manu]

Hi. I'm trying to get my newly-diagnosed kitty, Manu (3/15) on to a consistent feeding schedule. He's currently on 2 units Vetsulin, every 12 hours. I know that is not recommended here, and I am trying to get his vet to switch him to Lantus -- it's been extremely difficult to talk to his vet. His vet prescribed Purina DM wet and dry (which I'm still mixing with his old food for another week or so). I'm trying to give him additional small meals throughout the day/night to prevent blood sugars from dropping too low. Manu seems fine, although I'm not testing him yet.

Does this schedule seem reasonable?

Breakfast 7:30 am (1/4 can wet and small amount of dry)
Insulin 7:45 am (freeze-dried treat)
Mid-day snack 1:30 pm (1 tsp or so of wet)
*** add another snack? ***
Dinner 7:30 pm (1/4 can wet and small amount of dry)
Insulin 7:45 pm (freeze-dried treat)
Bedtime snack 10:30 pm (1 tsp or so of wet and small amount of dry put in his food puzzle)
Nighttime snack 3:30 am -- this is when he ALWAYS wakes me up (1 tsp or so of wet)
*** he usually wakes me up one more time before breakfast at 5:30 am to 6:30 am, in which case I'd give him another tsp. of wet **

And yes, I will sleep eventually? Here's my plan: I ordered a tiny refrigerator for my bedroom, so I at least don't have to get out of bed for those middle-of-the-night snacks. (I have also ordered an automatic feeder with ice packs for times I'll be gone for long periods of time.)

Also: Do you think it's fine for my healthy, 7-year old kitty to eat the same food? I mean, a diabetic human diet is healthy for non-diabetics too! It would be infinitely easier if I didn't have to juggle feeding them different diets as they are used to eating next to each other.

Thanks in advance for all your advice!

 

[Bron and Sheba (GA)]

Hi and welcome to the forum.
How long ago did your kitty get diagnosed? What dose did you start with?
If you started with 2 units, that is too high a dose, especially if you are not home testing the blood glucose.
The starting dose is 0.5 unit to 1 unit twice a day.
With Vetsulin you need to wait 1/2 hour after feeding before insulin. This is because vetsulin hits hard and fast and you need to have food in the system to counter the effect of the insulin.
I would give a snack of food at +2 and +4 each cycle if Manu was my cat, because this is when the insulin is strongest with vetsulin. You can give a snack later in the cycle as well if he asks for it.
I am glad you are looking at swapping to Lantus. It’s a much better insulin for cats. Vetsulin is not recommended.
Yes, you other kitty can eat the same food, although I would be trying to get rid of the dry as it is high carb. But don’t do this yet until you are home testing as it could drop the BG too low. You don’t have to feed prescription food. Food such as fancy feast pate’s are low carb

I’m going to give you some links to look at. They are for home testing the blood glucose, setting up the spreadsheet and signature, setting up a hypo kit…..very important…..and a link to using vetsulin.
Ask lots of questions.

HELP US HELP YOU will tell you about spreadsheet, signature and hypo kit and other useful information

Hometesting links and tips

FOOD CHART look for foods with carbs 10% or under

BEGINNERS GUIDE TO VETSULIN

 

[Lando demando]

Hi. I'm trying to get my newly-diagnosed kitty, Manu (3/15) on to a consistent feeding schedule. He's currently on 2 units Vetsulin, every 12 hours. I know that is not recommended here, and I am trying to get his vet to switch him to Lantus -- it's been extremely difficult to talk to his vet. His vet prescribed Purina DM wet and dry (which I'm still mixing with his old food for another week or so). I'm trying to give him additional small meals throughout the day/night to prevent blood sugars from dropping too low. Manu seems fine, although I'm not testing him yet.

Does this schedule seem reasonable?

Breakfast 7:30 am (1/4 can wet and small amount of dry)
Insulin 7:45 am (freeze-dried treat)
Mid-day snack 1:30 pm (1 tsp or so of wet)
*** add another snack? ***
Dinner 7:30 pm (1/4 can wet and small amount of dry)
Insulin 7:45 pm (freeze-dried treat)
Bedtime snack 10:30 pm (1 tsp or so of wet and small amount of dry put in his food puzzle)
Nighttime snack 3:30 am -- this is when he ALWAYS wakes me up (1 tsp or so of wet)
*** he usually wakes me up one more time before breakfast at 5:30 am to 6:30 am, in which case I'd give him another tsp. of wet **

And yes, I will sleep eventually? Here's my plan: I ordered a tiny refrigerator for my bedroom, so I at least don't have to get out of bed for those middle-of-the-night snacks. (I have also ordered an automatic feeder with ice packs for times I'll be gone for long periods of time.)

Also: Do you think it's fine for my healthy, 7-year old kitty to eat the same food? I mean, a diabetic human diet is healthy for non-diabetics too! It would be infinitely easier if I didn't have to juggle feeding them different diets as they are used to eating next to each other.

Thanks in advance for all your advice!

This schedule looks a lot like my guys feeding schedule. I do, however, choose portion amounts based on his weight and how many calories he needs. But it sounds like the schedule seems good ( +1 to what @Bron and Sheba (GA) said) they are the experienced member here. Good luck and welcome!

 

[MsF & Manu]

Thanks for all your advice and information so far! Sorry for the delayed response. Manu is now on 3 units of Vetsulin, twice/day. We are about 4 weeks into this journey, and his numbers are starting to really go down. We haven't switched insulins yet, but I will discuss with vet next week after he has the results of the BG curve, which I am doing at home today. I will make sure to give him snacks at 2 and 4 hours after his injection. Thanks!

Hi and welcome to the forum.
How long ago did your kitty get diagnosed? What dose did you start with?
If you started with 2 units, that is too high a dose, especially if you are not home testing the blood glucose.
The starting dose is 0.5 unit to 1 unit twice a day.
With Vetsulin you need to wait 1/2 hour after feeding before insulin. This is because vetsulin hits hard and fast and you need to have food in the system to counter the effect of the insulin.
I would give a snack of food at +2 and +4 each cycle if Manu was my cat, because this is when the insulin is strongest with vetsulin. You can give a snack later in the cycle as well if he asks for it.
I am glad you are looking at swapping to Lantus. It’s a much better insulin for cats. Vetsulin is not recommended.
Yes, you other kitty can eat the same food, although I would be trying to get rid of the dry as it is high carb. But don’t do this yet until you are home testing as it could drop the BG too low. You don’t have to feed prescription food. Food such as fancy feast pate’s are low carb

I’m going to give you some links to look at. They are for home testing the blood glucose, setting up the spreadsheet and signature, setting up a hypo kit…..very important…..and a link to using vetsulin.
Ask lots of questions.

HELP US HELP YOU will tell you about spreadsheet, signature and hypo kit and other useful information

Hometesting links and tips

FOOD CHART look for foods with carbs 10% or under

BEGINNERS GUIDE TO VETSULIN

 

[Bron and Sheba (GA)]

Keep posting and asking questions.
Would you like to set up a spreadsheet so we can see the results of the curve and also your other data?
I can ask @Bandit's Mom to help you if you like.
Let us know how you get on with changing insulins. Don’t let the vet persuade you to stay with vetsulin….Manu will do much better on the Lantus insulin.