? 4/15 Binx AMPS 257 - SS Review/Feeding Question

Briana + Binx

Briana + Binx

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Welp, we bounced yet again it seems. Looks like we're heading for an increase at tomorrow's AM cycle.

Last night I decided to add his feeding schedule in as a line item at the time we switched and I noticed something weird... we didn't change much about his feeding schedule, shifting some calories later in the cycle, but it seems to line up almost exactly with when his numbers shot up (give or take). For those that are well versed in reading SS and/or using carbs to manipulate the curve, can you take a look? Do you think this could have impacted his BG that much? Or just coincidence.

Another thing I'm trying to figure out is why he curves so nicely during his PM cycles but usually only shoots right up in his AM cycles. I know it's harder for me to get a nadir during the day when I have to be in the office and I know BG usually goes lower at night, but to have no curve at all? Is this just bouncing for lower PM numbers?

The reason we switched the feeding schedule was because he was often going lime mid-cycle, so thought it best to add a +6 snack in and see what happens. Especially since usually I can't be home in the middle of the day to feed as-needed.

Any insights or observations would be greatly appreciated!!

Safe surfing everyone :bighug:
 
Briana + Binx said:
Last night I decided to add his feeding schedule in as a line item at the time we switched and I noticed something weird... we didn't change much about his feeding schedule, shifting some calories later in the cycle, but it seems to line up almost exactly with when his numbers shot up (give or take). For those that are well versed in reading SS and/or using carbs to manipulate the curve, can you take a look? Do you think this could have impacted his BG that much? Or just coincidence.
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Is this the grey line between 3/8 and 3/9 giving the number of calories of each snack? What is the carb% you are feeding?

Briana + Binx said:
Is this just bouncing for lower PM numbers?
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Yes. He is seeing active cycles at night - often nadiring at AMPS and then bouncing in the AM cycle.
 
Bandit's Mom said:
Is this the grey line between 3/8 and 3/9 giving the number of calories of each snack? What is the carb% you are feeding?
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Yes - that's correct about the grey line.
Carbs are anywhere between 1% - 6%.... I feed a combination of Purina Vet Diet DM (6%) and FF Classic (1% - 3%) at every meal, and then all snacks are FF Classic (1% - 3%). I've just started to keep track of exactly which FF he gets at each cycle (since they're different carb percentages), to see if that has any impact. I wonder also if I should remove the PVD DM at 6% (and go entirely FF)... DM was what the vet started him on and I introduced the FF Classics. I still have habits I'm slowly starting to realize are unquestioned assumptions from the vet, and the DM is one of them. Working to correct this as I realize.
 
The DM canned is low carb but there's nothing special in it. It's expensive and many cats hate the taste of it. You could find better quality LC food for the same $ as DM. You want to feed the DM earlier in the cycle and feed the lowest carbs in the snacks at +4 and +6.
 
Bandit's Mom said:
The DM canned is low carb but there's nothing special in it. It's expensive and many cats hate the taste of it. You could find better quality LC food for the same $ as DM. You want to feed the DM earlier in the cycle and feed the lowest carbs in the snacks at +4 and +6.
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Thanks, Bhooma! This is definitely helpful - one difference that becomes obvious after reading that is the AM cycle he gets the DM at AMPS and +2, whereas in the PM cycle he gets DM only at PMPS. I wonder if that has made an impact. You're right, it's expensive and seemingly at no added value. I'm going to try switching to fully FF right now and if possible, being strategic about 1%/2% carbs at +4/+6 and and 3% at meal times.

A follow-up question - I'm anticipating a dose increase for tomorrow's AM cycle and then making these food changes at the same. Thoughts on changing two variables at once? Or should I do the increase and then a couple days later change the food... or food then dose... or am I over analyzing and it's okay to do both?
 
Briana + Binx said:
one difference that becomes obvious after reading that is the AM cycle he gets the DM at AMPS and +2, whereas in the PM cycle he gets DM only at PMPS. I wonder if that has made an impact.
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I think the higher numbers in the AM might be more due to bouncing than food. Although, it makes sense not to feed DM at +2 if it is flat or higher than PS. If he's carb sensitive, it could exacerbate the bounce.

Briana + Binx said:
A follow-up question - I'm anticipating a dose increase for tomorrow's AM cycle and then making these food changes at the same. Thoughts on changing two variables at once? Or should I do the increase and then a couple days later change the food... or food then dose... or am I over analyzing and it's okay to do both?
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I think it's OK to do both. He definitely needs an increase. He's seeing more yellows and pinks. The DM is low carb and you are feeding it only at PS/+2. If it were a transition from high carbs to low carb, you'd want to complete the transition first before tinkering with the dose.
 
Bandit's Mom said:
I think the higher numbers in the AM might be more due to bouncing than food. Although, it makes sense not to feed DM at +2 if it is flat or higher than PS. If he's carb sensitive, it could exacerbate the bounce.


I think it's OK to do both. He definitely needs an increase. He's seeing more yellows and pinks. The DM is low carb and you are feeding it only at PS/+2. If it were a transition from high carbs to low carb, you'd want to complete the transition first before tinkering with the dose.
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Thank you so much!! Really appreciate the insight and advice, Bhooma :cat: Now to figure out what to do with all the extra DM cans I have :p :facepalm:
 
Was definitely interested in the answer to the active PM/bouncing AM (since as we saw we're having the exact opposite arrangement)! Good to know it's just bouncing, so hopefully at some point that just... stops. In one way it's nice that we don't really have to try to fix something, but at the same time it sucks that it's mostly out of our control. :rolleyes:

Best of luck with the switch to all FF! Hopefully it'll save you a little money and work better for Binx! I look forward to seeing how he reacts to the increase and the diet change for the next few days! :)
 
Brianna & Xander said:
Was definitely interested in the answer to the active PM/bouncing AM (since as we saw we're having the exact opposite arrangement)! Good to know it's just bouncing, so hopefully at some point that just... stops. In one way it's nice that we don't really have to try to fix something, but at the same time it sucks that it's mostly out of our control. :rolleyes:

Best of luck with the switch to all FF! Hopefully it'll save you a little money and work better for Binx! I look forward to seeing how he reacts to the increase and the diet change for the next few days! :)
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Thanks, Brianna!! :cat: Trying to keep the hopes low that either will have a big impact, but as always, it's hard not too :facepalm: That lack of control is hard to grapple with!
 
Helen + Noogi said:
Hope this tweaking of the food and/or a dose increase nudges Binx in the right direction. It feels like you might be close to a breakthrough. Crossing paws!
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Thanks, Helen :cat: I feel that too (many anti-jinx), but keeping the hopes low just in case we're not there yet. 4 units is just so much more than we're used to.
 
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