08/26 Toro Feeding schedule

[Toro & Ovi]

Hello, please make me understand the importance of the feeding schedule. On a normal day, Toro is having nadir at +6/+7 and after +8/+9 the numbers start going up pretty aggressive. Because of our schedule, we feed him the second time of the cycle at around +9/+10. Shall we see that as a "help" for reaching even higher numbers at AMPS/PMPS? Shall we change anything, take out this +9/+10 feeding? Thank you.

 

[DebG]

Most Fd kitties do better when fed smaller meals more frequently. If your seeing higher numbers at AMPS &PMPS you might try to do most of the meals not after +6 or +7.
Hopefully others will chime in.
Are you following one of the protocols TR or SLGS?

 

[Gill & George]

It's usually best to avoid feeding in the second half of the cycle.
From around +6 the amount of insulin in his body is waning, so feeding as the insulin levels are dropping can result in elevated BG at the end of the cycle.

When George was on insulin, I could feed up to about +7 (usually I was done by +6) with little effect on the latter part of the cycle. But some kitties are more sensitive than others.

You want to feed the majority of his cycle allowance in the first half of the cycle. So that he has food in his system to counteract the insulin as it onsets (typically at around +2) through to around +6, when the levels of insulin are at their peak.
After much experimentation I opted to feed 1/4of his daily allowance at PS, then 1/12 @ +2+4+6(am and pm), I used an autofeeder so I could have some freedom and get some sleep.
I found this worked better than what I was originally doing , which was feeding amps. +6 pmps and +6.

 

[Wendy&Neko]

I agree will Gill, try feeding all of the carbs if you can, before nadir. If you absolutely must feed after nadir, and some kitties are pretty insistent, try feeding a little bit of zero carb snack like freeze dried meat or plain baked/boiled chicken breast.

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

Looking at Toro's spreadsheet, I don't think I would conclude that his nadir is at +6 or +7. That seems to be around the time you usually test during the AM cycle but it doesn't look like that it's around then where Toro's nadir reliably falls (to the extent that a cat has a reliable nadir). With SLGS, which it looks like you're following, you want to do a curve after a week on a dose. With a curve, you test every 2 - 3 hours. This is the best way to see where the nadir falls. I'd also encourage you to get at least a before bed test every night so you know that Toro is in safe numbers before you go to sleep.

When you're seeing numbers drop to 180 like today and then shoot up much higher, this is what we refer to as a "bounce." This is a normal response when a cat drops into lower numbers or numbers that are relatively low given what numbers typically look like. The lower than usual numbers cause the liver and pancreas to release a stored form of glucose along with counterregulatory hormones. In other words, the cat's system panics in response to what it thinks are dangerously low numbers and a protective mechanism cuts in to raise BG levels.

I agree with what Gill and Wendy are suggesting -- feeding your kitty before nadir and definitely pick up any food at least 2 hours prior to shot time. (This applies if numbers are not low.)

 

[Toro & Ovi]

Thank you all.