Hi Jan, Yes we are new! Thank you for this encouraging note! I just want FD to be over and done with, but I know that choice is not in my power. I've managed lots of medical conditions for seniors successfully, and while I find FD really very interesting...I am so dang TIRED with lack of sleep and having to get up so early in the morning to keep her on the schedule (I have Lyme disease so fatigue hits me pretty bad). But!, I am also one of those creatures who will do anything in my power for the health and safety of my dependents (kitties), so I will pushing myself so Pearl can become healthy. I've had her since before she was born!
Really wishing I could help you find that magical "Balance"! Always a dream, but that dream must live!
So you had, or knew the Oyster that Pearl came out of? That's awesome!
Diabetes just doesn't always fit into a neat pattern, and is very difficult to fully grasp, especially if it's a condition you aren't familiar with. BTW, in addition to FD, I've gained a lot of very helpful senior cat health knowledge, right here, which is priceless.
What would be great, is if you can cut back on testing at night while you could/should be sleeping. I imagine it's a possibility! Start small if you need to.
I like to think this way: find your cat's patterns, and ease up on testing when it makes sense. Be a partner with your cat, and when/if you are desperate for sleep, use higher carb food, for example, as one of your personal health tools. People have also given reduced doses, or skipped when they just had to rest.
From you -Pearl honey, I'm desperate for sleep. This 6% food for example, will let me sleep an extra couple, three or more hours. Maybe all night, gasp!
Have you heard, get a before bed test? Well . . . that means everyone doesn't stay up all night long! You and most of us here, do so much more than most people. Very admirable, but I still dream of some kind of balance. The kind where we don't have to hurt ourselves (too badly) to help our precious kitties.
A simple observation, is that you probably don't need to test every cycle at +1; maybe just when your pre-shot number is running lower than you are used to. All the data is great, and you can learn a lot from it - to hopefully make life a little easier, not harder. You might peruse (funny word) the data and find more examples of when you feed a good number, you don't always need to check just an hour later. You never have let Pearl down.
If you don't have an automatic feeder, consider one for night (unless other kitties would raid it). I'm guessing that idea may have already come up. I know it doesn't work for everyone. When I used one for Tina, she had to be in her own room because of the other cats and dog. Because of the pet situation, I never did use it overnight (shutting doors/ locking some out wouldn't let anyone in the house sleep) - just when I had to leave home for a few hours during the day.
Just thoughts, and hopefully not too off track!! Love to Pearl baby. A little extra rest for you, soon!!
when I am more with it!
Hope Pearl slides down today