? 8/16 Phoenix Question about when to feed when BG is low

[Scdal]

@Bandit's Mom
@tiffmaxee
I realize that I should know this by now, but I am confused about when to feed when BG drops.
Am I supposed to wait for his BG to drop to 50 before I intervene with food? This morning, Phoenix's BG was 78 at +9.5. He always drops until his AMPS when he gets fed. So at +9.5, I fed Phoenix one half can of f.f. LC. That kept him in the low 90's until his AMPS. But if I intervene with food, he will never drop to 50. So, do I wait until his BG drops to 50 to see how low he will go?

 

[Bron and Sheba (GA)]

Normally you feed low carb food during the cycle. If the BG drops below 50 you feed high carb to bring it up over 50.
If a cat drops low in the first couple of hours in a cycle, feeding some higher carb food will bring the cat up a bit higher for when the insulin onsets.
If it is a strong cycle and you are having trouble keeping the numbers up higher, you can feed some higher carb food to keep the cat safe.
I think Phoenix is doing well on the dose he is on. I would keep doing what you are doing. When he is ready, he will drop under 50.
As you giving snacks during the cycles?
See what others say.

 

[Scdal]

Normally you feed low carb food during the cycle. If the BG drops below 50 you feed high carb to bring it up over 50.
If a cat drops low in the first couple of hours in a cycle, feeding some higher carb food will bring the cat up a bit higher for when the insulin onsets.
If it is a strong cycle and you are having trouble keeping the numbers up higher, you can feed some higher carb food to keep the cat safe.
I think Phoenix is doing well on the dose he is on. I would keep doing what you are doing. When he is ready, he will drop under 50.
As you giving snacks during the cycles?
See what others say.

Phoenix does get snacks but he has always eaten a raw meat diet. He doesn't get any carbs unless he drops low. I do feed pieces of meat to him when I check his BG between meals.
But what I don't understand is that I see other people posting and their cat's BG is in the 60's and 70's with no food given.

I check Phoenix's BG every 20 minutes if he falls below 90 because he has a habit of dropping fast. It would be hard for him to fall below 50 without me catching it. So, should I hold off on food until he falls to 50?

 

[Bandit's Mom]

Hi Susan, I'm not sure I understand your question correctly.

The idea with feeding is
(a) to prevent sharp drops - which trigger bounces
(b) keep them in good numbers - so small meals at regular intervals, especially when they are green, will help them surf and not drop below 50
(c) as an extension of (b), keep them at a good dose by avoid reductions by feeding to prevent a drop below 50.

Phoenix does like to drop at the end of the cycle, so testing and feeding him around +9 is indeed a good practice. That way he will not fall too low to shoot at PS.

Not sure I was any help!

 

[Scdal]

Hi Susan, I'm not sure I understand your question correctly.

The idea with feeding is
(a) to prevent sharp drops - which trigger bounces
(b) keep them in good numbers - so small meals at regular intervals, especially when they are green, will help them surf and not drop below 50
(c) as an extension of (b), keep them at a good dose by avoid reductions by feeding to prevent a drop below 50.

Phoenix does like to drop at the end of the cycle, so testing and feeding him around +9 is indeed a good practice. That way he will not fall too low to shoot at PS.

Not sure I was any help!

That was exactly what I needed to know. I wasn't sure if I should prevent him from falling or let him fall to 50 before I fed him. I will continue doing as I have been as both you and Bron suggested. Thank you both for responding.