8/8 Curry AMPS ~254 +3~225

[Tena and Curry(GA)]

AMPS ~ 254 +3~225
Yesterdays's post: viewtopic.php?f=9&t=21768


I'm planning ahead for Curry. If and when she begins to have lower numbers during the day(or night when I'm at home sleeping) while I'm at work I want to have a plan in place to prevent a hypo event. When I'm at work I won't be able to monitor her BG levels on a regular basis and that is the part that scares me. I've noticed that those folks who were able to get OTJ had some pretty low numbers during the day that they were able to monitor.

Question 1: Do most of you leave out some snacks for your kitty during the day and night? Curry is one who will most likely eat the snacks. Dry kibbles? Don't want to leave the canned out all day. I hoping that the food will keep her glucose levels from dipping too low. She hasn't gone low yet. She did get a nice BG reading of 112 at the Vet's the other day around +6. That was during her first week she was on lantus at 1 unit. I'm now doing AMPS and PMPS testing and can do the test on the weekend at +4 or +5 to get an idea of how Curry is responding to the insulin.

Question 2: In terms of total calories consumed by your kitty, do you typically include the snacks in your total count. Curry never lost weight before the dx. In fact, she is still overweight. So I do want to manage her caloric intake to some degree. Dx with both asthma and diabetes. We are still determining how many calories she needs at this point. Her metabolism was really slow prior to this dx and was on that awful high carb, low calorie dry food.

Question 3: If I do get a chance to get away from work and check her BG, what would be the best time after her AMPS? +4, +5, +6 to test in order to prevent a hypo event. Of course, right now I don't know what time she nadirs since yesterday's first glucose curve was shot to heck for a couple of reasons. Right now she is getting her insulin at 6:30AM/PM. So at +4 it would be 10:30am, +5 at 11:30 and + 6 at 12:30. If its at +4 or +5, I would most likely need to shift her AMPS to a later time since I doubt I could leave work before 11:00 to come home for 11:30. Takes a little less and 30 minutes to get home.

I appreciate hearing back from folks.

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

Re: 8/8 Curry: question about handling low numbers

I'll do my best to answer your questions. One point, though, is that you need to get spot checks during the PM cycle. Many cats experience lower numbers at night. Without tests at night, you're missing half of the information that will inform you about how Curry is progressing.

A curve will definitely help you to understand Curry's cycle. However, the nadir is not at at fixed time. It can move around. If you look at Gabby's SS, you'll see that her lows can be early, in the middle, or late in the cycle. Don't get it into your head that the nadir will always be at a specific time otherwise you'll be very frustrated. I think whenever you can get away from work to get a check will be fine.

I never, ever feed dry food. It plays havoc with BG levels. Even the so-called "better" dry foods will have a negative influence on BG. We have SSs from several kitties who eliminated dry and there was a dramatic change in numbers. That said, I do leave canned food in a feeder for Gabby when I'm at work. There are feeders where you can put in an ice pack but I've not found this to be necessary. I add water to food routinely so the cats are used to it and it prevents the canned food from drying out. Another alternative is to mix canned food with water and freeze the soupy mixture in an ice tray. You can then leave several "catsickles" for Curry while you're gone.

If you want good information on weight and obesity in cats, take a look at Lisa Pierson, DVM's site on feline nutrition. There's an excellent section on obesity and how to calculate calories and work on weight reduction.

I would suggest getting some cans of HC Fancy Feast that has gravy (grilled or marinated varieties). Check Janet & Binky's list for food that is around 18% carb.

 

[Pat+Raja+Shadow (GA)]

Re: 8/8 Curry: question about handling low numbers

Morning Tena! I see you have linked your previous day's post and you are enthusiastically thinking ahead! :mrgreen:
It is so great to speak with a Bean who is full of questions because we know that it will all click for you soon! You are doing a great job with Curry.

Do you plan to do some more tests today? We suggest that a before bed time check at night at least!!! As Sienne said, a lot of kitties get lower numbers in the PM cycle for some crazy reason so at least one check before you head off to dreamland is important. Getting the High Carb gravy in the house is important. Fancy Feast has a line of food that is called "Gravy Lovers" so that might be a good choice.

Many of us leave the food out during the day...it's okay really. But the little frozen ice cubes are great too cause they defrost and are available later if you are not home. When a cat is diabetic, they are not utilizing the nutrients from their food properly. Many, like my Shadow were ravenously hungry for awhile before their appetites normalized. It might be best for Curry if you concentrate on getting the dry food off the menu and then at some later point in time, deal with the weight loss. That's my opinion, but I think that the BGs should be the focus here first.

Another trick we have found is that kitties like freeze-dried treats....but do beware that we call it "kitty crack" because they love it so much. :lol: I use "Pure Bites" freeze-dried chicken (I think it is labeled for dogs but there is only one ingredient...chicken so it's good for cats too) I shave it onto their food and it entices them to eat ~ however, now it is a necessity cause they love it so much!!! They have freeze-dried fish too..maybe look around to see if you can find some. That might help with the transition from dry too.
Once the dry if off the menu, perhaps Curry will start to slim down too....that is a good possibility with the lower carb intact.
Hope you guys have a great day ...are you off today?

 

[Tena and Curry(GA)]

Re: 8/8 Curry: question about handling low numbers

Thanks and good information. Getting the HC FF today.

We care both getting better at the testing so I will be able to do more of that now.

Regarding the dry. We had issues w/Curry not really wanting to eat the canned by the end of the week. And this really screwed up her BG readings yesterday. The dry is EVO which has 6% carbs. Curry also sees that her sister was getting some dry EVO. So while Curry is snarfing down her 1/4 can of EVO, I'm slowly getting Sidney, her sister, some of the canned to hopefully transition her as well. Sidney is extremely picky w/food changes and will eat a tad of the canned, but not much right now. So Sidney gets mainly dry which impacts what Curry wants. I have their food dishes separate. Curry is in the kitchen and Sidney is in the dining room. When Curry finishes her canned, I give them both some of the dry. So I'm probably giving Curry 1/2 dry EVO (6% carbs) and 1/2 EVO canned. (1/2 = approx. half of calorie intake for the day....not quite)

I am working toward transitioning Curry to all canned. Want to get some consistency w/eating and consistency w/giving the insulin for at least one week. I'm OK with getting some higher values with yellows and blues this week if I can get some consistency w/her eating. Last week was her first week on new food and taking the insulin. This next week I can at least see how she is responding and then make the changes while I'm at home to monitor her more closely.

I kinda screwed it up for her last week by giving all canned which then created a tummy problem for her and she turned up her nose at any canned. Then I did a fur shot on Friday night.
Thanks for your help.

 

[Tena and Curry(GA)]

Re: 8/8 Curry: question about handling low numbers

Thanks.

Yes, I'm off today so I can do some more testing. And I do have some delicious Bonita flakes...Yummy..and freeze-dried chicken....I use the freeze-dried chicken to help w/the testing. Put the container right in front of her, open the lid, let her get a whiff of the chicken, close it quickly.....and then poke the ear. Then give the taste treat.

Morning Tena! I see you have linked your previous day's post and you are enthusiastically thinking ahead! :mrgreen:
It is so great to speak with a Bean who is full of questions because we know that it will all click for you soon! You are doing a great job with Curry.

Do you plan to do some more tests today? We suggest that a before bed time check at night at least!!! As Sienne said, a lot of kitties get lower numbers in the PM cycle for some crazy reason so at least one check before you head off to dreamland is important. Getting the High Carb gravy in the house is important. Fancy Feast has a line of food that is called "Gravy Lovers" so that might be a good choice.

Many of us leave the food out during the day...it's okay really. But the little frozen ice cubes are great too cause they defrost and are available later if you are not home. When a cat is diabetic, they are not utilizing the nutrients from their food properly. Many, like my Shadow were ravenously hungry for awhile before their appetites normalized. It might be best for Curry if you concentrate on getting the dry food off the menu and then at some later point in time, deal with the weight loss. That's my opinion, but I think that the BGs should be the focus here first.

Another trick we have found is that kitties like freeze-dried treats....but do beware that we call it "kitty crack" because they love it so much. :lol: I use "Pure Bites" freeze-dried chicken (I think it is labeled for dogs but there is only one ingredient...chicken so it's good for cats too) I shave it onto their food and it entices them to eat ~ however, now it is a necessity cause they love it so much!!! They have freeze-dried fish too..maybe look around to see if you can find some. That might help with the transition from dry too.
Once the dry if off the menu, perhaps Curry will start to slim down too....that is a good possibility with the lower carb intact.
Hope you guys have a great day ...are you off today?

 

[Pat+Raja+Shadow (GA)]

Re: 8/8 Curry: question about handling low numbers

have you tried adding some warm water to the canned food?
Raja was a dry food carbo freak last year....I thought I would have a very hard time getting her off. I had been feeding them dry for 12 years along with a half a can each in AM/PM. I sat her down and told her that the dry food was making her sick with FD and that i was going to get rid of it. I threw it all out and began with the canned only. She seemed to understand...maybe I am crazy...yes, guess I am.. LOL...but they don't eat dry anymore at all!
(I kind of think of it as poison to their system. It make me feel better by taking them off it if it is so bad for them.)
And Tena, can you edit your heading to take the question out no, ok? Oh, I think Do Lou was a dry food addict recently too....but he is on canned now...makes a big difference with their numbers!
Have fun today with Curry... :mrgreen:

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

Re: 8/8 Curry: question about handling low numbers

Good plan re. gradually transitioning. Dr. Lisa's site that I linked previously also has good information about making a successful transition from dry to wet. I'd also suggest putting a note on your SS (in bold!!) that you are in the process of transitioning -- otherwise, we'll keep bugging you.

One other thought... I was driving myself crazy trying to feed Gabby low carb and Gizmo whatever he wanted, especially since he was an even younger kitten when Gabby was diagnosed. The folks here pointed out that I could feed both cats the same food. (Duh!!) They both now happily eat the raw and LC canned that I feed.

 

[Ronnie & Luna]

Re: 8/8 Curry AMPS ~254

Excellent idea Sienne - making a note in SS about the transitioning.
laptop_smiley

 

[Tena and Curry(GA)]

Re: 8/8 Curry: question about handling low numbers

Thanks for the idea. Suggestion incorporated into the SS now. I'm a bit show w/MS software...took me awhile to figure it out. But give me photography related software and I'm a happy camper.

Good plan re. gradually transitioning. Dr. Lisa's site that I linked previously also has good information about making a successful transition from dry to wet. I'd also suggest putting a note on your SS (in bold!!) that you are in the process of transitioning -- otherwise, we'll keep bugging you.

One other thought... I was driving myself crazy trying to feed Gabby low carb and Gizmo whatever he wanted, especially since he was an even younger kitten when Gabby was diagnosed. The folks here pointed out that I could feed both cats the same food. (Duh!!) They both now happily eat the raw and LC canned that I feed.

 

[Libby and Lucy]

Curry is doing well so far! Good job with the testing.

With Lucy, my strategy for keeping her safe while I worked was to test as much as I could at night, so I could predict what kind of cycle she would have during the day. Then I knew if I needed to feed a higher carb food one day before I left, or if I needed to try to get home at lunch for a test (and if so, when I needed to do it). She was a bouncy girl so it took a lot of PM testing for me to get comfortable with knowing what would happen.

 

[Tena and Curry(GA)]

That's a great idea. Man, why didn't' I think of that. ohmygod_smile

I've been obsessing about the daytime and forgot about the evening. Folks have been telling me, but it wasn't sinking in until just now. Still on my tricycle with this new dx. But pedaling really fast.

Thank you.

Curry is doing well so far! Good job with the testing.

With Lucy, my strategy for keeping her safe while I worked was to test as much as I could at night, so I could predict what kind of cycle she would have during the day. Then I knew if I needed to feed a higher carb food one day before I left, or if I needed to try to get home at lunch for a test (and if so, when I needed to do it). She was a bouncy girl so it took a lot of PM testing for me to get comfortable with knowing what would happen.