Curves and food

[Stacym20]

I think I've read on here that you should feed your cat as you normally would while doing a curve. I took Bud to the vet yesterday and discussed changing insulin as his numbers are over the place. The vet seemed to think his numbers were all over the place due to his grazing between meals. I really don't think that's it though. She wants me to do a couple curves while withholding food from him except at shot time before she thinks about switching his insulin. Any thoughts?

 

[BJM]

She was probably trained on older insulins - NPH or Caninsulin/Vetsulin - which hit hard, then wear off quickly, and possibly on dogs, which have a slower metabolism. With those insulins, you feed 30 minutes before you shoot, and then don't feed again.

If you feed only in the 1st half of the shot cycle, the glucose is going in as the Prozinc is going in and it is more evenly matched which may result in a pretty smooth curve. If you feed after the nadir, the numbers are likely to increase a bit faster and give you a somewhat higher pre-shot.

 

[Stacym20]

Maybe I will try doing a curve both ways and see what happens. Thanks for the input!

 

[Vyktors Mum]

If it is because of the grazing that would just provide an additional reason to swap insulins! Grazing is better for diabetic cats as it puts less stress on the pancreas and there are no problems free feeding on lantus (and I would assume levemir although I don't know that for a fact). The only change Vyktor had to have with his eating habits was to have his food removed at +10. Bear this in mind if your vet tells you he wants you to upset Buds eating habits on a more permanent basis just so you can stick to the same insulin!

 

[Stacym20]

I found someone with some Levemir pens they are willing to ship to me. I'm thinking about going for it, just not sure what I would tell my vet, if anything...