Diabetic type 2 - how often should I feed my cat

[Helen McDowell]

My cat has just been diagnosed with type 2 diabeties....he is being fed only 2 times per day, controlled feeding times and is on insulin once in the morning...for the past 3 days....how often should he be fed to maintain his weight and not loose more weight. He is on canned Purina DM. Preciously he free fed, and would graze over a period of appox 1 hour. When he finishes his food I do not put more down for him, and he comes back and wants more. As he is hyperglycemic, I have been told not to leave any food down for him after eith of his 2 meals.

I'm extremely nervous doing the glucose test - 2nd day at this, and he can feel it, and I do not always get the readings, cannot alway tell how the food is affecting him.

I do his blood test in the morning and administer his insulin (1st time) based on the vet's table. His glucose levels are high in the morning, however go very low during the day ( re the curve test by the vet).

Any and all suggestions/help would be appreciated.

 

[rhiannon and shadow (GA)]

Hello Helen,
Welcome to FDMB. Please... ask any questions. We love helping.

I would like a little more info if you would please.

What insulin are you using?
How low is low?
And why is insulin given only once a day?

As a diabetic, his body isn't able to use the food he eats ; therefore he is literally starving.
I don't understand why the vet would have you limit his food given that he is losing weight.
Having the meals spaces so far apart is harder on his body. It is better to give smaller meals more frequently to a diabetic. The one time we hold food
back is usually at least 2 hours before shot time so that we don't have a food influence blood glucose number.

 

[Sue and Oliver (GA)]

What kind of insulin, Helen? Purina DM wet is low carb, but very expensive and liver based, so many cats get tired of the taste. We like Fancy Feast, Friskies, Wellness - a little lower carb, more variety and less expensive. And it's great you are testing.

There is no insulin that works once a day. Cats need to have insulin twice a day. It lasts 12 hours and then wears off. So your kitty gets a shot and it works for 12 hours with his lowest number coming somewhere between 5-7 hours after the shot. By 12 hours after the shot, the insulin is gone and he
climbs until the next shot time. Giving him shots every twelve hours should bring his numbers down overall without a low midcycle (you'd take the dose you are presently giving, cut it in half and give every 12 hours)

Unregulated diabetics are literally starving. Their bodies aren't processing the food efficiently. It won't hurt him to feed him more. Small meals several times a day will help support his pancreas.

I know it's hard to get advice from people on the internet that is contrary to your vet. But we see hundreds of diabetic cats a week and we have a protocol (wet low carb food, a mild long lasting insulin and hometesting) that works.