Eating increase with introduction of insulin. Normal?

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ja9390

ja9390

Member Since 2016
We were just newly diagnosed and Diego has gone from barely eating before his diagnosis and losing 2.5 lbs, to eating quite a bit. He's eaten about 1.5 cans of fancy feast and almost a whole can of friskies today. It is hard for me to tell if this is his normal...we left the vet with both a prescription for insulin and a prescription for antibiotics because he had a lung infection so, he ate much less when he was nauseated from that. Usually half a can of FF per feeding.

I feel like I'm finally seeing the new Diego. He's eating more, very loving, scratching his furniture, etc. Just a happy cat. Should I be limiting what he eats? I think that what he ate now is a pretty good amount of food for his current weight (7.5), and it basically followed the feeding guidelines of the food manufacturer to the T--friskies advises 2 cans per day for an 8-10 lb cat. I would assume that diabetics are at higher risk of being overweight and I don't want for that to happen. Last night he woke me up at 6am, standing by the food bowl meowing for food (he ate more than usual yesterday as well). He never really does that but of course I used to have a big bowl of dry food out for him at all hours of the day. We're totally new to wet food. I switched both the cats over to it permanently, no more dry, but I'm unfamiliar with how structured feedings are supposed to go.
 
It could be that he loves his new food. But I worry that it could be that he is dropping lower than his body is comfortable with and he wants food to bring himself up. (They do that). Have we encouraged you to test at home? It is the way to keep him safe, by knowing what his level is before the shot and then how low the insulin takes him, on a daily basis. We've taught hundreds of people how to test and would be happy to help you.
 
I bought him a glucose kit yesterday. This morning before I fed him or gave him any insulin I tested and he was at 334. I was worried too that it may have been him trying to raise his glucose. I have a cousin with type I and she's been commonly known to even sleepwalk to the kitchen for ice cream when she gets low.
 
ja9390 said:
I bought him a glucose kit yesterday. This morning before I fed him or gave him any insulin I tested and he was at 334. I was worried too that it may have been him trying to raise his glucose. I have a cousin with type I and she's been commonly known to even sleepwalk to the kitchen for ice cream when she gets low.
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Hurrah! On a cycle when you can, you might get a number 2 hours after the shot, and then in the 5-7 hour time frame. That will help you see how low the insulin takes him and how soon he starts down and how long it lasts.

Also you could set up a spreadsheet. It is a great color coded tool that helps you, your vet and us, when you need dosing help. The instructions are here:

http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/fdmb-spreadsheet-instructions.130337/

It is a little tricky. If you need help, just ask.
 
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