Feeding at night...

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Sonya NZ

Sonya NZ

Member Since 2016
I'm curious as to whether people do this or not?

Archie has been on insulin for about a month now. We've had some subtle diet changes and I'm feeding him a little more during the day and no night feeds. His numbers have mostly been in the blue or green zone on 1.5 lantus bd (considering reducing this after next curve).
 
most of us try to feed at night.....
diabetics need small meals more frequently....

often if they get nothing at night, they can develop acid tummy and have that liquid foam vomit in the morning
or in the night so you find it with your foot later.....

some people use a timed feeder....

if your climate isn't overly hot, you can make a moat ....add water to the food so that it stays edible longer....
or even make ice cubes out of the food so that when it melts later, it's still good....
some cats will eat it before it thaws out, some wait.... but it's at least available....

cats tend to go lower at night than during the day so sometimes they need that food to help boost the numbers....

what makes it difficult is if you have more than one cat..... you can't be sure who got the food....

the other part is getting some night time tests in....
you want to keep him safe....
 
rhiannon and shadow (GA) said:
most of us try to feed at night.....
diabetics need small meals more frequently....

often if they get nothing at night, they can develop acid tummy and have that liquid foam vomit in the morning
or in the night so you find it with your foot later.....

some people use a timed feeder....

if your climate isn't overly hot, you can make a moat ....add water to the food so that it stays edible longer....
or even make ice cubes out of the food so that when it melts later, it's still good....
some cats will eat it before it thaws out, some wait.... but it's at least available....

cats tend to go lower at night than during the day so sometimes they need that food to help boost the numbers....

what makes it difficult is if you have more than one cat..... you can't be sure who got the food....

the other part is getting some night time tests in....
you want to keep him safe....
Click to expand...
His highest number tends to be pre morning lantus, and sometimes in the pink zone. He's hard to work out. I have other cats with different health needs. One needs to lose weight, and I have another 17-year-old who really needs to gain a bit of weight.
 
I have some baked chicken in the freezer cut up into small pieces. Would this be OK to leave overnight?
 
yes on the baked chicken..... it's low carb .....

the first big help would be for you to start a spreadsheet.....
here's how to set one up

if you need help doing it, there are some here who can do it for you, just say so....
either someone will volunteer or i can tag someone.


that's pretty good if his highest numbers are just pinks.....
it could be a bounce from having a lower number in the night......
the liver will panic and dump counterregulatory hormones sometimes in response.....

if we can see some numbers.....
we can give you lots of recommendations......
every one here want to help or is seeking help......
 
rhiannon and shadow (GA) said:
yes on the baked chicken..... it's low carb .....

the first big help would be for you to start a spreadsheet.....
here's how to set one up

if you need help doing it, there are some here who can do it for you, just say so....
either someone will volunteer or i can tag someone.


that's pretty good if his highest numbers are just pinks.....
it could be a bounce from having a lower number in the night......
the liver will panic and dump counterregulatory hormones sometimes in response.....

if we can see some numbers.....
we can give you lots of recommendations......
every one here want to help or is seeking help......
Click to expand...
I use the spreadsheet but can't work out how to attach it here. I've tried, but computer says, "No".
 
Sonya NZ said:
His highest number tends to be pre morning lantus, and sometimes in the pink zone.
Click to expand...

That AM number is almost always the last one to come down due to something called Dawn Phenomenon

Just go to the top right of the spreadsheet and you'll see the word "Share"....click there and a new box will pop up with the link to your spreadsheet to share. You might have to look at the bottom right of that little box for the word "Advanced" to change it to "anyone with the link" first though

We put the link in our Signatures, along with other information like:

Your name/Cats name, age, sex, date of diagnosis, type of insulin, type of meter, type of food, any other health problems? and maybe a general idea of your location. To do the signature, go to the top right of this page and click on your sign on name and choose "Signature"....a new box will pop up for that too and you enter that information there and then "save changes"

If you look directly below most of our comments, you'll see the information we have in our "Signatures"
 
Chris & China said:
That AM number is almost always the last one to come down due to something called Dawn Phenomenon

Just go to the top right of the spreadsheet and you'll see the word "Share"....click there and a new box will pop up with the link to your spreadsheet to share. You might have to look at the bottom right of that little box for the word "Advanced" to change it to "anyone with the link" first though

We put the link in our Signatures, along with other information like:

Your name/Cats name, age, sex, date of diagnosis, type of insulin, type of meter, type of food, any other health problems? and maybe a general idea of your location. To do the signature, go to the top right of this page and click on your sign on name and choose "Signature"....a new box will pop up for that too and you enter that information there and then "save changes"

If you look directly below most of our comments, you'll see the information we have in our "Signatures"
Click to expand...
I think I have the link there now - the full link. As you can see we were a bit all over the place to start with but I've stuck on a number as we have regulated and fine-tuned the diet.
 
Yep, you got it!! It doesn't have to be anything fancy!!

It is really important that you start to get some tests on the PM cycle though....even just a "before bed" test will help fill in what might be going on at night....Most cats go lower at night, so it's important to get those tests in.

Another big reason for high AMPS numbers is going low at night.....without those PM tests, you're really only seeing half the data and it might very well be the most important half!
 
I see it..... it's working....

now.... do you work? Are you home ?

it would be great if you could get some mid cycle tests..... it doesn't need to be the same one every day....
you just want to catch more of those greens.


one of our favorite tests at night is the +2.... after the pre-shot test for the pm cycle...

if the number is significantly lower than the pre shot ..... then you might be in for an active cycle and need
to get another test in the night.....

I learned to drink water before bedtime so I would get up.... the alarm didn't always work....
while you are up, you just grab a test and go back to bed.... unless of course, the number is low and needs
interention....
 
rhiannon and shadow (GA) said:
I see it..... it's working....

now.... do you work? Are you home ?

it would be great if you could get some mid cycle tests..... it doesn't need to be the same one every day....
you just want to catch more of those greens.


one of our favorite tests at night is the +2.... after the pre-shot test for the pm cycle...

if the number is significantly lower than the pre shot ..... then you might be in for an active cycle and need
to get another test in the night.....

I learned to drink water before bedtime so I would get up.... the alarm didn't always work....
while you are up, you just grab a test and go back to bed.... unless of course, the number is low and needs
interention....
Click to expand...
I can do the 2 hours post PM shot, but I'm in bed by about 9pm as I get up at 4:40am. Not too keen to check in the precious 6 hours in bed I do get..
 
I'm going to do a proper curve on Saturday. I need to prepare as Archie barely tolerates the ones we do do, and I can usually get it in one.
 
Did you do the SS on a mobile device or desktop? If desktop, please send me a private message and I'll help you with the correct link. We've had issues with people using the "share" method unless it's a mobile device.
 
Well, someone ate the baked chicken in the night, but I'm not sure which of the three it was. There was still a little left in the bowl so I guess they're not starving since the introduction of their new and improved diet. Archie's still holding steady in the blue and green zone. Going to do a curve tomorrow........ :nailbiting:
 
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