No food before testing?

[Hosanna]

I need to get a definitive answer about how long I should make sure Martha is off food before testing. The vet called today, a little concerned about this. He wants to make sure Martha is getting all the nutrition she needs. I told him that I withheld food for four hours. He agreed that I'd get a lower reading at 4 hours vs. 2 or 3. His point was that whatever, would be okay as long as I did it consistently. Not 3 hours one day, 4 the next, 2, etc.
Could you help me decide this? Martha gets very hungry at night when I put all food away at 5 pm for her 9:00 test. It also interferes with my husband's dinner since I will not fill the house with delicious cooking aromas when Martha can't eat. I will appreciate your help in arriving at something we can all be comfortable with. Thanks!

 

[arozeboom]

When Ruby was on Lantus, I would pull her food for the last 2 hours before each shot, but other than that, food was always available to her. She's a grazer so she's really good at just eating when she's hungry.

We usually shot as close to a 6:30 AM and 6:30 PM schedule as possible. Yes, it did involve me getting up a bit earlier than I liked and then I would have to remind the husband to pull the bowls at 4:30 PM every weekday (he works at home), but it worked for us.

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

We recommend that you don't feed 2-hours prior to giving a shot. In that way, your pre-shot test will not be influenced by the effect of food.

Beyond that, you may want to consider whether to feed after nadir. If you're feeding as the insulin is beginning to wear off, there's less insulin available to offset the effect of food. If you do feed after Martha's nadir, there's a chance that your pre-shot numbers will be higher. If Martha does get hungry late in the cycle, I would only give a small amount of food (e.g., a teaspoon or two) and spread out her food over the front end of the cycle.

 

[Amy&TrixieCat]

I haven't visited you guys before...welcome to LantusLand! Like the others, I hold off for at least 2 hours before testing, usually more because both DH and I are at work right up until PMPS.

I love this...you are a true, genuine, cat lover, that's for sure !!!

It also interferes with my husband's dinner since I will not fill the house with delicious cooking aromas when Martha can't eat.