question about the freuqent feeding suggestions for lantus

[patricia&princess(GA)]

I've read the stickies (and reread and will reread again ... and again) but I'm not finding an explanation for the suggestion of more frequent feedings/snacks for cats on lantus. Anybody want to try to 'splain to me? confused_cat

 

[Laurie and Mr Tinkles]

Re: question about the freuqent feeding suggestions for lant

Hi Patricia! Generally, smaller meals are easier on the pancreas, if it is functioning, and it's how a cat eats in nature....small, frequent meals. It also helps to keep the BG more level, lantus and levemir are gentle insulins so it helps to avoid big food spikes. Some cats free feed and that works well too, although we do encourage you to pick up the food 2 hours before shot time.

Does that answer the question? Or are you referring to the front loading that some of us are doing, feeding at PS, +1, +2, and +3, then snack at +6?

 

[Kathy and Kitty]

Re: question about the freuqent feeding suggestions for lant

Per Laurie's message -- I was told, and had great success with, the maxim that "early snacks rule." We fed at +2 morning and night to give the insulin something to work on as it was kicking in. (Laurie is much more scientific in her explanation! :lol: ) It really helped Kitty have a smooth cycle -- surf, with a gentle drop.

 

[patricia&princess(GA)]

Re: question about the freuqent feeding suggestions for lant

Thanks Kathy and Laurie -- that does answer my question for the most part.

How do you handle a multi-cat household? Do you feed everyone at those intervals? And what about days when no-one is around at those times? I work full time (as do many here, I know) and my husband works part time, but there are days when neither of us is around for 7 or 8 hours. Fortunately, not too many of those days ... but is it better to offer those "snacks" when we can, or is it better for the pancreas and the insulin to be on a steadier schedule?

 

[Laurie and Mr Tinkles]

Re: question about the freuqent feeding suggestions for lant

It can be a challenge if you have multiple cats, some people just leave bowls of food scattered around the house so that there is enough to ensure the FD kitty gets to eat at least some of the food. Personally, I use an autofeeder every day, whether I'm here or not. Tinkles gets fed on a consistent schedule, the same for both cycles...the only deviation is when he sleeps through the meal or his numbers are low so I need to feed differently to manage the curve. Oh, and when the piggie civie beats him to the feeder! ohmygod_smile I do feed smaller more frequent meals to the civies also, not on the same schedule as Tinkles though...more evenly spaced, he is on the front loading schedule.

Before the autofeeder, I used to leave out fresh food and frozen pucks of food for all of the kitties when I was gone or for overnight. That way, there was fresh food for now, and the pucks would thaw slowly for food later. Bigger pucks for longer time away from home, so they thaw out slower. I still do this for the civies...out of reach of Tinkles.

A consistent feeding schedule is the ideal way, but life is not always ideal, and beans have to do what works the best for their situation.

 

[Kathy and Kitty]

Re: question about the freuqent feeding suggestions for lant

What Laurie said.

 

[patricia&princess(GA)]

Re: question about the freuqent feeding suggestions for lant

I'd never be able to leave food out. My two civies would gobble it all down and Princess would never get to go near it. They harrass her anyway. They are the Siamese Terrorists :twisted:

I think I'll see how her numbers do this week and see if we need to change the feeding schedule to accomodate.

Thanks for the info and food for thought!

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

Re: question about the freuqent feeding suggestions for lant

Laurie did a great job explaining the rationale. It's not unlike what some personal trainers and nutritionists suggest to their human clients - frequent small meals keeps the metabolism stoked. In this case, it puts less of a burden on a pancreas that is, hopefully, healing.

Part of what I've done, is adjust my shot schedule so I'm around the first several hours of the cycle before leaving for work. Gabby tends to nose dive, so small frequent meals at the front end of the cycle helps to offset her tendency to be dramatic. I also leave a timed feeder. At one point, I was making catsickles, but the kitties decided they didn't like them any more. I used to worry that Gabby wouldn't get to the feeder or Gizmo would eat everything (he's a kitten). If her numbers are dropping, Gabby can be pretty assertive about wanting food and has shoved Gizmo away from his bowl! The times when I've not been able to be home, I've just fed most of the mini-meals at one time.