Testing/shooting before or after food?

[MaryB & Chester]

My vet wasn't crystal clear on this, but I know you guys will know.

Right now our routine is test, shoot, feed. The whole thing takes about five minutes between ear poke and food arrival. Is that how this works? Or should I test him, feed him, then shoot? Or test, feed, wait, shoot?

 

[Dyana]

I think it depends upon the type of insulin you are using.
We use Levemir, and test, shoot, and feed, as Levemir's onset is not until around +4.

 

[Carl & Polly & Bob (GA)]

As long as "test" comes first, the order of the other two isn't as important. Since you're using lantus, and since you do it all in a 5 minute span, the feeding and shot can be in either order.

With quick acting and shorter duration insulins, it's usually test, then feed first, because you want to be sure that the cat eats before introducing insulin.

Many people will give the shot while the kitty is eating and distracted, and the cat never notices the shot. I used to let Bob eat, and then give him the shot moments later, just because that was the routine we established.

The way you're doing it is perfectly fine!

Carl

 

[MommaOfMuse]

My girl is also on Levemir and I test, feed/shoot so basically I'm shooting while her head is buried in her bowl of food and she doesn't even look up or miss a beat while eating.

Most of the long lasting insulins you can test, feed and shoot or test, shoot and feed...the only exception to that is the shorter harsher insulins like Humulin N where you want to test, feed about 15 minutes ahead of the shot so they have food on their stomach.

Mel, Maxwell, Autumn & The Fur Gang

 

[Hope + (((Baby)))GA]

I have always tested, put food down and made sure kitty was eating and then I would shoot. The ONLY time you would need to test and then feed would be with N insulin. With that insulin they should be fed a good 1/2hr. before shooting because food definitely needs to be on board. Fast acting insulin as well as short duration.

 

[Deanie and Boo (GA) and Scout]

As long as "test" comes first, the order of the other two isn't as important. Since you're using lantus, and since you do it all in a 5 minute span, the feeding and shot can be in either order.

It isn't essential that "test" comes first in the order. For people who have cats that want their food in the am, it becomes much easier to test a cat after they've eaten.

The more important step is that testing occurs before dosing, in case the dose needs to be adjusted or skipped for a low preshot.

 

[Carl & Polly & Bob (GA)]

Deanie,
Are you talking about testing immediately after eating? You want to test before the food starts to skew the BG, right? So within minutes?

Carl

 

[MaryB & Chester]

Thank you. Good to know I'm doing it OK.

 

[Blue]

It is very important to test first.... the test is to let you know that your cat is at an UNFED number that is safe to shoot. No matter what insulin you are using, you test first, then once you decide SHOOT or NO SHOOT, you can feed.

You can prepare the food, have it all ready in a dish; that's no problem.
Test your cat and decide if the BG number is safe for shooting. if the number is not safe, if you are delaying a shot to see if the number is rising, giving food before knowing where the cat's numbers are going would skew the next number because of course it would be a higher number..... because of the food.

For an insulin which requires food in the cat before the insulin is given, you can give the cat the prepared food after you have decided that you are going to give the shot. Test and number is safe, then give food and wait your 15min or 30min to give your insulin shot.

For insulins like Lantus and Lev, the cat does not have to eat before getting a shot, so just test first, and put down the food ONLY after deciding if you are going to give a shot or not.

Too bad for hungry cats; you need to know that it's safe to give insulin. If you feed, then your test is food skewed, you may shoot based on that temporarily raised number..... numbers start dropping when the food wears off in an hour or two, and then the insulin kicks in shortly after that which results in even lower numbers, and you got yourself a hypo possibility.

Test first and then decide shoot or no shoot. After that decision, do whatever you like for sequence in feeding and shooting.