? Why do some cats go lower at night?

Bandit's Mom

Bandit's Mom

Member Since 2019
I have been observing that my Bandit seems to go significantly lower at night than during the day. Even though she eats more at night. She is also higher during the day after bouncing from lower numbers at night.

I haven't checked her numbers beyond PMPS +4 but I plan to do so tonight. I was waiting for her to settle into the increased dose (1.25u, completed 7 days on it today).

I've seen several threads which say that some cats go lower at night. Is there a reason for this? Should I be watching out for something?

(Some background - http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/...able-pen-using-a-syringe.222955/#post-2494921)
 
Yes it this true many cats drop lower at night. Not sure anyone knows why but it does happen.

One way you can see if Bandit is going to drop lower is to get a +2 or a before bed test every night. If the BG is the same or lower than the Preshot then it will probably be an active cycle and you will need to test later on to keep Bandit safe.

I would not wait 7 days to settle into a dose before checking later in the cycle.
 
Thanks @Bron and Sheba (GA) , I have been checking her at PMPS +2 / +3 / +4 but not later. will do that tonight.

I don't think she is falling much lower because she grazes on food at regular intervals till PMPS +6 or +7. We take away the kibble after that so it doesn't affect the AMPS number. Read somewhere that dry food stays longer in the system.

Because her body is still used to being in the 300-400 levels, she is bouncing if she goes below 200.
 
I don't know the exact reason either. There is also "dawn phenomenon" in which numbers start to rise in the mornings. The explanation for the latter rests in how our endocrine system begins to gear up for the stress of the day and corticosteroids are released. These raise BG numbers The two may be associated in that some cats experience a drop and then rise in numbers as a function of their normal biological rhythms. It sounds like a reasonable explanation but it could also be the more frequent explanation of a cat's behavior -- because they can and because they want to keep us guessing.
 
Strangely, I have noticed that, except when she's bouncing, Bandit seems to end her cycle (AM and PM) at the lowest point.

It's probable that the HC kibble she is currently on keeps her high till the end of the cycle when we are now taking off the kibble around 5 hours before shot time. It used to be 3 hours.
 
Sienne and Gabby (GA) said:
I don't know the exact reason either. There is also "dawn phenomenon" in which numbers start to rise in the mornings. The explanation for the latter rests in how our endocrine system begins to gear up for the stress of the day and corticosteroids are released. These raise BG numbers The two may be associated in that some cats experience a drop and then rise in numbers as a function of their normal biological rhythms. It sounds like a reasonable explanation but it could also be the more frequent explanation of a cat's behavior -- because they can and because they want to keep us guessing.
Click to expand...

even on the 16% carb kibble that Bandit is on right now, she dips significantly after her PM shot (as much as 150 points at +2/+3) but barely budges after her AM shot. maybe 50 points.
i guess there is no explanation for this? just a feline quirk?

(her zero carb food arrives next week and i am curious to see how she fares on that)
 
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