Here is his sheet. He was diagnosed 12 days ago. I have been testing and he has been on wet food only since then. He is eating Tiki cat chicken koolina and blue buffalo kitten chicken because I was concerned about calories. He is 22lbs but isn't used to eating the amount of food that would be 200 cal per meal. He just tested around 100 and he is 3-4 hrs away from his PM shot. I am still giving 2.5 units of Prozinc as recommended by the vet. Should I start adjusting the amount based on his numbers? I assume I should give him a snack so he doesn't get too low before his next meal? https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1nex4zzhfi51-UC5hGvH2qf7i7PDEgg-rAsWjNXz7yMU/edit?usp=sharing
Hi there & Welcome! We recommend New Members first post should be in the Welcome and Main Health Forum. This link: Feline Health - (Welcome & Main Forum) will take you to that forum where you can copy and paste what you said here in a new thread. Put in a title that begins with "New Member" with your question and we'll get more eyes on your first post - there are more people to help new members over there so we have a better chance of getting you some quick help & advice. (The Prozinc ISG can be pretty quiet at times) //Shelley
He doesn't have to eat his calories in just two meals. Most of us find several smaller meals worms better. Just no food at least 2 hours prior to the preshot test so the number is not food influenced.
First off, you are doing awesomely so far. I love seeing those mid-cycle BGL tests! Those give you the info you really need to know what's going on with your kitty. First, I have to agree with Janet. Vets always seem to advise only giving two meals a day, but all diabetics do better with smaller meals throughout the day. That's how I kicked my diabetes to the curb, and that's how my sugar cat Billy got to remission. Not all cats can achieve remission, but many can, and all sugar cats can have happy lives with the right treatment. Secondly, I wouldn't worry about calories right now. Until sugar is more regulated, diabetic cats need more food than non-sugar cats. They don't utilize food well, and many of their calories go straight into the litter box. Some sugar cats need up to twice as much food as non-sugar cats. My Billy was fat too, but I decided to concentrate on regulation first. Once he ht remission, we began limiting food and now he's lost 2 lbs. Feeding any time they are hungry also guards against dangerous hypoglycemic reactions. They will naturally want to eat if their BGL gets too low. All you have to do is take away food 2 hours before shot time, so the pre-shot test number is more accurate and the cat is hungry when he gets his insulin. The foods you are feeding are awesome. Don't be afraid to switch flavors when you need to to keep your kitty from getting bored. He needs to eat to get better. Keep up those mid-cycle tests when you can. I'd love to see a +5 when you can manage it, even a +3 some days. Looking at your chart, I would not be surprised if you need to reduce dose soon. Keep an eye out for his lowest readings. Maybe try to get another curve soon. If his BGL drops below 90 at any time, reduce the dose by .25 of a unit and hold for 3 12-hour cycles. (unless BGL goes below 90 again, then reduce immediately.) Don't worry about high pre-shot BGL levels. You are going to see some bounce, I'm certain, and that will clear itself up.
Thank you! I could, at least for one more month, give him food throughout the day. I just didn't really know if I want him to get used to something that will change once I am in the classroom again. Then I can only do two meals a day without free feeding. I have 3 other rescue cats and they would just eat it all in 5 minutes. I really wish those microchip feeders were less than $200 each. I will try to get some more mid-cycle numbers. Calling the vet today to see how much he thinks I can drop the dose. I hate that I had to skip another shot, making him get really high until his morning dose again. I tested his ketones this morning and it was negative, so that's good. I'm doing my best! I have been reading and researching a lot. There is always more that I find out...it's a little overwhelming!
This one is $150 with good reviews. Still pricey though. https://www.chewy.com/surefeed-microchip-small-dog-cat/dp/157145
I understand about the microchip feeders. I couldn't go that route anyway. I know it's not ideal, but maybe you could keep him in a separate room while you are at work and get a less expensive timed feeder. My Billy is in remission, but he still spends his nights in our bedroom, so I can make sure he gets his +6 feeding and also keep him away from the dry food I give our other cats at night.
