Feeding/ Shot questions

Discussion in 'Prozinc / PZI' started by thewebs, Sep 11, 2020.

  1. thewebs

    thewebs Member

    Joined:
    Sep 1, 2020
    I usually test around 730 am , feed and shoot while he’s eating. He’s very food motivated so I know he will eat. I then test and feed around 1230. I test again around 6-615 feed and shoot. I’m usually not 12 hours between shots. Usually 10.5 hours between shots. He’s always hungry so I feed and shoot a bit early. I feed him a little more around 1030 pm. He’s strictly FF pate which he loves. He gets about 2.5 to 3 cans a day. He weighs about 13 pounds. If I add a couple small feedings in between and stretch it out to 12 full hours between shots would that be better? How long does he have to go between a feeding and a shot? If he has a small feeding around 3-3:30 is it OK to shoot around 730 after testing? He’s now on ProZinc 1 unit 2x a day. Not regulated and his numbers are high.. He was on varying units of Vetsulin through Sept 9th. So basically I’m asking is the 12 hours between shots a strict rule and how many hours before his second shot can he eat. Thanks for any help! I’ve attached his spread sheet. It’s not good!

    https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1g49B9XUQ96GXFK9QiGxph7pr2qgj2EbEbwqxrQASeQA/edit
     
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  2. Panic

    Panic Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 10, 2019
    Oh goodness, can you remove the GA from your title? It means the cat has passed away (Guardian Angel/Gone Ahead). I was scared for a second. :(

    With Prozinc you really don't want to give insulin more than 1 hour early. Cats do best receiving insulin every 12 hours.

    A cat can technically eat at any time, however we DO like to pick up food 2 hours prior to pre-shot testing time, because we want to gauge the pre-shot test on a fasting number, not one elevated by food.
    We also prefer to keep the meals in the first half of the cycle ... after nadir (when insulin activity is at its highest/BG is the lowest), feeding will "burn up" the insulin faster and it won't last the full 12 hours. On Prozinc, nadir is usually 5-8 hours after injection. If you can fill out your spreadsheet a bit, we can figure out when his nadir is, and feed accordingly.

    Unregulated diabetics need at least twice as much food as they normally should have. Is Wriggley underweight, or is 13 lbs his typical weight? If he's underweight, don't restrict food. Otherwise, a 13 lb cat should consume an average of 260 calories a day (20 calories per lb). You want to allow Wriggley to have at least 520 if he wants to eat that much - more if he is underweight. FF Classic cans average around 100 calories per can so he does need more to eat. If cost is an issue (it was for me!) you can buy some cheaper food to feed too with the FF while he's unregulated (I bought 9 Lives Meaty Pate, but Friskies Pate is good too. Or you can stick with FF Classics if the cost doesn't bother you).

    When Panic was unregulated, I gave her something whenever she asked for food. When she was passed her nadir, I would either give her very small bites of her regular food or give her lots of zero-carb treats (baked chicken or PureBites). I did schedule her mini-meals to be getting them at +2, +4, and +6 at minimum. Not including treats.

    If you were able (depends on your schedule), could you get some specific tests in for us to fill out Wriggley's spreadsheet a little more, so we can find his onset and nadir? We use food to "steer the drop" so the insulin doesn't nosedive BG and cause bouncing. Typically with Prozinc onset (the time when insulin starts to kick in) is +2, so we offer a snack at +2.

    Tests that would be nice to get:
    +2, +4, +6 one day
    +3, +5, +7 the next day

    It wouldn't have to be exact, just something to give us an idea of what his curves look like on Prozinc.

    We also recommend getting at least one "before bed" test in at night, because cats drop lower then. Do you have an autofeeder? Kitties need multiple meals throughout the night too to maintain their BG. You could set the autofeeder to dispense his food at the same times as the AM cycle.

    Hope that helps! :)
     
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  3. thewebs

    thewebs Member

    Joined:
    Sep 1, 2020
     
  4. thewebs

    thewebs Member

    Joined:
    Sep 1, 2020
    Wow! That’s a lot to take in! Sorry about
    the GA . Thought it was for general answers! None of the other choices applied. I can’t figure how to get rid of it. I will do a 2,4,6 and then a 3,5,7. I did a plus 3 tonight and he went up. Thanks for the help!
     
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  5. Deb & Wink

    Deb & Wink Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 31, 2013
    Go to the top of this thread.
    Open the link that is titled "Thread Tools"
    Click on Edit Title from the drop down list.
    Edit the title by selecting the "No Prefix" option before the actual title.
    Then select "Save Changes"

    It should be updated.
     
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  6. Panic

    Panic Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 10, 2019
    The top right under "Thread Tools" it allows you to edit - you can just use the ? option if you have questions! :D
    No worries, most new people use it on accident - it's not exactly an obvious title option, but glad to see Wriggley hasn't gone anywhere xD

    Excellent! +2 tests are always good - if there is a noticeable dip from pre-shot to +2 that's an early indication to keep an eye out because the cycle will be active and you may have some low numbers to watch out for. Looks like Wriggley will be fine tonight. :)

    We usually like to stick to a dose for a week before re-evaluating whether to increase (if at any time he drops below 90, he earns a 0.25u reduction). Do let us know when you get those tests in and we can take a look together to see where he's at. :cat:

    One other thing, if you would - could you add Wriggley's information to your signature? Age, diagnose date, insulin, meter, food, and any other health issues he might have. Makes it easy for us too see Wriggley's situation and needs. c:
     
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  7. thewebs

    thewebs Member

    Joined:
    Sep 1, 2020
    Thanks!
     
  8. thewebs

    thewebs Member

    Joined:
    Sep 1, 2020
    I will update his info. Still feeling my way around. Just ordered an auto feeder. Hopefully that will help. He always liked to nibble on dry at night before all this
     
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  9. Panic

    Panic Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Apr 10, 2019
    My autofeeder was the best $25 ever spent!
    If Wriggley misses his crunchies you could get him some PureBites too - they're freeze-dried chicken.

    Sounds like you're getting on top of everything. :)
     
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