low glucose readings today

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Lauren M.

Lauren M.

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Good evening!
Colby has had low readings today:
Morning 158 (gave him 3/4 of a unit)
Afternoon 106
Evening 112

Recommended dose is 1U. Should I shoot half with that low of a reading tonight or skip?

Thanks friends!!!
 
Answered on the other thread. Definitely I would skip. And tomorrow morning, I would lower the dose again. He might be high after 24 hours, but I'd still reduce.
 
Thanks for the reply!! Let's see what tomorrow holds.
Any advice for traveling with a sugar kitty?
What's the best way to keep insulin chilled and how to store without tipping over?
Have you tried giving your cat benadryl? Vet says that will help with anxiety.
 
We traveled with our sugar kitty. We put insulin in a very small ice chest with a plastic ice pack, wrapped in a Baggie with bubble wrap inside. Be sure to take the records from your vet so you'd have all that info if you needed it. We did several shorter practice runs until he relaxed in the car.

Never tried Benedryl. You could ask on the Health forum.
 
Do you think the prescription on the bottle will be enough? I'm relocating and don't have the paper work. Can I travel with syringes? I may need to shoot him when I'm in the air.
 
We took him in the car. I know there are several members who have flown with their sugar kitties. Maybe start a new thread on Health and get some tips?
 
as expected, Colby reading was at 412 this morning. I have him 1U at 7:30 this morning. 4 hours later he vomitted. Checked his levels immediately after, it read 49. poor little guy. We have to travel today. I feel so bad.
 
I didn't read this carefully. Gave him the full dose this morning (levels were at 411) and he came down hard, 49. He vomitted but luckily he ate his high carb food quickly. He's in the high 300's with zero energy. Hopefully he will travel well this afternoon.
Sue and Oliver (GA) said:
Answered on the other thread. Definitely I would skip. And tomorrow morning, I would lower the dose again. He might be high after 24 hours, but I'd still reduce.
Click to expand...
 
Hope the trip went well. Looks like once he settles in, he may need a lot less insulin?

Here's something we put together on micro dosing:

When your cat is consistently in numbers too low to shoot at shot time and in numbers in the 100 range and below during the cycle, you can consider micro dosing. This process should be guided on the forum by experienced members and will require more frequent testing.

You may be shooting at times other than the 12/12 schedule, when the blood glucose levels rise enough to require a small dose of insulin. You will need to pick a number somewhere near the 150 range at which you will plan to shoot, being sure that the number is indeed rising. The dose at these low numbers will vary with each cat and its patterns, so advice should be solicited. But you may be considering doses below .25 and even considering a “drop” of insulin. At this point, U100 needles and the conversion chart will be necessary.

It is important during this period to offer small frequent meals. You may want to experiment with the lowest carb foods to help bring down the numbers, staying away from seafood more than once or twice a week.
 
Thank you for this! I had not heard of micro dosing before, I still have to look up that thread and start this method. Colby's numbers have been low, 150-200. I'll begin micro dosing and pray this works well for him. Hoping this is one step closer to get him off insulin. I can't thank you enough for your help, I appreciate it so much!!
 
Sue and Oliver (GA) said:
Hope the trip went well. Looks like once he settles in, he may need a lot less insulin?

Here's something we put together on micro dosing:

When your cat is consistently in numbers too low to shoot at shot time and in numbers in the 100 range and below during the cycle, you can consider micro dosing. This process should be guided on the forum by experienced members and will require more frequent testing.

You may be shooting at times other than the 12/12 schedule, when the blood glucose levels rise enough to require a small dose of insulin. You will need to pick a number somewhere near the 150 range at which you will plan to shoot, being sure that the number is indeed rising. The dose at these low numbers will vary with each cat and its patterns, so advice should be solicited. But you may be considering doses below .25 and even considering a “drop” of insulin. At this point, U100 needles and the conversion chart will be necessary.

It is important during this period to offer small frequent meals. You may want to experiment with the lowest carb foods to help bring down the numbers, staying away from seafood more than once or twice a week.
Click to expand...
is there a chart I can refer to that shows a healthy glucose curve once insulin is administered? I'm Trying the micro dose. He was at 147 at 1:30 I have him 1/4 of . unit, an hour later he is at 81. is the blood sugar a concern once it hits the 40's??
 
I can't help with the curve information - sorry - I'm used to the Lantus curve which I know is going to be flatter than for other insulins. Quick answer on low BG levels though in case no-one else gets to this post and he keeps dropping! Yes, if he drops into the 40s, you'll want to give a little high carb food or a couple of drops of karo or honey with low carb food if you don't have any high carb available. And then test him every 30 minutes (giving carbs as necessary to get and keep him above 50) until you're sure he's rising and can hold the rise in BG levels once the carbs wear off.
 
Sounds good. :) If you do get worried about his levels, those I can help you with, so just add to this post so I get a notification and I'll take a look. :)
 
Hey there! Sorry, it's been a busy couple of weeks for me and today was no exception, so I haven't been around as much. Sounds like micro dosing is going well! That's quite a drop in an hour...do you have a spreadsheet set up? That would really help us to see what's going on and advise you better on dose. If I totally missed it, let me know. It's been a day!!

If you don't have one set up, we can help you. There are instructions out there we can find for ya and we'd be happy to help you fill it out. It's really easy to set up. And trust me, if I am saying it's easy, it has to be! I'm no techie!! It doesn't require any math...it's just data entry. But it lets us see patterns much more easily.

How did the rest of the day go? I don't know of any SS out there that have a really good curve day on them...I'm sure there are some, but I don't know which ones or when. Maybe someone else will have that info?

That drop was really large for one hour. Did he eat when you gave him the insulin? Usually the first two hours aren't a huge change due to food. However, it could be that he just dropped really fast! Anyway, some more info on the rest of the day might help us to see what's going on with his numbers and help you to decide where to go with dose next.
 
Hey Rachel! Thanks for the advice. I have not uploaded a SS only because I've been logging it by pen for the past few weeks.
That episode of a significant drop has not happened since. It was so strange because he dropped that low about 4 hours after his dose.
As of right now Colby has been at regular glucose levels for 2 days and has been OTJ for 24 hours. He read 106 this morning and mid afternoo read 60. I checked just now at 5:30 and he is at 71. Is this normal?? I am using a human glucometer. His behavior hasn't changed he's his normal sweet self. Any advice?
 
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