Changing my method - Dosing advice

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Sue484

Sue484

Member Since 2015
I have decided to change the method I am using from Tight Reg to SLGS. This seems to fit in with the chicken in me!! Frankie has gone down to 4.6 (83) this afternoon. (Thank goodness for a patient pet-sitter!!) I can't expect her to keep popping in every couple of hours every day to check on him, so this seems to suit better. I will be quite happy if Frankie stays in blues forever, as after all this time I am not expecting him to go into remission. The most I can hope for is his neuropathy to clear up. I will be decreasing his dose tonight by 0.25 units. Is there anything else I should be doing?
 
My suggestion would be to try switching around the time you do your daytime check here and there if possible, since kitties don't necessarily always nadir at +6. You don't necessarily need to get more checks; just try, say +3 one day, or +2 and +4 another day. It would help fill in the data gaps a little, just to see what Frankie is up to at other points in time.

You are doing great...SLGS is a fine method and works for many here! You never know about remission, though....kitties can surprise you. My Trixie went into remission after being on insulin for over 3 years, and we've had some other "surprises" in the group, too!
 
@Amy&TrixieCat I will do a curve this weekend just to try and fill the some of the gaps a bit but otherwise it all depends on when my catsitter can fit me in really. I thought that 1pm was a good time for the sitter seeing as it is 6 hours after I leave the house and 5 hours before I return and a nice time for a midday snack. I didn't think he could get into too much trouble in that time. I was wrong!! He has gone up from 4.6 (83) to 4.9 (88) in an hour and a half. He is due his shot in 2.5 hours. What number am I looking at where I do not give a shot? Or can I reduce assuming he isn't bouncing and still low?
 
That's OK...+6 is a fine time for a test....it was just one suggestion.

That "slight rise" from 83 to 88 is actually pretty much the same number given meter variance....it's a perfect flat green surf!

I'm trying to track down the SLGS "no shoot' number for you...someone else may be along before me to tell you what it is. I'm at work...really need to make myself get back to it1
 
The SLGS shooting low guidelines are hard to find, but I had to do it recently. Here they are:

My cat's pre-shot level was way below the usual value. Should I give the injection?

A4.4. There's no hard and fast rule, but if you don't have data on how your cat responds to insulin, here are some general guidelines. Below 150 mg/dl (8.3 mmol/L), don't give insulin. Between 150 and 200 (8.3-11.1 mmol/L), you have three options: a.) give nothing; b.) give a token dose (10-25% of the usual dose); c.) feed as usual, test in a couple of hours, and make a decision based on that value. Above 200 (11.1 mmol/L) but below the cat's normal pre-shot value, a reduced dose might be wise. In all cases, if you are reducing or eliminating insulin, it's wise to check for ketones in the urine. Above the normal pre-shot value, give the usual dose, but if the pre-shot value is consistently elevated, it's a good idea to schedule a full glucose curve to see whether a change in dose or insulin is appropriate. In most cases, the target "peak" value should not be below 100 mg/dl (5.6 mmol/L), and for some cats it might be higher. Keep in mind that these are general guidelines, and they should be personalized to your own cat's reactions to insulin. If your experience is that your cat does not became hypoglycemic with a dose which is close to her usual, then your experience should be your guide.
 
I like Amy's idea of testing at times you haven't tested when you can to fill in the blanks. By the way, Frankie is very newly diagnosed. I consider less than a year still quite possible to go into remission and definitely less than 6 months. Jen's Eddie is on a trial after 1 1/2 years.
 
@tiffmaxee Frankie's been diagnosed over a year now, only only Lantus since April this year, was previously on Caninsulin. At am +11 he is 3.6 (65). Surely he should be starting to creep up now? How low do I let him go before giving high carb foods? Should I give him that in an hour in what should be his shot time? Doubt he will be having one today though. Thanks @Wendy&Neko and @Amy&TrixieCat for the information. Sorry for interrupting your work!!!
 
Sue484 said:
@tiffmaxee Frankie's been diagnosed over a year now, only only Lantus since April this year, was previously on Caninsulin. At am +11 he is 3.6 (65). Surely he should be starting to creep up now? How low do I let him go before giving high carb foods? Should I give him that in an hour in what should be hit shot time? Doubt he will be having one today though. Thanks @Wendy&Neko and @Amy&TrixieCat for the information. Sorry for interrupting your work!!!
Click to expand...

I based my comments on the date you joined. Sorry. I feel the same way that you do as Max was diagnosed 1 1/2 years ago and is still on close to 2.25 units.
 
Just to keep in mind Frankie is being tested with an AlphaTrak meter so the readings Sue is giving are slightly higher than what a human meter would show. The protocols and no shot ranges and reduction/increase ranges are generally quoted in human meter readings. The numbers on a human meter would be lower than what is being listed.
 
Thank you for the reminder, Mary Ann!

Given that you are using the AT, I would give Frankie a little bit of HC now and retest in half an hour. Don't give him too much, though...just enough to bump him up a bit without spiking him or making him too full, in case he needs another little boost after your next test.

Are you home for monitoring, or is your petsitter monitoring now?

You're not interrupting work - no need to apologize! I try to sneak on when I can during the work day, but sometimes that means I pop in and out. I own the joint, so that does help! But, with that said, I do have to pop out again now. I'll try to check back in on you, but I see that others are around as well. You're doing great!
 
@Amy&TrixieCat I'm home now so I'll be monitoring. His pmbg is 3.8 (68) so no shot for him!! I'll give him some high carb now and maybe a bit more later. Is half an 85g can ok? I think tonight is going to be a loooong night!!!!!
 
I admit, when it comes to measuring food, I am metrically challenged, but I think that probably sounds like more HC than he would need at this point in the cycle. I would start with a tablespoon and go from there. You don't want to overwhelm either his tummy or his pancreas with too much of "the good stuff"! Hopefully it won't be a long night, since you're not shooting....hopefully he'll surf, but also don't be surprised if you see a bounce, ether.
 
I'm expecting a bounce. I had already given him half a can (it's a small can of Gourmet Gold) and half is about a tablespoon so keep your fingers crossed. Shame he can't have it more often, he loved it!! It lasted about 3 seconds in his bowl!!
 
Well, two hours after high carb food given, he is still only at 9.0 (162). I thought he would be bouncing off the roof by now. Famous last words but I'm one happy bunny right now.
 
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