BG is 34

Status
Not open for further replies.
Libby and Lucy said:
is this right, more or less? I'm just trying to keep track of where we are in the cycle.

AMPS - ???? gave 6 units
+3.25 ~ 34 (gave high carb and finger full of honey)
+3.5 ~ 29 (dry food and honey)
+3.75 ~ 22 (honey)
+4 ~ 48
+4.25 ~ 61
Click to expand...
Yes, except it was 7 units. Tested again at 2:48, back down to 59, gave him a little more honey. My son is trying to leave work early so he can bring me some gravy food and we can get Squallie to the vet if we need to.
 
Squalliesmom said:
Yes, except it was 7 units. Tested again at 2:48, back down to 59, gave him a little more honey. My son is trying to leave work early so he can bring me some gravy food and we can get Squallie to the vet if we need to.
Click to expand...

Good job with the honey - Can anyone say what kind of dose Squallie should get tonight? I'm assuming 7 units is too much.
 
hang in there!

If he hasn't eaten any food recently, try getting him to eat something. Whatever he'll eat - his regular food or something else. Not too much because you don't want him to vomit, but some food should help keep his numbers up. Syrup for a quick rise, food to kick in slower but help hold it longer.
 
Libby and Lucy said:
hang in there!

If he hasn't eaten any food recently, try getting him to eat something. Whatever he'll eat - his regular food or something else. Not too much because you don't want him to vomit, but some food should help keep his numbers up. Syrup for a quick rise, food to kick in slower but help hold it longer.
Click to expand...
He ate some dry kitten food, figured it was probably high in carbs, and I've been giving him fingersfull of honey. Last test at 3:10 showed him up to 81, although I really panicked for a moment because I didn't see the 1, only the 8.
 
pevsfreedom said:
Can anyone say what kind of dose Squallie should get tonight? I'm assuming 7 units is too much.
Click to expand...
Yes, 7u is too high of a dose.
Personally, I like to see how the cycle plays out and then assess the degree of difficulty in keeping numbers up throughout the cycle before suggesting a dose for the next shot... presuming a shot tonight will be recommended. I do not have hands-on experience with vetsulin. In this case, I'd prefer Lucy's vet or those well versed in the use of vetsulin suggest a dose.
 
Squalliesmom said:
Last test at 3:10 showed him up to 81, although I really panicked for a moment because I didn't see the 1, only the 8.
Click to expand...

Been there, done that. LOL!

it has been about an hour and a half since you posted the 34, right? So we're getting close to +5. I think you're getting there.
 
I would at least call the vet and see what they think. They should know about this anyway, and you'll need to make a dose adjustment.

Usually after seeing very low numbers, cats will "bounce" back into high numbers. That's what I'm waiting for, to see how long it takes for that to happen and so we can breathe a sigh of relief. From your spreadsheet, it looks like Squallie has been doing some dropping and bouncing before, though maybe not dropping this low.
 
and as Jill pointed out, it looks like Squallie tends to nadir around +7. That means that unless a bounce starts before then, he could keep wavering around until at least +7. The insulin is probably still working right now, that's why he keeps going up and down a bit. If you've given that much honey, you would think the numbers would be even higher than 81 right now.
 
Sorry, we have storms in the area and I lost my internet connection.

Squalliesmom said:
Should I still take him to the vet if his BG stays up now?
Click to expand...
I think you have things under control for now, but I encourage you to do whatever feels comfortable to you. IMO, you'll have to continue monitoring carefully possibly over the next few hours.

If Squallie were mine I (at this point) would stay on alert, monitor closely, and only take him into the vet if he starts dropping and you are having trouble keeping his numbers up, but that's me. If you're too frazzled to continue (no one would blame you) and would like someone else to take over... then take him to the vet. It's up to you.


Just saw Libby's post...
I agree with calling your vet to let them know what's been going on...
 
BG is 95 at 3:25 using the Relion, 148 with the Alphatrak (need for vet). Squallie absolutely hates my guts at the moment and is hiding under my bed, the hardest place in the house for me to get him, of course
 
I am a vetsulin user and with the tiny bit of experience I have on just my cat I would be inclined to go see the vet in this case.
My main reasons would be
1. Looking at the ss it appears that Squallie is not at the typical nadir time in the cycle of +6 and
2. I think I would want a vets professional opinion while seeing the cat who went so low to help me adjust the dose so it doesn't go that low again... Not tonight, not tomorrow or the next day, not Ever

Sending good thoughts to you both
 
Jill & Alex (GA) said:
Sorry, we have storms in the area and I lost my internet connection.


I think you have things under control for now, but I encourage you to do whatever feels comfortable to you. IMO, you'll have to continue monitoring carefully possibly over the next few hours.

If Squallie were mine I (at this point) would stay on alert, monitor closely, and only take him into the vet if he starts dropping and you are having trouble keeping his numbers up, but that's me. If you're too frazzled to continue (no one would blame you) and would like someone else to take over... then take him to the vet. It's up to you.


Just saw Libby's post...
I agree with calling your vet to let them know what's been going on...
Click to expand...
If I can keep his numbers up I will probably hold off on the vet visit, he is scheduled for one tomorrow anyway. But if he drops again I'll go ahead and take him today.
 
Squalliesmom said:
If I can keep his numbers up I will probably hold off on the vet visit, he is scheduled for one tomorrow anyway. But if he drops again I'll go ahead and take him today.
Click to expand...

I would discuss with the vet switching to Lantus perhaps. See what they think? It's not as 'rough' of a ride if I'm not mistaken, and vetsulin seems to be pretty sporadic with Squallie.
 
Hang in there Lucy, you've done a great job. I've been where you are and understand the sheer terror. Breathe and .......breathe again.
 
Just tested him again, the Relion said he was back down to 35, but the Alphatrak says 156. How can this be, it went down with the Relion but up with the Alphatrak?
 
Hugs Lucy I believe we have all been where you are and for me like you I was never more scared. You are doing great :bighug: :bighug: :bighug:
 
Squalliesmom said:
Just tested him again, the Relion said he was back down to 35, but the Alphatrak says 156. How can this be, it went down with the Relion but up with the Alphatrak?
Click to expand...

That's weird. Were they reading similarly earlier? Any way to use calibration solution on either of them or check yourself with the Relion to ensure #'s are trustworthy?
 
I've been watching for a while since Jill and Libby flagged me. You're doing great!

I didn't use Vetsulin, but rather compounded PZI so I understand the "how" part in how the insulin works.
From looking at your SS, my thought is that the dose is too high, and it has been for weeks. I suspect he has been dropping pretty low most every cycle, and the high pink, red and black preshots are due to big bounces following those lows.

I would definitely show the vet what has been going on, and I would expect the vet to advise a lower dose going forward. If I saw these numbers with my cat, I would have tried lowering to 3 or 4 units for a couple days, and continued testing around +6 or so as well. That might still give you good nadirs, and also result in lower preshots. You aren't going to get a "flat cycle" like some people see with Lantus for instance. But lower preshots is a good start. Lower preshots with good nadirs is what you want, and theoretically, as he improves, it will take lower and lower doses to achieve that. That is how things went for Bob and he ended up going OTJ a month or so after I started lowering his dose.

See if that makes logical sense to your vet?

Carl
 
or sometimes the strip gets under or overfilled without throwing an error code. meters are inexpensive little gadgets and every once in awhile... they malfunction. any time you get a questionable result, test again.

looking good here! i'd give him a little something to eat... whatever he'll eat.
Please retest in another 45 minutes.
 
Squalliesmom said:
I must have gotten the sample contaminated, maybe with the alcohol prep pad, because now it's reading 103.
Click to expand...

Can alcohol and/or vaseline contaminate a reading? I've been wondering about that myself. I sterilize the lancets with alcohol and was wondering if that would fluctuate #'s at all?
 
Lancet are meant to be one-time use. A few years ago someone had pics showing how they degrade and the metal actually frayed out with each use. That was enough to convince me never to reuse them after a testing. They are the cheapest part of dealing with FD.
 
julie & punkin (ga) said:
Lancet are meant to be one-time use. A few years ago someone had pics showing how they degrade and the metal actually frayed out with each use. That was enough to convince me never to reuse them after a testing. They are the cheapest part of dealing with FD.
Click to expand...

I clean it before and after I use it and I don't use 1 for more then a day. I did a decent amount of research and this seemed like a safe practice. I even read most 'human' diabetics prefner re-using sterilized needles as they become more comfortable with each use.

I know syringes look nasty after 1+ use though: http://vignette2.wikia.nocookie.net...Needles.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20090907192204
 
Last edited:
There is no need to clean the lancet before or after use. And they should be disposed of after a single use.
 
julie & punkin (ga) said:
Lancet are meant to be one-time use. A few years ago someone had pics showing how they degrade and the metal actually frayed out with each use.
Click to expand...
Funny thing is some human diabetics prefer using lancets more than once... some use them for a few days before discarding. It's been said they hurt too much if they're not "broken in".

Awhile back someone was circulating pictures of lancets, but they were actually pictures of syringe needles, not lancets. Syringe needles are a whole different story. Those things deteriorate quickly. They're a mess after a single use.

On this board you'll hear lancet advice vary from one extreme to the other. :D
 
pevsfreedom said:
I would discuss with the vet switching to Lantus perhaps. See what they think? It's not as 'rough' of a ride if I'm not mistaken, and vetsulin seems to be pretty sporadic with Squallie.
Click to expand...
Just my opinion. But I think it is premature to think about switching insulin. Vetsulin might not be ideal, but ECID. It doesn't work well for some cats. But it seems to be working in this case. Working a little "too well" at times. I think I'd explore a lower dose, or maybe your vet can concoct a "sliding scale" before deciding that another type of insulin is the best move.
 
Jill & Alex (GA) said:
Funny thing is some human diabetics prefer using lancets more than once... some use them for a few days before discarding. It's been said they hurt too much if they're not "broken in".

Awhile back someone was circulating pictures of lancets, but they were actually pictures of syringe needles, not lancets. Syringe needles are a whole different story. Those things deteriorate quickly. They're a mess after a single use.

On this board you'll hear lancet advice vary from one extreme to the other. :D
Click to expand...

That's basically what I've noticed. Over ~5 months re-using a syringe a day saves about $50, and $50 is $50. I found many people on this board re-use them while many others adamantly won't. I could not find any magnified images of lancets but there's plenty of syringe pictures. Didn't meant to shift focus of the thread.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top