08/06: Squallie Hypo Watch - AMPS 419, +3.5 86 - BG Rising OK

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Critter Mom

Critter Mom

Member Since 2014
Squallie's vet advised Lucy to stick to 7 IU Vetsulin dose today even after yesterday's bad hypo on same dose.

EDITED TO ADD:

Yesterday's Condo:

http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/bg-is-34.142144/

Yesterday's Data:

AM Dose 7IU Vetsulin / Nadir at +4 22 mg/dL (Relion) (some difficulty getting BG to rise)

PM Dose - (skipped)


Today's Data:

AM Dose: 7IU Vetsulin ( per vet instruction :facepalm:)

AMPS: 419 (Relion)
AM+3: 86

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@Squalliesmom - Please can you test Squallie's BG again and post it here ASAP so we know how things are going with you.

Also, please can you post what Squallie had for breakfast and any food / hi-carb/ honey, etc., that you have given since.

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Sorry to nag, Lucy. Please can you let us know what is happening with you? I'm getting really worried - need to know you're both OK.

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I am not familiar with Vetsulin but shouldn't have Squallie earned a dose reduction today?
 
Im not overly familiar with but it is a lot like Novalin or as much as I can figure, fast acting and harsh.. if I am wrong someone please update me please
 
@Julia Rae - I hope they're OK. Not knowing what's going on is :nailbiting::nailbiting::nailbiting:.

Are you OK to keep an eye out on the thread, Julia? (I need to duck away). I'd suggest leaving the 911 on the thread for a while to give Lucy time to get back to us. It was tricky to get Squallie to rise yesterday. I'd like members scanning the forum to know that Lucy needs an eye kept out for her.
 
Cat Ma said:
I am not familiar with Vetsulin but shouldn't have Squallie earned a dose reduction today?
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By a country mile!!! And then some. I think the dosing discussion needs to come later so I'll comment on it later. Don't want the beginning of the thread to get too cluttered.
 
I'm assuming she took Squallie to the vet, she said she would if #'s started dropping. Also I believe the vet was quite far from her house.
 
Cat Ma said:
I didn't see the 22 BG drop. I am shocked the vet told her to continue the same dose after the hypo episode. The sad reality is how unfamiliar many vets are in adjusting dosages and treating hypos properly. Thank goodness we have FDMB.
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My vet had never seen a spreadsheet full of #'s and said I probably knew more about dosing then he did... at least he's honest?
 
Julia Rae said:
That is sad... scary thing is I got pretty much the same reaction from my vet
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(not to clutter the thread) but at one vet we got a fructosamine check done a few months after we got Luna (on 1 unit BID) and they told us she was good to go OTJ and woo-hoo. She said "do not bother getting her tested anymore" and "do not bother with insulin" because she's essentially "cured" and will stay that way. I did not know any better and was gleefully ignorant and 6 weeks later we took in Luna for dental and decided to check her BG and this time fructo levels showed she was at 400+ the entire time with ketones developing like crazy... I then started testing at home the same day, and feel awful for not educating myself earlier.
 
Hi, all, thank you to everybody for sticking with me! Just got back from the vet (yes, we went early, I figured if he was going to have more problems, better that it happens there), she wants to put him on 4 units every 8 hours, three times a day. Does this sound reasonable? She says she wants to try this to eliminate the steep highs and lows he's been experiencing. Btw, his BG was 97 at the vet, up a little from the prior reading (I gave him Karo and have cans of gravy food standing by if we need them!) I will test him again in a few minutes to make sure its not starting to drop again.
 
No news from Lucy ... :nailbiting:

I am hoping the reason for the roaring silence is that she has gone to the vet early. I'd suggest leaving the 911 for longer. If there's no news within the next few hours then maybe take it down and wait for news? John and Julia - can you keep an eye on the thread for now and tag me if Lucy posts. Sound like a plan?

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Phew! Very glad to hear from you, Lucy! :)

Squalliesmom said:
... she wants to put him on 4 units every 8 hours, three times a day. Does this sound reasonable?
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Honest opinion? With this vet? Not in a million if it were my cat.

She says she wants to try this to eliminate the steep highs and lows he's been experiencing.
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She could achieve that result with a more cat-friendly, longer-lasting insulin (e.g. Prozinc, Lantus).
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The vet did not lower the dosage at all it is still 12 units just delivered a different way that seems screwy to me but I need the eyes of people who know Vetsulin
 
TID dosing can be used with Vetsulin/Caninsulin but it is not easy. Why do this when there are better insulins available?
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Critter Mom said:
No news from Lucy ... :nailbiting:

I am hoping the reason for the roaring silence is that she has gone to the vet early. I'd suggest leaving the 911 for longer. If there's no news within the next few hours then maybe take it down and wait for news? John and Julia - can you keep an eye on the thread for now and tag me if Lucy posts. Sound like a plan?

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Yeah I'll hang around though I'm not the most knowledgeable person but I try :joyful: I'm a pro at tagging others for help!

Were you able to discuss an insulin change? Otherwise the 3x a day thing sounds wonky but I have no idea in regards to that insulin. I think a dose reduction is in order hopefully someone with more experience can chime in on that.
 
Julia Rae said:
The vet did not lower the dosage at all it is still 12 units just delivered a different way that seems screwy to me but I need the eyes of people who know Vetsulin
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If it were my cat, I would (ketone status permitting) cut back to 3.5 IU BID - probably less - until I determined whether the severe hypo had increased his sensitivity to insulin. It should only take a few cycles to check this. No experience of doing this on a highish dose of Vetsulin, BTW, but it is something that I would try in this situation. If sticking with Vetsulin I would not attempt fairly tight regulation; it's too harsh. If I had no other choice but to continue using Vetsulin I would settle for higher nadirs (in the low blue range) for safety reasons, and adjust the dose accordingly.

@BJM - I'd really value your input on this thread if you're around.
 
Julia Rae said:
I have never heard of 3 shots per day.. that seems weird!
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Some people using the shorter-acting insulins do give 3 shots a day (I've done it myself). But there should be clear reason for doing it, and I'm not sure that it's been demonstrated here. (Also, it can be easier to use a longer-acting insulin instead - assuming the caregiver has access to that and can afford it).

The most obvious thing at the moment would seem to be that the current dose is way too high. The blood glucose is dropping too fast and too low. Reducing the dose would be a reasonable start.....?
 
I know with Magellan being sensitive to insulin I would start him with no more than1 unit bid and if needed to go up assuming no ketones.
 
Also when you fed what you fed, please, so that we can have a record here and see what works best to raise / keep Squallie in safe numbers.
 
His last BG test was 95 so it's coming back up. Sorry if it takes me a long time btw posts, I have Squallie and crew at one end of the house and have the other end opened up hoping my missing kitty will come home. I have to keep running back and forth.
 
Ah, confusion!

Per my above post, can you itemise all that you have fed thus far since this morning's AMPS. Also when you feed / give syrup from now on can you post:

* How long after shot time.
* What you fed (carb value of food / syrup / honey)
* How much you fed.

Example:

+5 - fed 6 drops honey
+6 - fed 1 tsp high carb gravy
+7 - fed 20g low carb food

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