Help- numbers dropping too fast?

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Shortly after my last post to you last night, I tested my cat and he had a big drop! And being night time and me needed sleep, I might have oversteered him with food. It is a learning curve for all of us. Is it possible for you to buy an inexpensive human meter and strips today until you can get more AT strips on Monday?
 
Bobbie And Bubba said:
How far away in hours is his PM shot? Don't beat yourself up, we have all been there.
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Its 3 hours to his PM shot at 8PM. He's sleeping now and doesn't seem too fussed about eating. I know he needs to eat before I give another shot.
Bobbie And Bubba said:
Shortly after my last post to you last night, I tested my cat and he had a big drop! And being night time and me needed sleep, I might have oversteered him with food. It is a learning curve for all of us. Is it possible for you to buy an inexpensive human meter and strips today until you can get more AT strips on Monday?
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I already have an Accuchek Aviva human meter and strips that I bought originally. The numbers on Mellows SS up to 24/9 are with that meter (except for the first line on 18/9- a curve done at the vets.) I know it reads a lot lower than the Alphatrak which is why I switched over.
I do have some Alphatrak strips but only enough for the PM shot tonight and the AM and PM shots tomorrow. I dont really want to buy them from the vet tomorrow as they charge the earth and I dont have pet insurance. But I may have to as I dont think the ones I ordered online will be delivered until later in the week. I need to make an appointment tomorrow to see the vet in the evening anyway, to discuss the curve I did on 27/9/15. Trying to save money by doing it myself and then the vet advising me on dosage etc.
 
Orangey said:
Its 3 hours to his PM shot at 8PM. He's sleeping now and doesn't seem too fussed about eating. I know he needs to eat before I give another shot.


I already have an Accuchek Aviva human meter and strips that I bought originally. The numbers on Mellows SS up to 24/9 are with that meter (except for the first line on 18/9- a curve done at the vets.) I know it reads a lot lower than the Alphatrak which is why I switched over.
I do have some Alphatrak strips but only enough for the PM shot tonight and the AM and PM shots tomorrow. I dont really want to buy them from the vet tomorrow as they charge the earth and I dont have pet insurance. But I may have to as I dont think the ones I ordered online will be delivered until later in the week. I need to make an appointment tomorrow to see the vet in the evening anyway, to discuss the curve I did on 27/9/15. Trying to save money by doing it myself and then the vet advising me on dosage etc.
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Perhaps you could use the Accucheck if you need to until you get more AT strips. Do you happen to know the difference between the two?
 
Orangey said:
I am making a real mess of things. I feel like I dont know what I'm doing or why .
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You're not making a mess of things! You're still new to this, and it's very easy to feel overwhelmed, I know. You're trying very hard to do all the right things for your kitty. We all have those "Oops!" moments when we wonder why we did something and are afraid we made the wrong decision, you just learn to roll with it and try to remember not to do it again.

If you're only 3 hours away from his PM shot I would hold off on food until then, you want to make sure he eats before he gets his shot.

In a worst case scenario, if you have to use your human meter, folks here who also use a human meter may be able to help you understand those numbers, but I'm not familiar with the Aviva Accu-check so I don't want to swear to it. I'm guessing, though, that it's the same as any other human meter.

Keep us posted, please!
 
I need to make an appointment tomorrow to see the vet in the evening anyway, to discuss the curve I did on 27/9/15. Trying to save money by doing it myself and then the vet advising me on dosage etc.[/QUOTE]

Next time you go to vet ask him if you can send him your ss by email on a regular basis (weekly, by weekly) . That way he can look at it and just call you if a change needs to done. It will save a visit to the vet.
 
Bobbie And Bubba said:
Perhaps you could use the Accucheck if you need to until you get more AT strips. Do you happen to know the difference between the two?
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No idea. Mellow doesn't like having his ears pricked even for one test so I've never tried to do two readings at a time.. The Accucheck needs more blood so my early attempts had more failures than successes. I may try a comparison at the PM shot.

Squalliesmom said:
You're not making a mess of things! You're still new to this, and it's very easy to feel overwhelmed, I know. You're trying very hard to do all the right things for your kitty. We all have those "Oops!" moments when we wonder why we did something and are afraid we made the wrong decision, you just learn to roll with it and try to remember not to do it again.

If you're only 3 hours away from his PM shot I would hold off on food until then, you want to make sure he eats before he gets his shot.

In a worst case scenario, if you have to use your human meter, folks here who also use a human meter may be able to help you understand those numbers, but I'm not familiar with the Aviva Accu-check so I don't want to swear to it. I'm guessing, though, that it's the same as any other human meter.

Keep us posted, please!
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Thanks for the encouragement, Lucy. And Bobbie. :)
 
woodsywife said:
I need to make an appointment tomorrow to see the vet in the evening anyway, to discuss the curve I did on 27/9/15. Trying to save money by doing it myself and then the vet advising me on dosage etc.
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Next time you go to vet ask him if you can send him your ss by email on a regular basis (weekly, by weekly) . That way he can look at it and just call you if a change needs to done. It will save a visit to the vet.[/QUOTE]
You can email your vet the link for your spreadsheet, that way you won't have to remember to email it every week, and he has immediate access to it if you have a problem and need a phone consult!
 
woodsywife said:
I need to make an appointment tomorrow to see the vet in the evening anyway, to discuss the curve I did on 27/9/15. Trying to save money by doing it myself and then the vet advising me on dosage etc.
Click to expand...

Next time you go to vet ask him if you can send him your ss by email on a regular basis (weekly, by weekly) . That way he can look at it and just call you if a change needs to done. It will save a visit to the vet.[/QUOTE]

Good idea. Although they probably want me to go in as I still have to pay for them to interpret the curve, though not as much as if Mel goes to them to do one.
 
Orangey said:
Good idea. Although they probably want me to go in as I still have to pay for them to interpret the curve, though not as much as if Mel goes to them to do one.
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You can email your vet the link for your spreadsheet, that way you won't have to remember to email it every week, and he has immediate access to it if you have a problem and need a phone consult!
 
Squalliesmom said:
You can email your vet the link for your spreadsheet, that way you won't have to remember to email it every week, and he has immediate access to it if you have a problem and need a phone consult!
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I' ll find out if thats possible. Its a great idea.

I must go and eat now. I'll check back later. Thanks again all. :bighug:
 
Hello again folks. Mellow woke about half an hour ago (7. pm) and is looking for food now. Am I right that I should test, feed then shoot or can I feed him now then test straight after he's eaten then shoot at 8pm? It takes me about half an hour to warm his ear, do a test , get food out for him plus fill a syringe ( I like to do the syringe about 15 mins before the shot for it to lose the chill.) I know the dose will depend on the BG number.
 
Orangey said:
Hello again folks. Mellow woke about half an hour ago (7. pm) and is looking for food now. Am I right that I should test, feed then shoot or can I feed him now
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No, don't feed now; you're right about test/ THEN feed & shoot. We try to avoid feeing in the 2-hr. window* before an AMPS or PMPS test.

ETA: *The only time you'd deviate from this would be either an active hypo event going on OR if your kitty had some type of other health problem that would require you feed then.
 
Just so you know ... the reason we avoid feeding in the two hours prior to a pre-shot test is that you don't want food artificially raising his BG #, as when you test at AMPS/PMPS, you're trying to see what his actual BG level is all on its own (without food raising it). This helps you in determining proper dosage.
 
ok tested and he at 38.7 (696). I should probably stick to 2 units now as he definitely wont be getting any more kibbles only low carb food. He's eating now.
 
Robin&BB said:
Forgot to ask: Do you routinely check for ketones? As is always good practice to do that.
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Got the Keto- Diastix strips but havent used them yet. Hard to catch Mellow in mid pee. Usually he has pee'd in the night before I get up. He also goes out a few times a day so probably pees then too. I will try to catch him as I know if his numbers are high theres a danger of ketones. There were no ketones when he was first diagnosed on 10/9/15 but the numbers have been high a lot since then.

I am exhausted now so will watch Downton Abbey and then go to bed.
 
Orangey said:
Got the Keto- Diastix strips but havent used them yet. Hard to catch Mellow in mid pee. Usually he has pee'd in the night before I get up. He also goes out a few times a day so probably pees then too. I will try to catch him as I know if his numbers are high theres a danger of ketones. There were no ketones when he was first diagnosed on 10/9/15 but the numbers have been high a lot since then.
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Glad to hear you're getting into a good routine with Mellow! It would definitely be a good idea to get a ketone test in when you can (I have to stalk Squallie to get one!).
Orangey said:
I am exhausted now so will watch Downton Abbey and then go to bed.
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You have no idea how jealous I am that you guys have Downton Abbey now, and we won't get it here until January, lol!!!
 
Orangey said:
Got the Keto- Diastix strips but havent used them yet. Hard to catch Mellow in mid pee. Usually he has pee'd in the night before I get up. He also goes out a few times a day so probably pees then too. I will try to catch him as I know if his numbers are high theres a danger of ketones. There were no ketones when he was first diagnosed on 10/9/15 but the numbers have been high a lot since then.

I am exhausted now so will watch Downton Abbey and then go to bed.
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Hey Tracey ~ I have the same problem as you, Bubba spends some outside time. Something that helped me to get the ketones checked was to crumble up some saran wrap and put it each corner of the box (cats usually aim for a corner, and hopefully some of the pee lands on the saran wrap for you to dip your strip in. Hope this helps.
 
Next problem (lol)- Mellows AMPS is only 12.4 (217)! I dont want to give a shot at all but is that right? My syringes dont have measurements less than one unit, so anything under a half would be hard to do accurately. I wont be here to monitor him (work) and dont have the strips to spare anyway. My husband will be at home so can keep an eye on him but hasnt done any BG monitoring himself..
Mel didnt eat a whole lot yesterday- he just licks the jelly off the meat and eats only little bits of the meat. He didnt seem to have eaten anything much overnight. I think the wet catfood is having a good effect on his numbers though- other than when I panic and give the wrong food.
 
The number you saw @ AMPS (217) is A VERY good number! (Go, Mellow!:cat:)
I know this can feel quite alarming the first time it happens, as this is an amazing drop from the very high AMPS/PMPS numbers Mellow had just the day before. As you had no way to monitor, I think it was just fine that you skipped the dose this time, because you'd have had no way of know what he'd do at mid-cycle - and you do want to make sure Mellow stays within safe BG #s when you're not available to step in and feed if he were to drop too low. So ... you're doing fine, Tracey! It may well be that the lower carb wet food is helping his numbers drop; we see this happen quite a lot, actually. Can't be certain about what kind of # you may see at PMPS, so we can cross that bridge when you get to it as relates to a reasonable dose tonight.:)

I'd highly recommend that you get some U100 syringes marked on the half unit if at all possible. This would help you immensely! (@Elizabeth and Bertie - Can you weigh in here? Are these available in the U.K.?)
 
Robin&BB said:
I'd highly recommend that you get some U100 syringes marked on the half unit if at all possible. This would help you immensely! (@Elizabeth and Bertie - Can you weigh in here? Are these available in the U.K.?)
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Hi Robin, yes they are indeed available here in the UK. I get mine online from VetUK.co.uk here:
http://www.vetuk.co.uk/insulin-syri...-0-3ml-u100-insulin-syringes-box-of-100-p-296

But Tracey, if you'd like to try some out before you buy a box I can send you some of mine. Just PM me your address if you're interested.

In order to use them you'll also need to feel OK with using a conversion chart that shows you how much U40 insulin to draw up into a U100 syringe. As an example, a unit of U40 insulin will come to the 2.5 mark on a U100 syringe. It seems a bit odd at first, but using U1oo syringes (especially with half-unit markings) can make it so much easier to measure small doses of Caninsulin/Vetsulin.
Here's a link to the conversion chart:
http://www.felinediabetes.com/insulin-conversions.htm

Eliz
 
Elizabeth and Bertie said:
In order to use them you'll also need to feel OK with using a conversion chart that shows you how much U40 insulin to draw up into a U100 syringe. As an example, a unit of U40 insulin will come to the 2.5 mark on a U100 syringe.
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@Elizabeth and Bertie Thanks, Elizabeth! Hope all is going well with you?
@Orangey - Tracey, just wanted to add: At first, I was really nervous about using the conversion chart and U100 syringes - even kept the U100s in a box with a red lid, on which I wrote in huge black letters: "MUST USE CONVERSION CHART!" (I'm not exactly what would be known as a math wizard.:rolleyes:) But it's actually quite easy to do & I'm happy I switched over, because this really helps so much in being more accurate when you get down to these small doses.:)
 
Sorry to be so long in responding. I saw the vet again (I didnt take Mellow) on Tuesday evening to discuss the first curve I had done about 9 days previously and to give her info on the readings since then. She wants me to do another curve on Sunday for her to see along with Mel next Tuesday. Overall the numbers are coming down nicely.
Robin&BB said:
I'd highly recommend that you get some U100 syringes marked on the half unit if at all possible. This would help you immensely! (@Elizabeth and Bertie - Can you weigh in here? Are these available in the U.K.?)
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Funnily enough, today I've just received syringes I ordered from VETUK. They are still for u40 but have markings for half units. :)
 
Thought I'd give an update on Mellow. Its been over a month since I posted last but its all good news. His numbers have continued to drop steadily and I began to reduce and eventually stop giving insulin. Its been just over a month since his last dose and although he's more in the low blues than greens I feel he has levelled out to acceptable figures, averaging in the 6's. He is back to his old self now- playing with string/straws/pens/unwary fingers and with the 5 P's in evidence. He is on very low carb wet food now (Sheba Fine Flakes Poultry-under 2% ) which I am sure played a big part in the reduction of his BG .

I want to thank everyone who helped me previously- this forum is such a blessing and an invaluable resource. :bighug:
 
Tracey, this is the most MARVELOUS news - you just made my day!!! HOORAY! :)
CONGRATULATIONS to you & Mellow! :D:cat::bighug:My best wishes for many more happy, healthy (& insulin-free) years ahead!
 
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