His spreadsheet values make me cringe

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ja9390

Member Since 2016
Can somebody take a look at his numbers and let me know why he's still so erratic? These are all kind of under the influence of food to some extent. Until I can get the money for an auto-feeder he'll have the ability to graze throughout the night. On tuesday when I took him in for his mild diarrhea and vomiting, she put him on Flagyl and said she wants us to keep trying him on Novolin until we can get a better idea of how he responds to it. There have been some days where he was thrown off of his insulin schedule entirely (refusing food, numbers too low, etc) so she wanted him to try it for at least ten on 2 u twice a day. I was uncomfortable with giving him 2u, because the last time we had a dose increase (by a different doctor before he saw the endocrine specialist) she put him on 1.5u which he never got a chance to take on a consistent basis because that was right around the time he started to throw up and not keep food or water down. I kept him at 1.5 u and it seems like his numbers have slowly been creeping up. The timing of his insulin is super strict but I do keep them as close to 12 hours apart as I can. If I can't give it every 12 hours, I'll test and give it a little before the 12 hour mark as the Novolin has likely long been worn off by then anyway. But he doesn't always get his insulin at the exact same times every day. With my schedule being like it is I am doing my best but can't be super consistent with him. Is this what's throwing him off?

Also, he's constipated. Hasn't had a BM in about 5 days. Ever since we started the Flagyl on Tuesday that's when he stopped pooping. Still eating, drinking, and urinating as normal so I called our vet today and she said it doesn't sound like an emergency if he hasn't stopped eating or drinking and he doesn't seem to be in any pain, but to bring him in if he doesn't at least produce something soon. Of COURSE the second I leave my house to go to work tonight is when one of the cats poop in the litter box. Not sure who did it. Could have been Diego as his stomach doesn't feel quite so rounded anymore. Could the discomfort of being backed up have produced such high numbers today? He was in the 400s at +10.5 so I gave him 1.75u for the first time, trying to inch my way up to eventually 2u and his high numbers today seemed like a good time to start but was not expecting that baby to drop from 400s to 80 in three hours. Gives me a headache just thinking about what that probably feels like to him :(

If you have any reason to think that I'm doing something wrong with him, tell me so I can fix it. This entire first month after his diagnosis has been a complete nightmare for me and I feel like I can't do anything right. He's been to the vet five times this month for either sky high numbers we can't regulate, vomiting, diarrhea, refusing food, and now he's constipated. I just want my boy to go one single week stress-free without something happening to him.
 
So sorry I can't offer you and Diego any helpful advice re: BG! But...I can say at least you are not alone with this issue. I have been going through a very similar situation with SquallieBear, his SS values are a mess and I can't seem to find a solution. I think I am finally going to pull the trigger and make the change to Lantus.
 
I think, given all the issues he has had, he is doing okay. And you are doing amazingly well - look at all you have learned in such a short time.

It looks to me like there may be be some lower numbers mid cycle that could be causing a bounce to higher preshots. Any levels you can get mid cycle will help you fill in the picture and decide how the dose is doing.
 
Can somebody take a look at his numbers and let me know why he's still so erratic? These are all kind of under the influence of food to some extent. Until I can get the money for an auto-feeder he'll have the ability to graze throughout the night. On tuesday when I took him in for his mild diarrhea and vomiting, she put him on Flagyl and said she wants us to keep trying him on Novolin until we can get a better idea of how he responds to it. There have been some days where he was thrown off of his insulin schedule entirely (refusing food, numbers too low, etc) so she wanted him to try it for at least ten on 2 u twice a day. I was uncomfortable with giving him 2u, because the last time we had a dose increase (by a different doctor before he saw the endocrine specialist) she put him on 1.5u which he never got a chance to take on a consistent basis because that was right around the time he started to throw up and not keep food or water down. I kept him at 1.5 u and it seems like his numbers have slowly been creeping up. The timing of his insulin is super strict but I do keep them as close to 12 hours apart as I can. If I can't give it every 12 hours, I'll test and give it a little before the 12 hour mark as the Novolin has likely long been worn off by then anyway. But he doesn't always get his insulin at the exact same times every day. With my schedule being like it is I am doing my best but can't be super consistent with him. Is this what's throwing him off?

Also, he's constipated. Hasn't had a BM in about 5 days. Ever since we started the Flagyl on Tuesday that's when he stopped pooping. Still eating, drinking, and urinating as normal so I called our vet today and she said it doesn't sound like an emergency if he hasn't stopped eating or drinking and he doesn't seem to be in any pain, but to bring him in if he doesn't at least produce something soon. Of COURSE the second I leave my house to go to work tonight is when one of the cats poop in the litter box. Not sure who did it. Could have been Diego as his stomach doesn't feel quite so rounded anymore. Could the discomfort of being backed up have produced such high numbers today? He was in the 400s at +10.5 so I gave him 1.75u for the first time, trying to inch my way up to eventually 2u and his high numbers today seemed like a good time to start but was not expecting that baby to drop from 400s to 80 in three hours. Gives me a headache just thinking about what that probably feels like to him :(

If you have any reason to think that I'm doing something wrong with him, tell me so I can fix it. This entire first month after his diagnosis has been a complete nightmare for me and I feel like I can't do anything right. He's been to the vet five times this month for either sky high numbers we can't regulate, vomiting, diarrhea, refusing food, and now he's constipated. I just want my boy to go one single week stress-free without something happening to him.

Can't offer any advice, but just wanted to say you have no reason to beat yourself up over this. You are doing the best you can. I work full time during the week and, like you, wish I could do more to monitor my sugarcat, Joshi. And, anyone who criticizes you for whatever situation you are in really needs to walk in your shoes before he or she judges. Not that anyone has done that to you on this thread, but I wanted to preempt anyone who does. :bighug:
 
I think, given all the issues he has had, he is doing okay. And you are doing amazingly well - look at all you have learned in such a short time.

It looks to me like there may be be some lower numbers mid cycle that could be causing a bounce to higher preshots. Any levels you can get mid cycle will help you fill in the picture and decide how the dose is doing.

He did definitely bounce last night. That 80 at +3 turned into a 317 at +5...

I gave him 1.75u again this morning. He was at 455 and leading me to the bathroom sink when I woke up, so he could drink water. The vet wants us on 2u but I may not ever be comfortable with that if he keeps bouncing. He ate a good breakfast, I left out some wet food and some high carb dry food just in case he needs it. I don't know just how low this dose takes him yet besides the 80 I got last night, and I won't be home until 6pm...I hope he does alright. He actually seemed happier on the 1.5u but his numbers eventually did creep back up because it's Novolin. On the 1.75u he seems sad.
 
So sorry I can't offer you and Diego any helpful advice re: BG! But...I can say at least you are not alone with this issue. I have been going through a very similar situation with SquallieBear, his SS values are a mess and I can't seem to find a solution. I think I am finally going to pull the trigger and make the change to Lantus.

I want him on Lantus too. When I take him in for his curve I will keep pushing the issue
 
I want him on Lantus too. When I take him in for his curve I will keep pushing the issue
OH Diego.... you are driving mommy insane!!
I am no expert nor do I give dosing advice-
I do observe a lot tho :rolleyes:
I you have any extra time ;) (I know) you may want to look at other ss. In the beginning and sometimes even later they are all colors of the rainbow-
Partly because his body has been used to higher numbers and when he gets a 80 or so his body freaks out because it is not used to that normal number so the liver kicks out glycogen and hence the bounce. You did great and waited 6 cycles to increase by 1/4 unit. Yes constipation can cause higher numbers.
I know this sounds odd but I can tell by the size and consistency of the poop which cat it is. If it has been 5 days I am guessing he would be very sluggish so hopefully he has pooped-
When is he done with flagyl?

Is it possible for you to do a curve at home? Much less stress = more accurate numbers and certainly less vet bills-
even if you do every 4 hours instead of 3 would be good-
Also as far as lantus--I am very happy with lantus and I do prefer it to pro zinc or vetsulin --but remember you will be starting new and although it will not be square 1 it will take a little bit to stabilize. The more data you have the sooner he will "settle" into a dose. Lantus is a very busy and VERY educated forum that will help you with dosing.

You are doing great... try to not focus on it all the time (I say this out of compassion as I did the same and still catch myself at times 6 months later)

The less stressed you are the less stressed he will be. He trusts you and you need to trust yourself. You are doing nothing wrong it just takes time.
I know you work super hard and long hours so if you can get tests on weekends or if you have a day off to do a curve it would give you a better idea whys going on. Remember tests can change in 10 minutes and it is just a number. Feeling good is as good is just as important as the number. When I joined the forum and was using pro zinc @Carl & Polly & Bob (GA) really helped me-
When I switched to pro zinc he told me I HAD to turn off my pro zinc "brain' STOP chasing the numbers on lantus for sure as it is not the pre shot numbers that determine the dose. :bighug:
 
Yesterday was his first full day of no flagyl and this morning he had a BM. The Flagyl was a definite factor in the constipation, and the constipation was a definite factor of the high glucose. This domino effect thing is killing me.

I know Lantus will be just like starting over and I will have to learn the nature of this drug/learn how his body uses it, but if it can give me a more stable cat in the end then I'm all for the struggle at the beginning. It really is starting to seem like the Novolin isn't holding him through the day like it does for some cats and the long-term effects of these erratic glucose readings on his organs are always in the back of my mind.
 
I can tell by the size and consistency of the poop which cat it is.
I LOL at this. My husband gets very annoyed with me when he is on litter box duty and I ask "what did the poop look like".

Hang it there JC, you've handled everything that's been thrown at you like a champ.
I have to say I'm totally in love with Diego's little face. I just want to smooch him!
 
I LOL at this. My husband gets very annoyed with me when he is on litter box duty and I ask "what did the poop look like".

Hang it there JC, you've handled everything that's been thrown at you like a champ.
I have to say I'm totally in love with Diego's little face. I just want to smooch him!

Lol, thanks! His face melts me. The cutest of faces.

I'm hanging in there. I've got three exams this week and a nursing entrance exam in 10 days so if he can chill for the next 10 days I will be a happy mom.
 
I LOL at this. My husband gets very annoyed with me when he is on litter box duty and I ask "what did the poop look like".

Hang it there JC, you've handled everything that's been thrown at you like a champ.
I have to say I'm totally in love with Diego's little face. I just want to smooch him!
LOL--yes my boyfriend is like "why are you dissecting his pooh?" Because I can!!! :cat:
 
Lol, my two sons (both grown) think I've really lost my mind when I stand at the litter box analyzing the poops!
 
Well I just checked his BG and the Relion Prime meter said HI. Twice. Looking at the owners manual I learned that this means the number is over 600. When I got home, the half cup of dry food I left out was gone and I have a strong suspicion it wasn't just Maestro who ate it all, as Diego has NEVER had numbers this high before at least since I've been testing him. 1.75u insulin following immediately after. Was so quick to get everything drawn up that I stuck the hell out of my pinky with the needle. Thankfully it was empty at that point. I got the insulin into him though, blood drops on the floor and everything. He ate some of his chicken giblets and a little breast meat from the chicken I ate for dinner. I have some Special Kitty pate down as well but I'm hoping that his ultra low carb dinner will help get those numbers down stat. He wasn't acting unusual in any way, just his normal old self. I saw him peeing a few minutes after I got home and then I thought back to the dry food, the new .25 dosage increase we are trying (bounces) and it all clicked in my head.

What do you all use as a good source of emergency carbs in situations where you leave the house and think your cat may need to get to some sugar?
 
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