Repost- spike has a low reading 9.5 hours after shot, not sure what dose to give for PM shot.

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spike_kitty

spike_kitty

Member Since 2016
hi, thank you in advance, I put 911 on this post b/c I have to give spike his shot in about an hour and I'm not sure what dose to give him and I'm a bit nervous that I'll give him too much lantus (?)

He has been pretty high glucose since he started lantus 2 units, 2 times a day (March 15th). I slowly changed his food over to low carb and today, at 9.5 hours after his morning shot of 2.25 units of lantus, his glucose is the lowest I've seen it since we started in March 15th. his glucose was 128. please advise. Thanks in advance. I haven't filled out my signature yet, but I have publicly posted his spread sheet (which I hope you can see).
 
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128 is still a totally safe number, but with lantus, it's important to know how low each dose is taking Spike so it's important to try to get at least 1 test mid-cycle during the day (5 to 7 hours after the shot) and at least a "before bed" test on the PM cycle. Most cats go lower at night so it's really important to get that test in.

If you can't get tests mid-cycle on the AM cycle due to work/school, it's even more important to get tests on the PM cycle

I'd retest at PMPS time...see if he's still dropping or coming up at that point. If he's not above 200, I'd stall, don't feed and post for help
 
I dont want to poke him again. He doesn't like it. If I don't get a pmps, is that terrible? Should i just give him 1 unit of lantus? I know im sort of "in the dark" if I don't test him again. Tomorrow i will test him at 5-7 hrs after shot, as u suggest.
 
Hi!!
Are you poking the very edge of the ear? The pain receptors are pretty non reactive there... when I started I was aiming for the vein:eek:
Now that I have the right spot it is so much better-
here is a picture of the "sweet spot" between the vein and the outside of the edge...
I am not sure about the dose-
laur_danny_famoussweetspot.jpg
 
Here's something I wrote up for others that needed help with testing...maybe it'll help you too!

It can be really helpful to establish a routine with testing. Pick one spot that you want your "testing spot" to be (I like the kitchen counter because it's got good light and it's at a good height....it also already blocked 2 escape routes due to the wall and the backsplash) It can be anywhere though...a rug on the floor, a table, a particular spot on the couch...wherever is good for you. Take him there as many times a day as you can and just give his ears a quick rub and then he gets a yummy (low carb) treat. Most cats aren't objecting so much with the poking..it's the fooling with their ears they don't like, but once they're desensitized to it and learn to associate a certain place with the treats, they usually start to come when they're called! Or even when they hear us opening the test kit!

You also have to remember...you're not poking him to hurt him...you're testing him to keep him safe and understand what's going on inside his body. There's just nothing better than truly understanding what's going on inside your kitty's body and with this disease, the more knowledge you have, the more power you have against it. The edges of the ears have very few pain receptors, so it really doesn't hurt them. Also, if you're nervous and tense, it's going to make your kitty nervous and tense too. As silly as it might seem, try singing! It forces you to use a different part of your brain!

It's also important to make sure his ear is warm. A small sock filled with a little rice and microwaved or a small pill bottle filled with warm water (check temp against your wrist like you would a baby bottle) works well

Finding the right "treat" will be a great help too! Freeze dried chicken, bonito flakes, little pieces of baked chicken...whatever low carb treat you can find that he really enjoys will help him to associate the testing with the treat! China's Achilles heel was baked chicken, so I'd bake a piece, chop it into bite sized pieces, put some in the refrigerator and freeze the rest to use as needed. It didn't take long for her to come any time I picked up the meter!
 
Also, what gauge lancet are you poking with? Most of the lancet devices come with 33 gauge lancets and those are very very tiny.

It will help to get lancets for "alternate site testing" that are 25-28 gauge because they make a bigger "hole" .....as you poke more and more, the ears will grow new capillaries and will get easier to get blood from, but for "new" ears, the smaller the gauge on the lancets, the better off you're going to be
 
I didn't get a blood sample. I gave him
2 units of lantus. I didn't increase to 2.25. I hope he'll be ok.
I was getting better ear blood samples this week. Just not tonight.
 
Work on developing a routine with him....cats really do respond to it!

If he starts to act like he's really hungry or acts strangely in any way, you'll need to get a test to keep him safe....and if at all possible, try to get a test before you go to bed.....most cats go lower at night and that "before bed" test can be a life-saver
 
Hi again Mary!

Definitely using something in the 25-28g range will be much easier to get blood at first. I see that you are having the same trouble as my cat, in that Spike doesn't like getting tested either. When I first started, my cat hated it so much he would act in a way I'd never seen him act in 9 years. Growling, hissing, his head would literally spin right around on his body. He would vomit from the stress. I was terrified I was going to hurt him. I would read posts here about how it gets easier and he'd get used to it but I would cry every time because I felt like such a failure.

I kept at it though and even though I couldn't get many tests in at first( sometimes just once a day), eventually he did get better. Now he will come and sit on the mat when he sees me take the strip out of the bottle and get the lancet ready. He will still complain a little but he doesn't run away and will hold his ear steady until I can get the test in. This is just in a couple of weeks! I would never have believed it if it didn't happen to me. Just stick with it and always give a low carb treat every time you poke, whether you get blood or not. I use those freeze dried chicken bites and my guy loves them. Also, someone had suggested spending a little time rubbing his ears every day and giving a treat. No poke, just rub and give a treat so he gets used to having his ears touched. It definitely worked for me!

Good luck!
 
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