Chuck's bouncy journey, part 3.

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Haven't weighed him since his last vet visit but I will put him on my scale tonight to see if I can get a weight He is looking a little thicker but that could all be in my head. haha.
Today was a disaster! I got home and found dog food crumbs on the floor. Thought that was strange since I did not leave any out. I cleaned them up and checked Chuck. Surprise! "HI". ugh. We were doing so well. Anyway- I moved the dog food bag to see if maybe some had spilled out behind it that I couldn't see... well... there's a hole in the dog food bag! UNBELIEVABLE. So it's now in a closed off room and he can't get to it. I'm getting a storage container for it tonight or tomorrow- as soon as I can find one at a good price. I never thought for a second that he would have gotten through the bag! He's addicted to carbs. I am also looking for a chip feeder for April. It's worth it to save money on insulin and possible vet bills.
I gave Chuck 1 unit of insulin at 2:40pm which was almost 2 hours early. I held off the pm feeding until I saw what the 1 unit was going to do. I am home to monitor him so after 3 hours I fed him his usual amount and gave him a tiny bit under 3.25. Just past 3 really. Tested for ketones and he's negative! He's acting normal just drinking and peeing a lot. Begging for food. Now he's snoozing but trying not to just in case I might touch the fridge! I don't know if I should have given any insulin early but I went with my gut and did not want him over 600 much longer since I don't known when he got above 600 to begin with.
One step forward, two steps back. Hopefully he will clear the carb overload quick, but not quick enough to make it too much insulin. I still plan on giving him his snacks tonight. Shredded chicken. Maybe just one depending on how his numbers look.

I'm still in a state of "holy cow- no freakin way" about that hole in the bag. Sneaky little turd did it in the back where I couldn't see it. Diet?!-- ppsshhh what diet?!
 
I weighed him and he's still 9.3 pounds. Learned tonight that he will sit on the scale himself if I put it on the table! Yay.
 
Sneaky little guy! They'll do whatever they can to get those carbs...we had a bean on here a few months ago who joked that the only way to keep her cat out of the dry food was to put it in a stainless steel safe buried in the backyard!
 
He's doing much better today. Still thinks he's starving. Just got a snack of baked chicken.
 
He sounds just like my Callie. She steals food whenever she can. If I turn my back, she will tear into a bread wrapper and eat as much as she can, or until someone in the family catches her. Who ever thought a cat would eat bread?
 
I caught chuck stealing a milk bone towards the beginning of his diagnosis. He likes to climb in the recycling bin too!
 
Teasel routinely jumps on the kitchen counter to grab empty water-filled cat food tins that are sitting in the sink soaking before they go into recycling. He's always done this, not just a diabetes hunger thing. He has also ripped into loaves of bread when I've accidentally left them unattended. :confused:
 
Slow and tiny decline this evening. Wondering if it's still the carb overload he's processing...
Ketone test negative. His breath was AWFUL today. I got a bit worried so I tested for ketones even though he was only 516.
 
I'm starting to wonder if the bottom end of this bottle of prozinc is not as effective?! 3.5 on a 516 should have hit the yellows- easy. I know he had the carb load and that's why I gave the .25 more. It doesn't expire til 1/2017. I have been using it since 9/7. Am I just being paranoid? Should I try the new bottle? His breath is still AWFUL. I think he must be grooming himself and then he stinks just like his breath! Gag. Ketones were negative earlier. Not acting different. Still stalking his dish and us for food. haha.
 
I think it's a combination of things, Steph. Bouncing around, the forbidden carbs.

Are you still feeding him a little more food plus the chicken? There are other conditions whose symptoms are being very hungry. Did increasing his calories/amount fed change his behavior? If so, I'd think it more likely he is just diabetic and either is, or thinks he is, starving, rather than something else. Is the doog food in a plastic storage container or other room? Can the dog be given his/her meal and then it goes away? I think carbs are playing havoc with his levels, based on his normal food spike with low carb....

And I think he is bouncing. I wonder if picking a dose like 3.25 and holding it a few cycles (unless he is dropping too low) would help?
 
Hi Steph,
I like Sue's advice. As far as bad breath goes, how are Chuck's teeth? Has he had a recent dental exam? Also, when Teasel went into DKA I didn't smell any ketones on his breath so that's not a reliable sign. Test strip result is a much better clue.
 
Vet looked at his teeth and didn't see a problem. He's always had kinda stinky breath but not this bad. Dog food is on our enclosed side porch. No access for chuck. I have been picking up dog bowl as soon as she walks away. He is still getting 4.5 oz instead of his usual 4oz. He's getting half to one ounce chicken total between two snacks.
AMPS 465 @4:10.
3.25units
535 +1, 354 +4, 357 +6.5 (got snack at +6.5)
He just seems like he's stuck in the mid 300s. I thought the little bit extra of .25 last night and this morning would get him out of the pinks but it didn't.
Sue you think I should give 3.25 units for any reading? Or a certain range like 250+?
I did get some 100u needles! So I can better manage a micro fraction!

When he gets his extra food and snacks he is less demanding for food but never really satisfied. He doesn't scarf down his food like he was with only 4oz 2xday. He seems to eat a bit slower and enjoys it. But he still goes nuts for a snack. He's had his thyroid tested. I might call my old vet and see if they can email me his last blood work panel results. New Vet looked them over and agreed he's healthy besides the diabetes. But who knows what could have changed.
Maybe his breath stinks because he's not not scrubbing his teeth on that extra dog food snack! Ha!
 
Just another thought: I wonder if the big diabetes pees leave them a bit dehydrated and consequently they can have a dry mouth. Humans with dry mouth issues can have smelly breath. I do notice Teasel licking his lips occasionally but not in a nauseated way because otherwise he's fine. I've wondered whether Teasel was licking because of dry mouth. I don't notice smelly breath on him though.
 
I wondered if it was from him not drinking as much water. He does drink less once he gets under 400. He sleeps longer on the days I'm not home all day. Morning breath?
 
Sue and Oliver (GA) said:
I wonder if picking a dose like 3.25 and holding it a few cycles (unless he is dropping too low) would help?
Click to expand...
Ok so tonight we are trying out a new feeding schedule. I fed him 3oz at dinner time. I will give him a snack of .75oz food at +2. Then .5oz chicken at +4, .75oz food at +6, .5oz chicken at +8. IF this all works out I can start using the auto feeder.
I gave him 3.2u with the u100 syringe using the conversion chart (8units on that syringe).
He was only 435 so I hope it's not too much but with the way his readings have been I don't see it being a problem. I am going to check hourly for the first 4 hours to make sure the new feeding schedule isn't too much. If I have to give snacks earlier I'll be able to catch that and maybe give him more snacks since he hasn't gained much more. He was 9.5 pounds on my scale but I weighed him right before his dinner and he was back to 9.3 pounds. I know that could just be from empty belly or bladder/intestines. I'm optimistic about the feeder and the keeping a steady dose for a few cycles. Especially because I know he can use the calories if he does go low.
 
:banghead: Unreal. I thought we were going to have a good night! Crazy spike after +5... I gave him an early dose of 0.6u to keep him from going over 600. I'll be here tomorrow to monitor but I don't think it will make much of a difference after breakfast.
I don't know if our company tonight gave him some human food to make him spike. They know he's diabetic so I don't see them doing it. No dog food left out. My brain hurts from trying to figure it out.
 
StephG said:
:banghead: Unreal. I thought we were going to have a good night! Crazy spike after +5... I gave him an early dose of 0.6u to keep him from going over 600. I'll be here tomorrow to monitor but I don't think it will make much of a difference after breakfast.
I don't know if our company tonight gave him some human food to make him spike. They know he's diabetic so I don't see them doing it. No dog food left out. My brain hurts from trying to figure it out.
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Hi Steph,
Sometimes they're just indecipherable. I made a quick all over scan of your SS and it seems to me that blues generally appear when you're in the 3.5 - 4.0 u territory. No need to jump too far too fast but you might be slowly heading back up there.
 
Amps @4:03 457
only gave 3u because of the .6 given 4 hours before that.
+2 505
+4 380 .5oz chicken snack
+7 333

PMPS @3:55 576!
Giving 3.4u
 
He's had a nice and slow steady decline tonight. So maybe if we started in the 400's or 300's instead of high 5oo's we might see the same steady and slow decline. I plan on doing the 3.4 or 3.2 for the next few cycles. If we are under 400 I think I'll go with the 3.2. Unless you think I should just go with the 3.4u unless he's in the yellows preshot? I should be here most of the week to monitor.
 
StephG said:
He's had a nice and slow steady decline tonight. So maybe if we started in the 400's or 300's instead of high 5oo's we might see the same steady and slow decline. I plan on doing the 3.4 or 3.2 for the next few cycles. If we are under 400 I think I'll go with the 3.2. Unless you think I should just go with the 3.4u unless he's in the yellows preshot? I should be here most of the week to monitor.
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If it was my cat I'd stick with the 3.4 u for a bit to see what happens.
 
I think that's a good idea, just worry about giving so much at lower numbers, like under 350... But he needs calories so he goes too low he will benefit from the extra food. I'm glad I saw some yellow! I think we are on the right track. I just have to shut my anxiety off and stop over thinking it all.
 
StephG said:
I think that's a good idea, just worry about giving so much at lower numbers, like under 350... But he needs calories so he goes too low he will benefit from the extra food. I'm glad I saw some yellow! I think we are on the right track. I just have to shut my anxiety off and stop over thinking it all.
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I'm well acquainted with the anxiety/over thinking syndrome but I'm getting a little better at seeing results as "just numbers". :)
 
Kris, you are marvelous as seeing just numbers and even just one number. You should give lessons! Steph, maybe if you can just figure you are on the right track, that there will be ups and downs and generally he is looking better. You'll get there. And if he drops low, you know what to do to bring him up. The yellows are encouraging!
 
Been a quiet day. He got into a little bit of Kitty's friskies pate an hour before his dinner. Tested him as soon as I caught him to see what his level was before the food hit him.
 
Wondering if it's time for an increase?! I still wonder if the end of this bottle of insulin is less effective. There was nothing he could have gotten into to jump that high so quick. Unless it's a carb load from the mayo? I am going to have the vet look at the spreadsheet today. (April has her visit today)
 
Ok so the vet looked over his spreadsheet and suggested I increase to 4 units so I gave him 3.6 units this evening and his numbers are looking good! She told me it's ok to give a micro dose like I have been when he gets up so high so early in his cycle. She wanted me to try 4 units tonight but I thought it would be a good idea to try when he doesn't have a micro dose on board. I think I'll go up to 4 units a little at a time depending on what his numbers look like.
 
I'm hoping with the snacks he won't bounce as much... Hoping he doesn't go too far. I'd be happy with all yellows at this point. But then I'd be scared to shoot 4 units on a yellow! She did say that the insulin could be less effective since it takes cats longer to use a whole bottle. It has been used since 9/7 so it's only like 6 weeks or so. I've ordered a new thermometer for the fridge that I plan on keeping where his insulin is. If it's too cold I'll find a warmer spot in the fridge.
 
Sue and Oliver (GA) said:
Did she suggest giving 4 units on any Preshot? I wouldn't want to give that much on a yellow, either.
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She said to get him into the target range. She never did say what the target range was- I'm assuming under 250... I'd be extremely happy with 100-200 but I'm not aiming for something that close to perfect yet. haha. His numbers are looking better tonight. Longer time spent in the yellows.
I think we will have to see what dose is best for yellow preshot... when we get there.
 
:banghead: AMPS "HI". Bounce? I don't think he got into anything overnight. I was sleeping so I can't be sure.
Can he bounce from 237?!
+2.5 451
+3.75 383
 
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Could be a bounce. What could he get into? Looks like cat proofing your house (like baby proofing but involving food, not sharp objects :p might be a good idea?

The yellows were encouraging - he is headed in the right direction.
 
There's nothing he can get into. He slept most of the day today which is normal for him. Got up to chase me down to see if I was going to feed him every time I walked through the dining room. He's already back into the reds at around +10. Gave him .5oz chicken at +8 but chicken hasn't been jacking it up like that... I still have a feeling the insulin is off it's prime. It's almost gone... we will see with the next bottle.
 
:banghead: OY! PMPS: 505 @4pm.
4u given from old bottle.
+2 552
+3 525
Gave him 0.4u out of new bottle. Will monitor.
He's had no contraband. I threw away the last little bit of the old bottle. This new bottle doesn't expire til 12/2017! So my other bottle had to have been around 10 months old when I got it. :mad:
 
Now I'm nervous about the morning dose. I'll be here to monitor for a few hours. I might drop back to 3.4u to be safe. I will see in the morning.
 
I'll be here for +2 then +4 to +6 so I should able to catch if he's going too low.
Just nervous about the 4 units of new insulin.
 
About 3.45 hours til his AMPS is due. Should be quiet night from now on- He's on his way back up or surfing... not much difference, even after snack. DH will be home soon to monitor. I'm off to bed. Side note: DH keeps saying "who is Sue and Oliver" hahaha I guess I've been talking about your advice a lot lately! We both appreciate this forum and all the wonderful people!
 
AMPS: 454 @410
4u shot
+2.5 337

Looking good! Got a .5oz snack of his food. Might not get home before +4/+5 should be able to get +6/+7 reading.
Feeling much better about these numbers! I was really bummed out last night until I gave him the .4 extra.
 
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