Jaguar curve today need advice

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ShellyChes

Member Since 2016
We are running a curve today and Jaguar AMPS (6am) was 262. He's on 5 u of Lantus. At 3 hours later he was 272, at 6 hours (12pm) he was 161, at 8 hours (2pm) he was 98 and we just checked him at 3pm and he's 88. I'll continue checking him hourly but should I give him FF with gravy? He did get his snack (Tiki Cat) at 1pm. Not panicking but wondering if I need to give a higher carb food or wait it out. Thank you
 
Hi--

It's hard to judge without more data-- did you just start testing, or do you have more info on where Jaguar's numbers usually are? Here are the instructions for setting up a spreadsheet for keeping track of BG-- it's our most valuable tool on the boards and helps advice-givers a lot.

To answer your question, if you are using a human meter I don't think you need to intervene with high-carb food at this point, but I might give him a little more low-carb now if he seems hungry. We generally discourage feeding late in the cycle, but I'll go ahead and suggest it here because he's still dropping at +9. Right now, though, he's in perfectly safe numbers.

One reason I'd like to see more BG data is that I'm wondering about that 5U dose and would like to see how you got there.
 
We use the alpha trak 2 meter. He's been on 5 u for some time. I don't do a spreedsheet here but always keep track at home. We generally test every 2 days because he runs in the upper 200's to upper 300's. He's been on insulin since 2012. So it's not new for us.
 
Hmmm.... 88 is starting to get low on the AT2, I'd definitely keep testing to make sure he's not dropping more, and be ready with the HC.

I can't really give more specific advice without more data, but just today's data would suggest that maybe the 5U is more than he needs currently. Have there been any recent changes to his food or anything else that might influence insulin needs?
 
We did change him to tiki cat about a month ago. He's sleeping but we'll test him again in a few minutes. Just checked him and he's going up and at 99.
 
ShelleyChes if you read that other thread you'd see that @Shoeskitty would recommend that a 90 on an Alphatrak is too low. The rising number itself is good.
 
Hmm. The change in food might be having a big effect. I do think you may want to reconsider the dose, either consulting your vet or, if you are comfortable doing so, using the BG data you collect to make dosing decisions. We have a couple of procedures here (Tight Regulation and Start Low, Go Slow) for systematically changing doses (described in "stickies" at the top of this forum), but keep in mind that they are written assuming you are using a human meter.

No matter what, I'd be very cautious tonight unless he goes up a lot before shot time.
 
I just read the thread from Shoe Kitty and read on the bottle of strips it does say 100-185 is normal range and when I record it on the alpha trak software it has all in the green (normal). We will give him a can of FF classic for dinner instead of his tiki cat and then test again before we give him any insulin. We have a close relationship with our vet and will give them a call tomorrow.
 
I think that's a good plan.

The only weirdness is that FF classic shouldn't raise BG numbers (assuming it's one of the low carb pates), unless (maybe) he has some kind of food allergy/sensitivity.

Sometimes cats just change insulin needs for no obvious reason. They are, after all, cats! :cat:
 
ShellyChes said:
I just read the thread from Shoe Kitty and read on the bottle of strips it does say 100-185 is normal range and when I record it on the alpha trak software it has all in the green (normal). We will give him a can of FF classic for dinner instead of his tiki cat and then test again before we give him any insulin. We have a close relationship with our vet and will give them a call tomorrow.
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What you read on the AT2 strip bottle is the range for using the Control Solution to test the accuracy of the strip. I don't know that it means that the normal numbers for testing blood drops are that range. When in doubt, contacting your vet is a good idea.
 
Different AT meters can show different numbers on the same drop of blood. I would go by what works for your cat, not some else's. It's great you have a good relationship with your vet to help you with dosing.

FWIW, late nadirs on Lantus are not uncommon. Neko used to occasionally give me her lowest number of the cycle on Lantus at shot time, but good to see he is going up again. If he is still fairly low at shot time tonight, I might get a before bed test in to make sure he's safe.

Nan makes a good point in not assuming the same dose will always work for a kitty. Neko ranged from 8.75 units to about 0.25 units as her good dose over the span of five years.
 
ShellyChes said:
I just read the thread from Shoe Kitty and read on the bottle of strips it does say 100-185 is normal range and when I record it on the alpha trak software it has all in the green (normal). We will give him a can of FF classic for dinner instead of his tiki cat and then test again before we give him any insulin. We have a close relationship with our vet and will give them a call tomorrow.
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Normal on an AlphaTrak2 is 68-150, 71-159, or 72-172 (depending on lab or whatever). Yum has gone as low as 53 with no symptoms. My vet says she has seen cats in the 30's on labs (alphatrak2 equivalent) w/o symptoms. ECID. I intervene when it goes below 68. Of course I have lots of data. For me an 88 is good. I hope the diet change is turning things around for Jaguar.
 
MJW said:
Normal on an AlphaTrak2 is 68-150, 71-159, or 72-172 (depending on lab or whatever). Yum has gone as low as 53 with no symptoms. My vet says she has seen cats in the 30's on labs (alphatrak2 equivalent) w/o symptoms. ECID. I intervene when it goes below 68. Of course I have lots of data. For me an 88 is good. I hope the diet change is turning things around for Jaguar.
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I intervene at 68 because I am on TR.
 
@babyBoo - I'd encourage you to read the post written by @Jill & Alex (GA) (#17) in the thread you referred to. She gives a very good summary of the issues surrounding using cut offs on an AT vs human meter.

@ShellyChes - At least for me, it's hard to respond to your question without more information and a spreadsheet. Like many people here, I would keep fairly detailed notes on my spreadsheet that documented how I was intervening with food in light of Gabby's numbers. Without knowing more about your cat and how your cat responds to high or low carb food, if a drop in numbers is typical later in the cycle, etc., I'd be making a guess when it comes to offering an opinion on how to best respond. Since you noted you're not new at managing Jaguar's FD, what I would suggest is looking at your records and seeing if they offer you some additional insight as to how to best steer the numbers. At the very least, you can intervene with low carb food and re-test in 30 min. If numbers continue to drop, then intervene with higher carb food. In addition, as you may be approaching shot time, unless you feel confident in managing your cat's numbers, I would not encourage you to shoot if numbers are continuing to drop. It would be best to wait until numbers are rising before shooting.



 
Sienne and Gabby (GA) said:
@babyBoo - I'd encourage you to read the post written by @Jill & Alex (GA) (#17) in the thread you referred to. She gives a very good summary of the issues surrounding using cut offs on an AT vs human meter.
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I think that you and @babyBoo are on the same page and saying the same thing as far as the thread you sited and using cut offs for AT2. Different numbers for different cats and meter variance. Which is why every caregiver needs to "Know thy Cat"
 
yes, thy cat, thy insulin, thy protocol, thy tester, and to help others their cat, their insulin, their protocol, their tester. For example Boo isn't in any immediate danger with an 88 late in a cycle. I wouldn't even feed him. Champagne from yesterday's thread I'm certain would be near trouble in that situation. Jaguar today, I have no idea other than it was a similar situation last July that ShellyChes posted about and there was no mention of horrible symptoms then or now. So it seemed like Jaguar should be good. But with Champagne and Shoeskitty cat experiencing hypos with numbers over 70 I figured it may be best to followup with suggesting I might be inclined to use gravy just in case.
 
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