Little Roo's first insulin shot tonight!

[LittleRoo]

Little Roo will start on her ProZinc tonight. 1 unit twice a day for 2 weeks.

I'm thinking the routine will roughly be:
8:40am AMBG test.
8:45am FOOD.
9:00am SHOOT ProZinc.
{Go to WORK.} (Monday - Friday)
Home from work:
5pm - 6pm (est) PMBG TEST / FOOD.
8:40pm PMBG test.
8:45pm FOOD.
9:00pm SHOOT ProZinc.
11:00pm PMBG test (before bed.)
{SLEEP}

And start all over again.
(maybe some additional BG testing if needed during week.)
Weekends I'll def try doing curves and I'll get the Alphatrak BG pet meter for those.
Am I planning everything in the right direction?

Few questions:
1. I know I have to get the insulin shoots in as close to every 12 hours as possible. Is there a safe amount of time/play with the times? For instance: for whatever reason, say I'm running late or something comes up etc. and it's now like 9:30am or 10am or even later... Would I still give the AM insulin shot and then adjust the second PM insulin shot to 9:30pm or 10am or later? As long as the times are 12 hours apart? Then can I go back to regular allotted planned times? Just wondering if there is a small window/cushion in case time gets away from me for whatever reason...

2. Anyway we humans can test Fructosamine levels? Or is that strictly vet testing?

3. When I get the Alphatrak meter, would I show those results on a different spreadsheet page in the Relion Spreadsheet I already started or just add 'Alphatrak meter testing day' to the notes section? (which would be mostly weekend curves.)

Wish us luck!!

 

[Hizzoze]

Little Roo will start on her ProZinc tonight. 1 unit twice a day for 2 weeks.

I'm thinking the routine will roughly be:
8:40am AMBG test.
8:45am FOOD.
9:00am SHOOT ProZinc.
{Go to WORK.} (Monday - Friday)
Home from work:
5pm - 6pm (est) PMBG TEST / FOOD.
8:40pm PMBG test.
8:45pm FOOD.
9:00pm SHOOT ProZinc.
11:00pm PMBG test (before bed.)
{SLEEP}

And start all over again.
(maybe some additional BG testing if needed during week.)
Weekends I'll def try doing curves and I'll get the Alphatrak BG pet meter for those.
Am I planning everything in the right direction?

Few questions:
1. I know I have to get the insulin shoots in as close to every 12 hours as possible. Is there a safe amount of time/play with the times? For instance: for whatever reason, say I'm running late or something comes up etc. and it's now like 9:30am or 10am or even later... Would I still give the AM insulin shot and then adjust the second PM insulin shot to 9:30pm or 10am or later? As long as the times are 12 hours apart? Then can I go back to regular allotted planned times? Just wondering if there is a small window/cushion in case time gets away from me for whatever reason...

2. Anyway we humans can test Fructosamine levels? Or is that strictly vet testing?

3. When I get the Alphatrak meter, would I show those results on a different spreadsheet page in the Relion Spreadsheet I already started or just add 'Alphatrak meter testing day' to the notes section? (which would be mostly weekend curves.)

Wish us luck!!

My vet told us, to try our best to give Moxie her insulin shot w/in 1 to 1.5 hours of the normal time. 1.5 hours is kind of pushing it tho. If you give her a shot at 9am try your best to give her the next no later than 10:30 pm (at the latest). But try for 10pm. Best of luck to you and Roo! I read your other post, too. I was sitting on the floor w Moxie just about an hour ago bawling BC I kept trying to prick her ear and couldn't get blood. I poked her like 5 times. And then I had to do the prozinc shot! I feel your pain. We just want them healthy and happy. It is so hard knowing we are making them feel uncomfortable. BTW, I just bought the Relion Micro... I'm hoping my vet doesn't want me to switch to the alpha track. Why can't we do curves w the relion? Besides the fact it is for humans. Is there a big difference between the two and BG readings?

 

[LittleRoo]

My vet told us, to try our best to give Moxie her insulin shot w/in 1 to 1.5 hours of the normal time. 1.5 hours is kind of pushing it tho. If you give her a shot at 9am try your best to give her the next no later than 10:30 pm (at the latest). But try for 10pm. Best of luck to you and Roo! I read your other post, too. I was sitting on the floor w Moxie just about an hour ago bawling BC I kept trying to prick her ear and couldn't get blood. I poked her like 5 times. And then I had to do the prozinc shot! I feel your pain. We just want them healthy and happy. It is so hard knowing we are making them feel uncomfortable. BTW, I just bought the Relion Micro... I'm hoping my vet doesn't want me to switch to the alpha track. Why can't we do curves w the relion? Besides the fact it is for humans. Is there a big difference between the two and BG readings?

Thank you! It's not easy, that's for sure! Don't give up with the glucose testing and pricking the ear. From what I hear, it does get easier. Sometimes I adjust/turn the needle point too - so it (the sharper end) goes in smoother. I also read you can poke the inside of the ear if the outside ear isn't working too. I had no luck with the device button either. I just gently give it a push/ poke with my hand so it goes in. then rub near the site to bring the blood drop to the surface.

As far as my research, the Relion always runs/shows lower #'s than pet meters. from what I was told, normal numbers for cats on human meters are 50 - 120. I think with a curve, you (as well as the vet) want it to be as accurate as possible. I seriously can't afford the Alphatrak (those $$strips$$) but I'm gonna try to get one anyway. I would do the curve only on weekends, in case I feel an emergency coming on, and to show my vet I'm following his advice and working with him as he's working with me. Relion I'll use during the week.

Best wishes for you and your kitty!! xo

 

[Hizzoze]

Thank you! It's not easy, that's for sure! Don't give up with the glucose testing and pricking the ear. From what I hear, it does get easier. Sometimes I adjust/turn the needle point too - so it (the sharper end) goes in smoother. I also read you can poke the inside of the ear if the outside ear isn't working too. I had no luck with the device button either. I just gently give it a push/ poke with my hand so it goes in. then rub near the site to bring the blood drop to the surface.

As far as my research, the Relion always runs/shows lower #'s than pet meters. from what I was told, normal numbers for cats on human meters are 50 - 120. I think with a curve, you (as well as the vet) want it to be as accurate as possible. I seriously can't afford the Alphatrak (those $$strips$$) but I'm gonna try to get one anyway. I would do the curve only on weekends, in case I feel an emergency coming on, and to show my vet I'm following his advice and working with him as he's working with me. Relion I'll use during the week.

Best wishes for you and your kitty!! xo

Yes! Putting the pokey end of the needle at an angle helps. You mentioned that to me on my other post. Thank you for that tid bit! And at this point, idt we can afford the alpha track. Between the 5 curves she had at the vet. (150$ each) Her initial appointment and testing (300+ $) and all the little things needed. We are broke! But I will do what I can! Best of luck. Keeping you in my thoughts.

 

[LittleRoo]

Yes! Putting the pokey end of the needle at an angle helps. You mentioned that to me on my other post. Thank you for that tid bit! And at this point, idt we can afford the alpha track. Between the 5 curves she had at the vet. (150$ each) Her initial appointment and testing (300+ $) and all the little things needed. We are broke! But I will do what I can! Best of luck. Keeping you in my thoughts.

Thank you, you guys are in my thoughts and prayers too! Yeah, curves are expensive and so stressful for the cat!! And so long at the vet!

The Alphatrak is fairly reasonable (est. $50 bucks starter kit) but those darn strips are what kill us $$! They have us by the "cat paws", that's for sure! Greedy bast***s!!

Hang in there

 

[Chris & China (GA)]

Is there a safe amount of time/play with the times?

Generally, we like to keep it as close as possible, but if you end up shooting later than normal, you can work your way back 15 minutes per cycle or 30 minutes per day until you're back where you want to be

2. Anyway we humans can test Fructosamine levels? Or is that strictly vet testing?

Fructosamine is vet only but if you're testing at home, you don't need a fructosamine

3. When I get the Alphatrak meter, would I show those results on a different spreadsheet page in the Relion Spreadsheet I already started or just add 'Alphatrak meter testing day' to the notes section? (which would be mostly weekend curves.)

If the only reason you're using the AT is for reporting to your vet, I'd just put the results in the Remarks section.....those of us here that are used to reading spreadsheets will want to see just the human numbers on it.

On your routine....what time do you actually have to leave for work? And what time do you actually get home?

 

[LittleRoo]

Generally, we like to keep it as close as possible, but if you end up shooting later than normal, you can work your way back 15 minutes per cycle or 30 minutes per day until you're back where you want to be



Fructosamine is vet only but if you're testing at home, you don't need a fructosamine



If the only reason you're using the AT is for reporting to your vet, I'd just put the results in the Remarks section.....those of us here that are used to reading spreadsheets will want to see just the human numbers on it.

On your routine....what time do you actually have to leave for work? And what time do you actually get home?

Ok thanks! I work roughly 10am - 5pm right now, give or take. I'm about 10 to 15 minutes away too so out the door by 9:45am and home closer to 5:30pm.

 

[LittleRoo]

Little Roo is quite content! Actually on my lap as I type. Waiting for that 1am PMBG +4.

 

[Chris & China (GA)]

Ok thanks! I work roughly 10am - 5pm right now, give or take. I'm about 10 to 15 minutes away too so out the door by 9:45am and home closer to 5:30pm

You might want to consider a different schedule that would really help.....but it might mean getting up earlier in the morning

If you Test/Feed/Shoot at 7am, you could still get a +2 before you had to leave for the day...that would give you a "heads up" to how quickly he was dropping ....if he was dropping quickly that early in the cycle, you could leave down some higher carb food (if you couldn't make it home to retest) or a lot of people who work full time jobs get an auto-feeder that they can program to open when they want it to during the day.

You'd then be able to Test/Feed/Shoot again at 7pm and be able to test in the evening until bedtime...if you stayed up until 11, that would let you get a +2 and +4 so you'd have a pretty good idea what he was going to do overnight. Most cats go lower at night, so it's good if you can get a later test in to make sure they stay safe.

Just an idea for you to think about

 

[LittleRoo]

You might want to consider a different schedule that would really help.....but it might mean getting up earlier in the morning

If you Test/Feed/Shoot at 7am, you could still get a +2 before you had to leave for the day...that would give you a "heads up" to how quickly he was dropping ....if he was dropping quickly that early in the cycle, you could leave down some higher carb food (if you couldn't make it home to retest) or a lot of people who work full time jobs get an auto-feeder that they can program to open when they want it to during the day.

You'd then be able to Test/Feed/Shoot again at 7pm and be able to test in the evening until bedtime...if you stayed up until 11, that would let you get a +2 and +4 so you'd have a pretty good idea what he was going to do overnight. Most cats go lower at night, so it's good if you can get a later test in to make sure they stay safe.

Just an idea for you to think about

Yes, if that is possible I will try that! I'm def not always a morning person though.. My only issue with a timed feeder is I have two other cats and one would devour it. I also live in a small apartment so putting her in a separate room wouldn't work either and they would cry if I did and my neighbors wouldn't enjoy that..

 

[LittleRoo]

Happy to report Roo's 1am PMBG +4 is 164!! Really nice number!

 

[Chris & China (GA)]

I'm def not always a morning person though..

Me either!! I abhor mornings and always have. I remember even as a child, I'd be up until 4-5am easily and just be sleeping good when the alarm went off to get up to get to the bus on time (I missed a lot of school!!)

When China was first diagnosed, I figured I'd just shoot at 10 or 11 so I didn't have to worry about getting up early since I'm always up late anyway...well after a few nights when she went too low and I had to stay up literally all night with her, I decided that I'd drag my butt out of bed early instead......I've gotten to the point where I can get up at 6 to T/F/S and go back to bed for a few hours....but it's been worth it because I can get as many tests as I want/need to during the day and can always get a +6 or +7 on the PM cycle (since I'm still very much of a night owl)

Once you get your routine down, you can T/F/S in about 5 -10 minutes.....it becomes as routine as brushing your teeth