11/28 Jenks AMPS 88 +4 53 +7 75 +9 95 PMPS 115 +6 99

[AZJenks]

11/27

Jenks vacation cycle continues. He spent all day yesterday in the lagoon and shows no signs of slowing down. This morning's AMPS is 20 points lower than yesterday, and in combination with the repeated trips into the low 50s yesterday, I thought it wise to reduce him down to 8.5U after just four cycles at 9.0U. Hopefully this prevents him from heading out to the sharks while still keeping him safely in the lagoon for the rest of the week. He's really annoyed at me right now that I keep rousing him from his slumber to test him hehe

 

[carfurby (GA)]

I hope the reduced dose helps Jenks surf safely.

 

[Madrona and Leda (GA)]

Looking good Jenks!

 

[Alicia & Maggie (GA)]

Ahh, just deal with the pokes, Jenks! Looking good, but surf safely.

 

[AZJenks]

I'm not going to read too much into this cycle. Traditionally, his vacation cycles are marked by pretty consistent, flat green cycles.. This one looks like a very moderate version of a pre-vacation cycle, complete with the early morning dip, and then a rise into the afternoon. However, a PMPS of 115 isn't exactly something to be overly concerned about. The numbers are pretty awesome.

I need to make sure I'm not cutting the dose too much or too fast, so I'll be keeping an eye on the numbers tonight. If he drifts down and stays relatively flat, I'll know we're still good. If the rise persists, maybe we split the difference and try 8.75U.

Other than that, everything's looking goooood.

 

[AZJenks]

Jenks was in the kitchen trying to vacuum up food crumbles left behind from dinner. Hunger at odd times is usually a sign of going lower than expected, so I tested him an hour early just to be safe. Nothing to worry about apparently. He's just now slipping under 100.

In comparison, he was deep into the 50s by this same time last night.

At times like these, I find myself conflicted. There's part of me that wants to be aggressive and push a little bit more insulin to lock the green numbers in for the duration of vacation because they're so rare for him. That same part of me also retains a sliver of hope that maybe this will be the time that it sticks.

Then, there's the more realistic other part of me. That part realizes that sometimes I forget the pre-vacation numbers that we were just struggling against, and that numbers don't have to be in the 60s all day to still be amazing. And these numbers over the last couple of days are just that, amazing.

So we're going to try the patience pants and see what he can do at 8.5U. Tomorrow should tell whether or not we're on the right track.

 

[Stacy & Asia]

He's doing so great! So do you have to kick the dose back up, typicallly, when OH returns?

Are you sure OH isn't sneaking Jenks some cookies on the side? Totally kidding.

 

[AZJenks]

@Stacy & Asia - Yes. Vacation magic always fades and we eventually end up going back up. That's one of the many reasons why this phenomenon is so bizarre.

Kidding aside, you're asking very astute questions. I've asked them myself as I've investigated the potential variables involved and come up empty handed. That's why my current working hypotheses are that (1) he has some sort of allergy to OH or a product that OH uses regularly, and that acts as a stressor on his system throwing his BG out of whack, or (2) he misses OH, and that emotional response physically manifests itself in lower BG.

I have no idea how I'd go about proving either. If I could time it right, I guess it's possible I could get a comprehensive blood panel both immediately before OH leaves when the numbers are all over the place and then one during the vacation when the numbers are doing well and see what, if any, the differences are. But with so many different types of blood tests available, and not knowing what factors to focus in on, I have no idea what kind to even begin looking at.

 

[Stacy & Asia]

(1) he has some sort of allergy to OH or a product that OH uses regularly, and that acts as a stressor on his system throwing his BG out of whack, or (2) he misses OH, and that emotional response physically manifests itself in lower BG.

I never even thought of that, people can be allergic to cats, can cats be allergic to people? Certain people? That would be so weird! The product idea is a smart one, that should be relatively easy to sort out, right? Could OH do a trial and use different products returning from vacation (like maybe the ones you use since that's not the problem), or some more natural/dye free/preservative free types?

The emotional thing also seems like a very real possibility. I don't think people give enough credit to our emotional state affecting our biology, but it certainly is proven that it can and does. If it were possible for you to get away for a time, that should also show some signs one way or the other. I know that's not always possible, like me, I'm the only one who gives Asia shots...gives my husband the willies and he can't do it.

I honestly don't know if bloodwork could say anything in particular. Most of the values are just indicators that can point to several things and cats are already known to have white coat syndrome so that adds another crazy variable in the mix. It might just prove to make things more confusing.

Such an interesting puzzle, I hope you get to the bottom of it.