? Doing a curve now and BG is down to 85 at +4

[shelaghc]

I'm doing a curve spontaneously today. I have to be home most of the day so it seems a good day to do it.

But Jester is a nibbler. He just ate maybe a third of a can of food with his insulin this morning and I assume I should to do the next BG two hours after his insulin. But it took about twenty minutes to get him to eat that third of a can.

He'll definitely be coming up to me before two hours for more food. I assume I shouldn't feed him. But am I going to add whatever amount of time it takes for him to eat in between those BGs? And how do I account for them?

Or should I do three hours instead of two? In which case, I think I'm supposed to keep going for a longer period of time total on the curve?

tyk

 

[Nan & Amber (GA)]

Don't worry about the nibbles-- you're aiming for a realistic picture of BG over the course of the day, so if he normally grazes, that's what you want him doing today.

The reason for the "no food two hours before pre-shot" rule is safety-- we want an un-food-influenced BG at that time so we know it's safe to shoot. The rest of the day, though, you don't have to worry about it.

ETA: Good luck on the curve!

 

[shelaghc]

Thanks! Should be fun - they're delivering a refrigerator today.
It's honest-to-goodness a present from a friend when my current fridge died on Christmas eve.

 

[Nan & Amber (GA)]

Thanks! Should be fun - they're delivering a refrigerator today.
It's honest-to-goodness a present from a friend when my current fridge died on Christmas eve.

!!!!!!!!

 

[shelaghc]

This is disconcerting. Jester's first BG at +2 is already down from 195 to 148 - even with him eating.

Can anyone else comment on this? Should I be concerned?

 

[Nan & Amber (GA)]

It's within meter variance (20%-- so if the "true" number is 170, the meter can read anywhere from 170-34 = 136 to 170+34=204), but it's still almost 50pts, so it might mean he has a big drop in store today.

I'm glad you are doing the curve today!

 

[shelaghc]

Crap - he's now at 85 on +4.
He's going to go low, isn't he? And he's being fussy about food.

And I just got the call that the refrigerator guys are on their way.

It never rains. but it pours.....

 

[shelaghc]

It's within meter variance (20%-- so if the "true" number is 170, the meter can read anywhere from 170-34 = 136 to 170+34=204), but it's still almost 50pts, so it might mean he has a big drop in store today.

I'm glad you are doing the curve today!

Me too! I have some honey, but I'll need to heat it up if I need it as it's crystallized. No karo syrup in the place.

 

[Nan & Amber (GA)]

Hmmm... Not too low now, but you want to keep him at this level. How fussy is "fussy" about food? A little snack now might help to level him off-- not a big one, because you may need him to eat later. Probably a good idea to get the honey uncrystalized-- he's not at that point now, but you definitely don't want to be fumbling around with the stuff if he does go low!

Other things you can use for HC boosts: maple/pancake syrup works as well as honey/karo if you have some of that. "Gravy" from a gravy-lovers type cat food is also good.

Could you also change the subject to this thread when you get a chance, to show that you're doing the curve now and down to 85 at +4? Again, Jester's in no danger at the moment, I just think it would be good to attract some ProZinc eyes to the thread just in case. They'll have more insight about specifics of insulin action and what to expect than I do (I mostly know Lantus).

 

[shelaghc]

Hmmm... Not too low now, but you want to keep him at this level. How fussy is "fussy" about food? A little snack now might help to level him off-- not a big one, because you may need him to eat later.

Fussy means I offer him food and he either walks away from it or I have to play with it - heat it up, add water, move it around in the dish, etc... He was just nibbling a bit on medium carb food - Friskies shreds - but he's not being diligent about it.

Probably a good idea to get the honey uncrystalized-- he's not at that point now, but you definitely don't want to be fumbling around with the stuff if he does go low!

Other things you can use for HC boosts: maple/pancake syrup works as well as honey/karo if you have some of that. "Gravy" from a gravy-lovers type cat food is also good.

No syrup in the place. Can't stand the stuff. I do have some higher carb food (20s) that someone just gave me.
Just uncrystallized the honey - now it has to cool off. *g*

And he's finally eating. The other kids are in my bedroom for the duration of the refrigerator delivery (which includes getting rid of the old one). Jester will go into the bathroom with his food bowl in hopes that he actually eats while he's in there. (He doesn't like that very much...)

Could you also change the subject to this thread when you get a chance, to show that you're doing the curve now and down to 85 at +4? Again, Jester's in no danger at the moment, I just think it would be good to attract some ProZinc eyes to the thread just in case. They'll have more insight about specifics of insulin action and what to expect than I do (I mostly know Lantus).

Done and thanks!

 

[Nan & Amber (GA)]

Oh, good. A little medium carb food is probably just the right thing for him now-- should keep him in the safe zone. Does he often snack on that stuff, or did you bring it out special because of the green number?

 

[FurBabiesMama]

If you are worried, you could always do a +5 too instead of just waiting for the +6. 85 is fine, especially on a people meter. There is not a lot of mid-cycle testing history to know how he normally drops - when his nadir usually is. Based on the tests on 12/18, the lowest you got was at +6. So, he will probably continue to drop some. That does not mean he will go too low though. You will just have to monitor and see. Isn't this fun?!

 

[shelaghc]

Oh, good. A little medium carb food is probably just the right thing for him now-- should keep him in the safe zone. Does he often snack on that stuff, or did you bring it out special because of the green number?

And he stopped eating. :-/

No, I feed it to him all the time because sometimes it's the only thing I can get him to eat.
His weight in summer 2016 was 12.5. At diagnosis this past summer he was around 10.5. He's gone up and down - although the most since dx was just over 11.
But his last weight check was right at 9lbs. The vet gives me most services for free, but all he would say on the weight issue is that Jester may never gain that weight back.

Jester's a very long kitty and shouldn't be this skinny at all. So I feed him what he'll eat - although I won't give him the *really* high carb stuff.

He's been pretty good about lower carb pate today, and one can is a good amount for him by now.

 

[shelaghc]

If you are worried, you could always do a +5 too instead of just waiting for the +6. 85 is fine, especially on a people meter. There is not a lot of mid-cycle testing history to know how he normally drops - when his nadir usually is. Based on the tests on 12/18, the lowest you got was at +6. So, he will probably continue to drop some. That does not mean he will go too low though. You will just have to monitor and see. Isn't this fun?!

Plus, I just remembered that with these new test strips - generic instead of OEM - they register a little lower than usual.
Okay, I'm feeling a little better now.

Unfortunately, I don't think I'll be able to do a +5. The guys with the new refrigerator are nearly here. I need to stash Jester in the bathroom and I'll be AFK for at least half an hour to an hour.

 

[Nan & Amber (GA)]

And he stopped eating. :-/

Cats!

I'm actually glad to hear that (so far) today is pretty typical for him on the food. It means that this curve is on-track for being pretty informative about a normal day for him [side note: that doesn't mean you shouldn't give him unusually HC stuff if he goes low, however! It's just nice to know for now that things are normal]. I've been wondering since your question the other day if maybe he was going low on this new vial and then bouncing back up by shot time-- we'll see if that's the case today!

And as FurBabiesMama says, so far so good on the numbers today!

 

[shelaghc]

BG is 120 at +6 after eating about a third can of Friskies shreds.

FYI - He hasn't eaten for about forty-five minutes to an hour.

Does this mean he's cycling up again?

And should I still give him a full unit tonight? Or should I make that determination based upon his PMPS?

 

[Nan & Amber (GA)]

BG is 120 at +6 after eating about a third can of Friskies shreds.

FYI - He hasn't eaten for about forty-five minutes to an hour.

Does this mean he's cycling up again?

And should I still give him a full unit tonight? Or should I make that determination based upon his PMPS?

I'll have to defer to the ProZinc people on the dose question-- I have no experience with that insulin.

Glad to see he didn't decide to dive today. May be from the Friskies, may be a little stress from the refrigerator installation. How did that go?

 

[shelaghc]

I'll have to defer to the ProZinc people on the dose question-- I have no experience with that insulin.

Glad to see he didn't decide to dive today. May be from the Friskies, may be a little stress from the refrigerator installation. How did that go?

He's snoozing on a floor pillow right now and seems none the worse for being in the bathroom for about forty minutes (didn't eat a thing while in there, from what I can tell - but that's not unusual).
I was actually able to take his +6 barely disturbing his snooze while he was still on the pillow.

Fridge installation went okay, but they were supposed to reverse the doors from right-handed to left. Now we have to have a second visit to take care of that. The floor under the old fridge was horrible. The new fridge is so light and easily moved I don't see that happening again.
New fridge is kinda gorgeous (if a fridge could be considered gorgeous *g*)!

 

[Nan & Amber (GA)]

New fridge is kinda gorgeous (if a fridge could be considered gorgeous *g*)!

Sounds like love at first sight! Hope it never lets you down like the last one did!

 

[shelaghc]

Sounds like love at first sight! Hope it never lets you down like the last one did!

Last one was a used fridge when I got it. Believe it or not, the landlord doesn't take responsibility for appliances. My upstairs neighbor hasn't had a working stove for years. She's been using a convection oven and the microwave. (Not sure if she has a hot plate to take up the slack for a stove top.)

A friend of mine is trying to find a house for me through house flipping. If he's successful, I already have my first appliance! *g*

 

[FurBabiesMama]

BG is 120 at +6 after eating about a third can of Friskies shreds.

FYI - He hasn't eaten for about forty-five minutes to an hour.

Does this mean he's cycling up again?

And should I still give him a full unit tonight? Or should I make that determination based upon his PMPS?

He could be heading up or it could be from the carbs in the food. +8 will be telling. Unless he whips out a crazy low number at PMPS, I do not see why you would not give the 1u. Looks like he is doing well with it today.

 

[shelaghc]

@FurBabiesMama @Nan & Amber

BG is 156 at +8 with no food in between testing - he had a long nap. *g*

Took his +8 while he was on the pillow too. But he followed me out to the kitchen afterwards.

He's eating the medium carb food now - just playing it safe, but I'll try to have his PMPS with no food between testings.

 

[shelaghc]

Coming down the home stretch - BG 220 at +10 with about 1/3 can of medium carb food right after the +8 was taken.

He nibbled a bit first on a little bit of the medium carb, then on a smidgen of low carb pate. I'd rather he ate, but I won't worry or push it until after his PMPS.

 

[shelaghc]

And the PMPS came out to 263. He's still being too nibbly about eating, but I'll get him to eat more before the night is over.

So, now that I know all this, what do I do?

 

[FurBabiesMama]

His nadir occurred at +4;, and on 12/18, it looks to have occurred at +6, so I would say that gives you an idea of a good range during which to grab your mid-cycle tests on days where you are only going to get one. The dose appears to have worked out pretty well for this cycle. He got down to 85, and there was the expected curve of starting high, going lower, then rising again. I would probably stay with the 1u dose and just try to get mid-cycle tests every cycle that you can.. just one test. As you start to get more data, it will become easier to make dosing decisions. That's my two cents.. hope it helps.

 

[shelaghc]

His nadir occurred at +4;, and on 12/18, it looks to have occurred at +6, so I would say that gives you an idea of a good range during which to grab your mid-cycle tests on days where you are only going to get one. The dose appears to have worked out pretty well for this cycle. He got down to 85, and there was the expected curve of starting high, going lower, then rising again. I would probably stay with the 1u dose and just try to get mid-cycle tests every cycle that you can.. just one test. As you start to get more data, it will become easier to make dosing decisions. That's my two cents.. hope it helps.

So generically speaking, five hours would be a "go-to" time?

Also, I did a number of pre-bed tests at +4 and one at +5. Those don't seem to follow the same pattern for today's low point.

 

[FurBabiesMama]

Also, I did a number of pre-bed tests at +4 and one at +5. Those don't seem to follow the same pattern for today's low point.

You cannot really know for sure if those were the low point or not since there were no other tests during the cycles to compare against. Maybe they were for those cycles, or maybe not. I have found that nadir is not always consistently at the same point. Anyway, it's good that you got those tests. The more data points you can fill in the better.

Night and day cycles may behave differently. If you ever really want to have fun, try a 24-hour curve. .

 

[shelaghc]

If you ever really want to have fun, try a 24-hour curve. .