? 2/1 | Moose | AMBG = 99 [NS], PMPS = 123

[Moose (GA) & Rae]

Good morning & happy February!

[Link to yesterday's condo.]

The BF had to go to work earlier than I did this morning, and was up at 5am (I usually wake up around 6:30am) I asked him not to feed Moose so that I could get a pre food shot when I got up. Needless to say, Moose was not happy w/ my BF! Moose was giving him a good yowl at for not feeding him.

AMBG was 99, which I am a bit hesitant to shoot. I'm not going to be able to monitor him closely today. I might be able to get a lunch time spot check, but then I wouldn't be able to check again until I get home at 5pm.

Thoughts?

Hope that everyone has a great first day of February!

 

[Alicia & Maggie (GA)]

Hope some experienced members weigh in, but after last night I'd be leaning toward NS.

 

[Nan & Amber (GA)]

I would lean towards a ns unless one of the pros weighs in with a counterargument. Hate to skip another shot, but you had to work really really hard last night, and Moose has shown that he likes to do his dives early, so without the ability to monitor until lunchtime I'd go with caution.

 

[Mandy & Rex (GA)]

Definitely skip!! If you can't monitor, definitely skip!

Sorry I disappeared off the radar last night, but I had to head off to bed and I knew Nan was around. Congratulations on keeping Moose safe.

When you next shoot insulin, you give 0.5u.

 

[Moose (GA) & Rae]

I would lean towards a ns unless one of the pros weighs in with a counterargument. Hate to skip another shot, but you had to work really really hard last night, and Moose has shown that he likes to do his dives early, so without the ability to monitor until lunchtime I'd go with caution.

That he does! Just trying to get that sweet gravy treat as soon as he can

Hopefully you got enough sleep last night? Thanks again for staying up!

 

[Moose (GA) & Rae]

Definitely skip!! If you can't monitor, definitely skip!

Sorry I disappeared off the radar last night, but I had to head off to bed and I knew Nan was around. Congratulations on keeping Moose safe.

When you next shoot insulin, you give 0.5u.

No worries at all! Nan was on it

Hooray reduction! I'll give him the .5U tonight unless his PMPS tells me otherwise. Hopefully he'll stay out of lime green this time!

 

[Stacy & Asia]

Hope the decrease allows you to shoot am and pm and that Moose recovers swiftly from the skip.

 

[Moose (GA) & Rae]

Hope the decrease allows you to shoot am and pm and that Moose recovers swiftly from the skip.

Thank you! I feel like I haven't shot AM in forever...and that PM is always such an active night after the shoot. I'm sure Moose would be happy to have a few less ear pricks this evening (although he's not complaining about the extra snacks LOL.)

 

[Moose (GA) & Rae]

Question: (as you know that I always have several daily!)

When I do feed MC or HC to increase Moose's numbers, how much should I be feeding him? I admit I haven't been measuring, just kind of eye balling as I'm usually in a bit of a panic when he steps into the lime green.

Nan had brought up appetite, and about keeping them hungry in case you need to feed more. The thing is, Moose is a black hole and has never turned down a snack/meal/treat ever! His appetite is not an issue, so I don't think that I will run into the issue of him losing it. But I also don't want to feed him too much and have him gain weight. He's been maintaining 14.3-14.6 lbs for a while now, and I don't want him to gain back all of the weight that he lost.

Thanks in advance!

 

[Mandy & Rex (GA)]

When I do feed MC or HC to increase Moose's numbers, how much should I be feeding him?

I generally would give 2-3 tsp each time when I needed to bring Rex up. My first time with a lime green, I gave 2 Tbsp and was told that was too much.

 

[Moose (GA) & Rae]

I generally would give 2-3 tsp each time when I needed to bring Rex up. My first time with a lime green, I gave 2 Tbsp and was told that was too much.

Ok, 2-3 tsp time, got it!

Yup that's exactly how much I was giving Moose and I thought it was too little rather than too much. The more you know!

Thank you

 

[Moose (GA) & Rae]

Just received a call from my vet. She had asked that I relay the curve results from Saturday. (Obviously she knew about Moose's hypo episode and trip to the ER.) After giving her Saturday's (1/27) curve, she said that I should not give Moose anymore insulin.

I know that per TR, cats need to be "weened" off of the insulin for a strong remission. I did not bring this up over the phone with her as I did not want to get into a long discussion because I'm at work. I just said "Ok sounds good." I'm hoping that Moose will be off of insulin (fingers crossed) before his next vet appointment (mid February) but obviously there are no guarantees. I guess I will cross that bridge when I come to it...just want to be ready when she asks me why I ignored her instructions....

 

[Wendy&Neko]

Vet's usually have a tough time with part unit doses, not surprising she would suggest zero as the next dose. Neko's IM vet was confounded by the 0.25 unit dose and how I measured it - calipers. If you are following TR, give the vet a copy of the protocol article. You are following protocol to keep on giving smaller doses until Moose earns that last reduction.

Moose is looking good, but not yet the all green of a cat ready to go off of insulin with a tiny dose. Soon I suspect.

 

[Tracey&Jones (GA)]

I had to take in syringe with the 0.1 dose drawn (used water). No one understood what it was and how I got it. I use the ruler. Took that in too. My regular vet was on maternity. They scolded me for giving a non-dose, that I was hurting my cat and where was my curve. Yeah, glad we now have the IM that just checks in and figures we are handling it very well

 

[Moose (GA) & Rae]

Vet's usually have a tough time with part unit doses, not surprising she would suggest zero as the next dose. Neko's IM vet was confounded by the 0.25 unit dose and how I measured it - calipers. If you are following TR, give the vet a copy of the protocol article. You are following protocol to keep on giving smaller doses until Moose earns that last reduction.

Moose is looking good, but not yet the all green of a cat ready to go off of insulin with a tiny dose. Soon I suspect.

Did you bring the calipers with you to show the vet? I was reading somewhere on this forum (not 100% sure who said it) that vets only study feline diabetes for about 2 days when they're in school. No wonder they're surprised at the "lengths" that we go to for accurate dosing and safe/long lasting remission.

I will definitely give her a copy. I don't think she'll necessarily be upset but it will help to be prepared.

Agreed, I'm definitely not trying to rush him or get my hopes up! We will see!

 

[Moose (GA) & Rae]

I had to take in syringe with the 0.1 dose drawn (used water). No one understood what it was and how I got it. I use the ruler. Took that in too. My regular vet was on maternity. They scolded me for giving a non-dose, that I was hurting my cat and where was my curve. Yeah, glad we now have the IM that just checks in and figures we are handling it very well

Oh yes, the "drop"!

Wait what? How a is a dose of .1U a "non-dose"? I guess they only think it terms of .5U or more...(or maybe even 1U or more!) I'm sorry I'm still learning the terminology, what is an IM?

 

[Moose (GA) & Rae]

PMPS = 123.

Shot .5U

Here's hoping for smooth "surfing!"

 

[Wendy&Neko]

Actually, @Tricia Cinco(GA) & Harvey took her kitties to UCD vet teaching hospital, and there they said 5 hours on FD, cat and dog. I didn't take the calipers in. When Neko was in critical care, I went in for shot times and did it myself. I didn't bring the calipers, just talked about them.

 

[Phoebes (GA)]

Hey hey Moosey, hope he surfs safely and in the dark greens tonight. You did a great job last night!!

 

[Tracey&Jones (GA)]

Oh yes, the "drop"!

Wait what? How a is a dose of .1U a "non-dose"? I guess they only think it terms of .5U or more...(or maybe even 1U or more!) I'm sorry I'm still learning the terminology, what is an IM?

Internal Medicine. He is Jones' IBD vet.

 

[Tricia Cinco(GA) & Harvey]

Actually, @Tricia Cinco(GA) & Harvey took her kitties to UCD vet teaching hospital, and there they said 5 hours on FD, cat and dog.

Yup, that's what a third year student at the #1 rated vet school in the country told me - 5 hours total on feline and canine diabetes combined. indeed! But it explains why most vets know so little about FD. Also consider that they have to learn about a lot of different conditions and illnesses in multiple species. There's no way they can concentrate for long on one. You just have to learn to nod and smile, or on the phone, do as you did with the "sounds good" and steer the conversation away from FD. If you like your vet, you want to keep a good relationship going. When you can show her the positive result of the form of treatment you have chosen, hopefully she will be a lot more accepting (paws crossed).

We generally don't recommend back to back reductions, because the second low is usually a result of the depot not being drained. That said, you didn't shoot this morning and tonight's .5 still produced greens, so it obviously wasn't a bad call. The next few days will tell us for sure. I do think Moose is tired of this whole dance and wants to get it over with...

Did you test again after that 69 at +4? Moose seems to like to nadir early, but you never know....

 

[Moose (GA) & Rae]

Actually, @Tricia Cinco(GA) & Harvey took her kitties to UCD vet teaching hospital, and there they said 5 hours on FD, cat and dog. I didn't take the calipers in. When Neko was in critical care, I went in for shot times and did it myself. I didn't bring the calipers, just talked about them.

5 hours?? Goodness, less than I thought!

 

[Moose (GA) & Rae]

Hey hey Moosey, hope he surfs safely and in the dark greens tonight. You did a great job last night!!

Thank you thank you! He did pretty well last night I think. I wish I would have gotten a few more tests before bed.

 

[Moose (GA) & Rae]

Also consider that they have to learn about a lot of different conditions and illnesses in multiple species. There's no way they can concentrate for long on one.

Very true. I'm always in awe at the expanse of information that doctors and vets are able to retain. I can barely remember what I ate yesterday!

If you like your vet, you want to keep a good relationship going. When you can show her the positive result of the form of treatment you have chosen, hopefully she will be a lot more accepting (paws crossed).

I do like her, she's very nice and tells it like it is. She also spends a good amount of time explaining things (never rushes me off of the phone.) Paws crossed indeed!

Did you test again after that 69 at +4? Moose seems to like to nadir early, but you never know....

I did not...I was falling asleep and trying to get as many tests as often as I could before I zonked out for good. With his history of nadir-ing around +4 (usually) and he appeared to be going up without any food influence (from +3 to +4) I decided it was safe to go to bed. Although I wished I would have gotten one more test before I zonked out, just to be sure.

Moose's health always comes first, I'm just having trouble with the late nights and my work schedule. I don't want my job to be an excuse for why I can't check that Moose is in a safe range before I go to bed, but I work in the financial industry and lack of sleep does not go well with numbers...I could end up costing the company money (and then it would cost me my job...) I know that sounds very selfish of me

How do you all manage your work schedules and BG check schedules? Curious to hear your tips and tricks!

I think I am going to move Moose's shot time up (in 15 min increments of course) to the earliest possible time that I can give it (5:30pm, as I leave work at 5pm) in order to give me a few extra hours to check before I need to be in bed.