Idjit DX, 4/3, began Lantus 1 U next day. Vet did not tell us to test AMPS, we got AphaTrak , 1st test on 4/6. Vet said to test @ +6 daily. Began eliminating dry food to all wet food diet. Curve at clinic 4/11, vet instructions to shoot 1U AM, test @ +6 Mondays and Thursdays. Learned here should never shoot w/o testing, and should be on 12 hour, not 24 hour shots. All wet food diet for 1 1/2 weeks.
You are probably right about reduction, I am very new too. I was getting conflicting information and trying to take care of him.
Idjit was drinking more water, he urinated on the floor, it dried a bit and was sticky, he started vomiting. I believe his DX BG was 386. He had lost close to 2 pounds since his check up in January. We now test, then feed at 6am, usually, test & feed @ +6, again @ +12 now. I give him a bit less at +12, then a little around 8:30 - 9:00 pm, in hope of him not bouncing on us at 5am with the get up dance. He does not like testing, it takes both of us to get it done, but it's getting better. I was following vet advice and not shooting below 200. I worry I have messed him up. It appears our attending vet is not as knowledgeable as desired, since never advised testing before shooting, or more than 1x day.Hi there
Amazing what a difference proper diet can make.
How did you discover Idjit was diabetic? What was his BG at the time of diagnosis?
In general it's a good idea to taper insulin use down incrementally - from .5u to .25u to .1u.
Reductions are earned either by dipping below 50 (TR) or below 90 (SLGS) on any given dose, or by maintaining BG in the normal range for a solid week.
To help ensure a strong remission, before cutting off insulin completely you want to see mostly green numbers (under 100) with only a few random blue numbers between 100 - 120
(the above numbers are based on human glucometer readings)
Assuming the AMBG and PMBG numbers are 12 hours apart, at which "plus hours"do you feed him? It would be interesting and valuable to see BG just before feeding, 1 hour later, 2 hours later and 3 hours later. You would not need to get 3 consecutive tests after one meal, you could spread them out, for example 1 hour after breakfast, 2 hours after dinner, 3 hours after a mid day meal. The data would help you know if a it may be a good idea to offer a little insulin support for a while longer, to be sure his pancreas is healed enough to resume full time insulin producing duty.
It does get easier. Most of us here, myself included, started out the very same way. The day will come when you will be able to test 'solo'
Sadly most vets, being general practitioners, are not as knowledgeable as desired.
You have not messed him up.
I just conveyed your suggestions to my husband, I want to clarify test AM, feed, test +1, skip +6 test, test +12, feed, test 2 hours later. Second day test AM feed, test +3, test +12. Is that correct?
Correct - assuming you are not shooting any insulin. This will help you figure out what, if any , bump up his BG gets after a meal and if so whether his pancreas can produce insulin as needed to bring BG back down. If you can manage any other additional tests it will help further sharpen the picture.
That is the $64k question. Most of us here have had similar experiences.
Correct - assuming you are not shooting any insulin. This will help you figure out what, if any , bump up his BG gets after a meal and if so whether his pancreas can produce insulin as needed to bring BG back down. If you can manage any other additional tests it will help further sharpen the picture.
That is the $64k question. Most of us here have had similar experiences.
On the bright side, the universe brought you here - the very best place a diabetic kitty can be. We have been living and breathing FD for more that 10 years.
I never imagined I could test my Black Kitty solo. He was a 5 year old stray intact male we took in off the streets...and he had BIG teeth...
However perseverance prevailed
Do you give him a treat after every poke?
He gets treat after every poke, successful or not. I had purchased 4 lb bag Hill's DM, ($$!!) so I give 4-6 pieces. Since we have been testing before meals, then he gets his wet food, which he loves.Correct - assuming you are not shooting any insulin. This will help you figure out what, if any , bump up his BG gets after a meal and if so whether his pancreas can produce insulin as needed to bring BG back down. If you can manage any other additional tests it will help further sharpen the picture.
That is the $64k question. Most of us here have had similar experiences.
On the bright side, the universe brought you here - the very best place a diabetic kitty can be. We have been living and breathing FD for more that 10 years.
I never imagined I could test my Black Kitty solo. He was a 5 year old stray intact male we took in off the streets...and he had BIG teeth...
However perseverance prevailed
Do you give him a treat after every poke?
The idea of 0.25 and "a drop" makes me quake in my boots. Old eyes here, the lines on the regular syringe are quite close enough. I have located several magnifying glasses, and dusted off the magnifying craft lamp. If necessary, I will certainly try.
Thanks very much, very helpful and stress relieving info. You are a gem!
I know now that the Hills dry is not good. I have been preoccupied with finding 1/2 unit syringes, finding proper canned food, learning to test, etc, etc, that I haven't found a good treat yet. We have purchased 2 boxes of wrong syringes/needles, returned one stuck with one, bought the stupid Hill's dry, just a series of goofs. Will look at the freeze dried chicken.
Freeze dried chicken breast chunks work like a charm for treats after a poke- so much so that we jokingly refer to them as ‘kitty crack’. I recommend you ditch the dry altogether. Since he loves his wet food a half tsp of LC wet food is a better choice for a poke treat.
Can't return Hill's it's been opened. Isn't ordering supplies online prohibitive because of shipping and handling? I ordered from DiabetesSupply, mailing almost cost of products. Husband mailed return yesterday, again almost the cost of product. I want off the hamster wheel.
No, he gets F F and Friskies canned, -7 carbs plus cooked chicken breast sometimes. I was just using a few pieces of the dry as a great after pokes. He used to love his dry. He's a keeper anywaySo you mean he's throwing all those lovely numbers on no insulin and Hill's dry food? Keeper
