Oreo Joe back on insulin questions/problems

[Bonnie & Oreo Joe]

I know this is wrong but I have sat here for an hour trying to figure out how to start a new thread. Remember I have CFS and my memory is bad. Ok I was here several months ago and all of the Blood Sugar tests on Oreo Joe were in the normal range. I tried to fill in the chart but it won't work. I am going to start a new sheet. We have had a terrible time since I left. My nest egg of $2000 went and then another 1000 on lab work, vet visits, medications, ordering supplies not available in Sweden only to have customs charge 2 taxes on the pkgs. So I finally, after 3 months of syringe feedings, he began to eat. He heard the vet say I have tried to be American for you but after 2 weeks of syringe feedings we put them down. I will not order another medication for his nausea and I expect you to call on Monday and set up a time. Oreo followed me to the kitchen and cried at the refrigerator. I had chicken out for supper so I cut off a piece and he gobbled it down. He ate and ate his diabetic friendly food and couldn't be filled. So fast forward to yesterday, he was picky with food and wanting to be held much more as he usually wants a hug a crunchy treat and he is gone. He has continued to drink huge amounts of water but every glucose test I did was in the normal range. Yesterday it didn't click to test again. So here I was at 8:30 pm testing and found out my perfectly normal little man was 265 !! Since I was here last my eye sight has gotten very bad. I am home alone, although my husband has bad eye sight also. I had an old syringe the vet had filled several way back in the beginning, as the insulin had to be ordered and mailed. I looked at the syringe she had filled with a magnifying glass and say it was drawn to the 5th little red line. That was supposed to be 1½ U. Since I don't know how he would react I counted to the 4th little red line figuring it was 1 U. The syringe has U40 written on it. I hope I gave right. I tried to find how to post a new thread gave up gave him the insulin at 9 pm and looked some more and gave up finding an old post I had kept in my files. Lucky as a search for Bonnie and Oreo Joe showed nothing could be found.
Oh he is on ProZinc now as of 35 minutes ago. Can someone set me straight on what I am doing as far as the insulin? I am going to go and look for where I get a new spread sheet. I click on a place to put in a number and it types up at the top of the page. I looked on line re: picture of syringe up close but I still didn't see it well enough to be sure. Thank you and I will be up waiting to see what you have to say. I am 6 hours ahead of East Coast USA and 9 hours ahead of the West coast. Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!
My antivirus won't let me download the google spread sheet says it is a virus.
I just took Oreo's blood sugar at 11:30 pm - 2½ hours after his insulin. it is 245 so going down. I guess I could have gone with 1½U.

 

[Kris & Teasel]

I had an old syringe the vet had filled several way back in the beginning, as the insulin had to be ordered and mailed. I looked at the syringe she had filled with a magnifying glass and say it was drawn to the 5th little red line. That was supposed to be 1½ U. Since I don't know how he would react I counted to the 4th little red line figuring it was 1 U. The syringe has U40 written on it.

If this is very old insulin from last fall it might not be potent enough now. I'd get new ProZinc as soon as possible. The fifth line on a syringe with half unit marks would be 2 units:
1st line = zero
2nd = 0.5 u
3rd = 1.0 u
4th = 1.5 u
5th = 2.0 u

I tried to find how to post a new thread gave up

Just click on the ProZinc forum in the listings on the main page, look at the top right of the page that opens and you'll see "start new thread". Click on that and type your thread title in the bar at the top of the page that opens.

Oh he is on ProZinc now as of 35 minutes ago. Can someone set me straight on what I am doing as far as the insulin?

For now keep a paper record. Was the BG of 265 taken just before you fed him and gave him insulin? That's your PM pre shot test number. It's best to remove all food at least 2 hours before all pre shot tests.

I just took Oreo's blood sugar at 11:30 pm - 2½ hours after his insulin.

That his BG for the +2.5 time - ie., 2.5 hours after the shot.

My antivirus won't let me download the google spread sheet says it is a virus.

Try again: http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/fdmb-spreadsheet-instructions.130337/ There are people on here that can help if you can't get it working.

I'm glad Oreo Joe is eating again. It's too bad you need to give him insulin again but we can help you get back on track.

 

[Bonnie & Oreo Joe]

Thank you so much for answering. With the magnifying glass I can find the lines although still difficult. Oreo Joe woke me up 4 hours after I had fallen asleep, 6:30 AM to tell me his food dish needed to be filled. Of course he had to wait until 8 so he sat staring at me until 8.

AMPS 285 gave 1½ units while he was gobbling food and he had no idea he got it. He can't get filled up today.
His insulin is good for another year.

Now if I understand correctly I keep him on insulin (as long as I can shoot safely) for 2 weeks and then do a curve?

The vet had said that I shouldn't give insulin unless it was over 15 which is 270 but I remember that he should be in the range of 100 to 120? Am I right or is she?
Thank you so much!!

 

[Djamila]

Can you make some colored water and draw a sample syringe with colored water, then use that to compare with the insulin syringe? It might help with double checking that you're on the right line.

I see where you typed "5/16/2018" on your spreadsheet. Does that mean you got it working again?

We recommend that you test before every shot and once or twice in the middle of the cycle so you can see how much the insulin is changing their blood glucose (BG) from the highest point (right before the shot) to the lowest point (nadir). And then yes, you can do a curve after a week or two. Those other tests are really important though to make sure they aren't dropping too low from the insulin.

As for the expiration on the insulin: the date on that package would be the expiration if it had never been opened. Once you use a vial for the first time, it's only good for 3 to 6 months. The manufacturer says it's only good for 30 days once it's opened, but around here we've found it lasts for a few months. Usually sort of fades out as it gets closer to six months since it was opened. If it's been opened longer than that I would really recommend getting a new vial.

You want the kitty below 120 during nadir, and below 200 for the pre-shot number. The vet is saying 270 based on using an AlphaTrak (a pet specific meter which gives higher numbers than a human meter), and because vets assume you aren't monitoring enough at home. So they say a higher number in order to keep a pet safe from hypoglycemia. The lower numbers we say are assuming that you are monitoring enough at home to keep him safe. So both are right - it just depends on how careful you are able to be.

 

[Bonnie & Oreo Joe]

The only thing on my spread sheet that works is putting the date in! When I try and put in BG I highlight the correct box click in it and type the number and the number goes up on the top left where is says FX!
I have no idea why. I have 2 spread sheets, one for the vet and one for this group. Neither work.

Do I need a test 2 extra times a day all the time or just for a few days to see what is happening now since he just started.
The colored water is a great idea. This getting old is not fun!
I just opened the bottle of insulin last night.
I will go with 120 during nadir.
Well off to see if the boy is reachable. He has been so good letting me test and pill and shoot him but he wanted peace and quiet and has taken himself off for a nap under something. So around 6 hours is test time. I am 45 minutes late. Will check in later.
Thank you!!

 

[Bonnie & Oreo Joe]

Nadir 6 hours and 45 minutes after insulin is 300
It just keeps going up! He is stretching out long on the cool floor in the coolest room in the house.
Thanks.

 

[Kris & Teasel]

The only thing on my spread sheet that works is putting the date in! When I try and put in BG I highlight the correct box click in it and type the number and the number goes up on the top left where is says FX!
I have no idea why. I have 2 spread sheets, one for the vet and one for this group. Neither work.

Do I need a test 2 extra times a day all the time or just for a few days to see what is happening now since he just started.
The colored water is a great idea. This getting old is not fun!
I just opened the bottle of insulin last night.
I will go with 120 during nadir.
Well off to see if the boy is reachable. He has been so good letting me test and pill and shoot him but he wanted peace and quiet and has taken himself off for a nap under something. So around 6 hours is test time. I am 45 minutes late. Will check in later.
Thank you!!

Maybe @Marje and Gracie can help you sort out the SS issues.

 

[Bonnie & Oreo Joe]

Good Morning here in Sweden rather dark in America I guess. Oreo Joe had a NADIR of 300 yesterday 7 hours after his morning insulin. PMPS was 300 1½ U insulin -
5-18-18 AMPS 245. He looked at his food and licked his lips over and over and vomited pink liquid. The capsule of meds I gave him wasn't in the liquid. Can't figure out the pink color. It has been almost an hour and he still will not eat. Do I just skip it until tonight. I still can't get my spread sheet to allow me to put numbers in. The date goes in but after than I highlight the spot I want to put a number and it types the number up in the left hand side right above the chart it says Fx. The pc anitivirus won't allow me to download a new one.
Thanks

 

[Djamila]

Does he have anti-nausea meds? Poor Oreo Joe! I hope he feels better soon.

 

[Bonnie & Oreo Joe]

Oreo takes Zofran ½ tab twice a day. I think as soon as his BG goes down we can drop to 1/4 and then none. I was so sure I gave him the insulin correctly but about 15 minutes after he came up on my lap and his fur was wet where I gave the shot. It sure shows it as he is 350 at NADIR he has extremely thick fur for a domestic short hair. My Norwegian Forest cat had thinner fur! about an hour after he threw up he ate and I shot. I have a hard time leaning over I need him to eat at the kitchen table. lol
All these months of not eating because of nausea he never once vomited.
Thanks

 

[Bonnie & Oreo Joe]

Hello, Must confess I counted wrong on his insulin every time and went to the #6 rather than #4 line. But I think it is time to up his insulin he is not going down. His spread sheet is up to date. He had a bad one yesterday evening, got into his carb treats and ate lots. It showed 1½ hours later by being 394. But you can see he is staying up all the time.
Can I up his insulin and how much? I have changed how much insulin on the spread sheet to 2½.
Have tried to see the eye specialist for 2 years. Gave up and went to the regular eye doctor who said I have only 50% sight and the start of cataracts and while they cover the eye they didn't look like they went to the back of the eye. Request to specialist but if it goes like normal I will be lucky to have them removed by next Feb.
When you tell me how much to give Oreo Joe tell me the Units and the red line. Oreo is eating like a horse drinking and peeing so much.

 

[Kris & Teasel]

Did you get a new bottle of insulin? There was concern that your vial was too old and possibly not working any longer.

Re dose: Try 3 units. We need to know if your syringes have half unit marks or not. If they do, some of the marks will be to the left and some will be to the right. Many syringes have a vertical dividing line separating the lefthand and righthand marks. Syringes marked in whole units have only one set of lines.

SYRINGES WITH HALF UNITS: 3 u will be at the 7th mark on the right side.

SYRINGES WITH WHOLE UNITS ONLY: 3 u will be at the 4th mark.

Remember - the first line on a syringe nearest the needle is always ZERO.

 

[Bonnie & Oreo Joe]

Did you get a new bottle of insulin? There was concern that your vial was too old and possibly not working any longer.

Re dose: Try 3 units. We need to know if your syringes have half unit marks or not. If they do, some of the marks will be to the left and some will be to the right. Many syringes have a vertical dividing line separating the lefthand and righthand marks. Syringes marked in whole units have only one set of lines.

SYRINGES WITH HALF UNITS: 3 u will be at the 7th mark on the right side.

SYRINGES WITH WHOLE UNITS ONLY: 3 u will be at the 4th mark.

Remember - the first line on a syringe nearest the needle is always ZERO.

BD Micro-Fine U 40 0,5 ml 5,10,15,20 are marked down the right side. Going to the left there are ___ a longer line and then a __ shorter line. There are 10 spaces to reach the 5.
That means 7 is 3 units on these correct? The #5 would be 4 Units correct?

How long to I stay on 1 dose before raising it if the BG doesn't go down?

Oh my goodness I am so sorry. I am aware that just trying to concentrate on something gets me confused. I shudder to think of what happened to the nurse in me. Of course I could see and didn't get confused looking at an insulin syringe. I will still have someone tell me what line to fill it.

The Prozinc insulin was never opened before 2 weeks ago and is good until Spring of 2019. It has been kept in the refrigerator.

Thank you for helping.