? 04/10 Fat Albert AMPS 302, +1 320, +6 278, +10.5 233, PMPS 259, +3 108, +4 67, +5 40, +5.5 @ 86

[Marc & Jen]

Yesterday

Skipped the dose last night due to low PMPS. AMPS 302 was almost completely fasted (thanks to the advice of @Bear & Lora) but one hour before his shot get woke up and got very angry and started trying to break things (as usual!) so I gave him a few dry kibbles so they still could have had some effect. We will have to work on this, an automatic wet feeder will help.

Reduced the dose to 4 units today which may be too big of a jump but currently we only have the pens that go up/down in full unit increments.

I have to go into the office today and usually leave within the hour but I will go in late and will get at least a +1, will see how that is and maybe I can push it another hour and get a +2 as well before I go in if I'm concerned.

+6 278 Appears as if about half the dry food that I left out was already gone. Hoping higher levels are due to this/skipped dose last night and that they come down a bit today/tomorrow

 

[Marc & Jen]

Also, hopefully by linking yesterdays post I am doing this right!

 

[Olive & Paula]

Can you get insulin syringes with the 1/2 unit markings? You would use the pen like a bottle, using the rubber stopper where you attach the needles. You would be able to do smaller decreases and or increases.

 

[Marc & Jen]

Can you get insulin syringes with the 1/2 unit markings? You would use the pen like a bottle, using the rubber stopper where you attach the needles. You would be able to do smaller decreases and or increases.

I would guess that I can, I will look into it. Thank you!

 

[Olive & Paula]

Don't know where you are located here is a site with many options. These are the ones I happen to use.

Can also pick syringes up at Walmart. Just make sure they are the correct ones BEFORE you pay for them. It seems the pharmacy people have no clue when it comes to syringes.

https://www.adwdiabetes.com/product...100-syringes-30g-3-10cc-5-16in-100ct-1-2-unit

 

[Marc & Jen]

FA's BG started high this morning after the skipped shot last night however now he's at 67 +4 after his PM dose. Is this typical that blood sugar should drop so fast? He had a small meal of wet food at +3 this evening. My husband and I are staying up to monitor him in case he continues to drop and we have HC wet food on hand which worked well yesterday morning when he dropped to the low 50s.

Based on SLGS method this means we get to decrease his dose again. Again, we still don't have the syringes in 1/2 unit increments. So we will plan on dropping him down to 3 units in the morning for now. This will be a full 2 unit drop just due to diet change.

 

[Bear & Lora]

Wow Jen!
FA is a prime example of why home testing is imperative when cats transition and get off basically junk food and switch to a diet that is more of what nature intended for them.
(I am so glad you are testing and educating yourself in order to keep FA safe.)
Many cats need rapid decreases in insulin after or as they transition to wet.
The data you collect is the only thing that can truly show you what FA's changing needs are.
I remember you were also concerned about when you are absent from home, since FA's has earned two reductions so quickly I recommend you leave MC wet food out for him.
You can add additional water so it doesn't dry out plus FA will stay more hydrated.
I am happy for FA, in fact sometimes we congratulate each other when our cats earn reductions and need less insulin.
You are doing so well, especially considering you haven't even been testing a week yet and you have handled lower green and now a PM low event.
As to your question about BG dropping fast, I don't think you can label that typical but Bear has dropped in a similar fashion when he needed a reduction.
There are many different ways a cat can react during a cycle.
Click on a few SS to compare.
Keep asking any and all questions you have.
There are so many on the forum that like to help.

 

[Marc & Jen]

Wow Jen!
FA is a prime example of why home testing is imperative when cats transition and get off basically junk food and switch to a diet that is more of what nature intended for them.
(I am so glad you are testing and educating yourself in order to keep FA safe.)
Many cats need rapid decreases in insulin after or as they transition to wet.
The data you collect is the only thing that can truly show you what FA's changing needs are.
I remember you were also concerned about when you are absent from home, since FA's has earned two reductions so quickly I recommend you leave MC wet food out for him.
You can add additional water so it doesn't dry out plus FA will stay more hydrated.
I am happy for FA, in fact sometimes we congratulate each other when our cats earn reductions and need less insulin.
You are doing so well, especially considering you haven't even been testing a week yet and you have handled lower green and now a PM low event.
As to your question about BG dropping fast, I don't think you can label that typical but Bear has dropped in a similar fashion when he needed a reduction.
There are many different ways a cat can react during a cycle.
Click on a few SS to compare.
Keep asking any and all questions you have.
There are so many on the forum that like to help.

Thanks Lora for being to incredibly helpful and supportive these past few days!
It's crazy to think what would have happened if we were to just have followed the advice of our vet. I am SO HAPPY that Marc found this forum and forced me to read it because I definitely was one that had full faith in the vet but my opinion has now been quickly changed. I am gaining confidence and I can already see that with time and more data, I'll become more comfortable handling all this. I've been fortunate enough to work from home for most of this week but will be changing jobs in a couple weeks where I won't have much flexibility so I really want to use this time to figure out correct dosage/food etc.
I've noticed that FA has been drinking much less water since the diet change. I used to have to fill up the bowl of water several times a day and now it goes almost a whole day without the level changing. Could this be due to higher water content in wet food or because his BG has been coming down?

 

[Bear & Lora]

Thanks Lora for being to incredibly helpful and supportive these past few days!
It's crazy to think what would have happened if we were to just have followed the advice of our vet. I am SO HAPPY that Marc found this forum and forced me to read it because I definitely was one that had full faith in the vet but my opinion has now been quickly changed. I am gaining confidence and I can already see that with time and more data, I'll become more comfortable handling all this. I've been fortunate enough to work from home for most of this week but will be changing jobs in a couple weeks where I won't have much flexibility so I really want to use this time to figure out correct dosage/food etc.
I've noticed that FA has been drinking much less water since the diet change. I used to have to fill up the bowl of water several times a day and now it goes almost a whole day without the level changing. Could this be due to higher water content in wet food or because his BG has been coming down?

Your welcome Jen!
First let me give you a heads up, I noticed FA is having a yellow cycle.
When a cat has a yellow cycle it can indicate that his next cycle is going to be an active cycle which means FA will need to be monitored closely during his PM cycle.
FA's cycle last PM was an active cycle.
If it is at all possible I recommend trying to catch a nap today in preparation also make sure you have plenty of supplies like test strips, MC, and HC food, honey and Karo on hand.
It is also a good idea to refresh your mind with How to handle lower numbers.
The more knowledge you have retained always helps to lessen anxiety levels.
I have to leave now but I will be back in a few hours to check on you both.

The answer to your questions about thirst is yes to both.
Cat's with diabetes that are poorly regulated (just like human diabetics) consume a lot of water.
Cat's are known to be sparing drinkers so when they are getting more water in their wet food diet even a healthy cat will drink less water,

 

[Marc & Jen]

@Bear & Lora Thanks for the heads up! I was thinking the same thing since we have already seen that pattern happen twice in the last 2 days. Marc is watching him as I'm trying to nap a bit now. He is behaving badly though so for him that usually means a higher BG - we will be testing again in a bit and curious to see if the numbers match up with his behaviour.