8/17 Mačka AMPS 600, +3 341, +4 283, +6 462, +8 HI , PMPS HI, +3 536

Penelope and Mačka

Penelope and Mačka

Member Since 2019
http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/...ps-453-increase-question.218216/#post-2426103

Macka had a great start today, until he hit ¨HI¨ on the pet meter at +8 :(
His numbers never went very low during the day (lowest reading was in the 200s). It looks to me like his dose may be too high, and is causing his liver panic or go into panic-mode.
He is obviously bouncing, but he has never bounced THIS high during the day and now I am afraid to continue giving him the 2.75 dose, worried that his liver will keep shooting him off the charts.

I cannot risk him staying this high because he does not eat when in such high numbers. He is lethargic right now :( (I will test for ketones, of course, as soon as I catch him on the litter box).

I read a few times on the forum that it may be wiser to lower the dose to avoid these big bounces.

Has anyone had a similar experience?
 
My opinion would not be that it is too high.

I don't remember if you've already seen reference to "NDW" (new dose wonkiness). You've only had 2 consecutive doses at 2.75 units. Although it varies, Whispy used to take 6 consecutive cycles at a new higher dose before we got rid of the weirdness and really saw what that dose could do. We've been doing this for 4 years next month, and within the last year or two it doesn't take as long for his body to adjust now, but for the first couple of years I just bit my lip and ignored my results (unless LOW numbers, of course) until I was into my 7th consecutive cycle on a new dose.

See what others think.
 
Penelope and Mačka said:
I read a few times on the forum that it may be wiser to lower the dose to avoid these big bounces.
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Nope, not true. Why would you want a cat to stay high and flat all the time? That isn’t good for their kidneys. Bounces are the inevitable result of him seeing lower numbers than he is used to. We want him to be used to blues, and dare I say, eventually high greens. He will get over bounces. Didn’t you say he was feeling good yesterday with the higher dose?

If a cat has been started on a safe dose (he was), increases have been done by safe amounts (yes in this case), and there has been testing to catch the lows (you do plenty Penelope), then you aren’t on too high a dose. You did a 2.5 unit dose last night instead of 2.75, plus you have NDW, so the depot is all over the place and you will see some wonky numbers. Listen to those who have experience with the insulin you are using. Some of us have undoubtedly looked at hundreds of cat’s spreadsheets. Macka is not unusual, he just looks like a cat who hasn’t reached his fitting dose yet. He is still on a relatively small dose of insulin.
 
Wendy&Neko said:
Nope, not true. Why would you want a cat to stay high and flat all the time?
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Not high all the time, opposite! My understanding is that it can happen that big bounces are due to overdosing, from what I read. I know that a cat's needs change over time, however Macka was doing better on a 1.75 dose than on a 2.75. If he was on a human meter, he would have seen greens, and perhaps I wouldn't have increased. From the moment I increased to 2 units and up, he's been only flat and high. Apart from a few scarce yellows. Thus my interrogations.

Wendy&Neko said:
Macka is not unusual, he just looks like a cat who hasn’t reached his fitting dose yet. He is still on a relatively small dose of insulin.
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I hope we find it soon. This marathon is not simple:(
 
I agree with others, this doesn't look like too much insulin. Macka was getting slightly better numbers on 1.75, but that is something some diabetic cats do, they get better numbers on a dose and you think wow! progress! then their numbers come back up and stay up and you just have to keep increasing. It can be an awfully slow process but you have to stick with it. And when you increase the dose, don't pull back like you did when you increased to 2.75, then gave the 2.5 dose. That is like starting over with the increased dose.

There were a couple of times with my Eleanor when I decided her dose was too high and against advice I decreased. Thankfully she never had a problem with ketones. But still it was a big mistake. It just took that much longer to get her into decent numbers.
Do you think you might feel better switching to a human meter?
 
Julie and Eleanor (GA) said:
I agree with others, this doesn't look like too much insulin. Macka was getting slightly better numbers on 1.75, but that is something some diabetic cats do, they get better numbers on a dose and you think wow! progress! then their numbers come back up and stay up and you just have to keep increasing.
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Yes, that's probably what it is :) It's hard to understand these numbers when there's no human logic to it!

Julie and Eleanor (GA) said:
There were a couple of times with my Eleanor when I decided her dose was too high and against advice I decreased. Thankfully she never had a problem with ketones. But still it was a big mistake. It just took that much longer to get her into decent numbers.
Click to expand...
I see, however one can only learn through experiences, trial and errors, right? :p

Julie and Eleanor (GA) said:
Do you think you might feel better switching to a human meter?
Click to expand...
Might be foolish, but if I saw nicer numbers, even if just on a SS, I think I would feel less panicky. I have so much anxiety, all day, that it's unbearable for myself and my family. In addition, I think I would maybe feel safer if I use the same kind of meter as in the protocol (and basically everyone else here)? I'll go buy one today.

I researched a little and found out that the human meters that require the smallest sample of blood (0.3 microliter) are:

FreeStyle Freedom Lite
FreeStyle Light
Glucocard 01
Glucocard 01-mini
Glucocard X-meter
MyGlucoHealth Wireless

Any recommendation?
 
I used the version of the Freestyle many years ago, don’t know how much it changed, but I preferred my Glucocard 01, and not only because of the cost of the strips, which was a huge savings. The Glucocard 01 and mini are pretty much the same, but the mini has a smaller size meter and some people find it easier to hold. I had both sizes, my husband used the larger one, I used the smaller. Strip cost is important, I liked not having to worry about how many tests I was doing. ADW also has an auto ship feature, and occasionally has sales that I used.
 
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