1/12 - Bandit - PMPS(327) +3(200) +5(164) +8(121) +10(92) +11(103) AMPS (109) - DOSING ADVICE

I would get a test at +11. I'm curious if Bandit drops below 90 before your AMPS. If she does, you'll want to reduce the dose to 1.5u.

You are very likely correct and Bandit will bounce. Bounces are normal -- just annoying. The only reason to skip a dose is if the pre-shot number is too low to shoot. A lot can happen in 2 hours.
 
I would get a test at +11. I'm curious if Bandit drops below 90 before your AMPS. If she does, you'll want to reduce the dose to 1.5u.

You are very likely correct and Bandit will bounce. Bounces are normal -- just annoying. The only reason to skip a dose is if the pre-shot number is too low to shoot. A lot can happen in 2 hours.

She is at 103 at +11. Probably because of the 5-6 pieces of 16% carb kibble I fed her at +10 out of rookie panic!

(a) What is the number below which I should not shoot?

(b) What does one do when kitty goes to 90 or below in the two-hour pre-shot window when one does not feed so as not to influence the PS number? Can one feed them something to keep them from going too low?

(C) Is there a limit to the number of dose reductions one can take in a week? I expect Bandit's insulin requirements to fall as we proceed with the food transition. Do I drag out the transition over weeks so as to be able to take only a single dose reduction per week? That seems counter-intutive though - to feed her higher carb food so that her insulin dose doesn't send her too low.
 
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Your reduction point is 90 following SLGS. IF you can monitor today, I would shoot and not skip.

Thanks. It is possible though that she could have gone below 90 between 121 @+9 and 103@+11 and we only caught the 92 at +10?
Or the few grains of HC kibble I fed her might have prevented the fall below 90?

Would you be able to help me with the other questions in my above post?

Thanks in advance :)
 
If Bandit were to start dropping way below 90, then you can feed her even if it's within that 2 hour window. Safety first and you don't want her dropping too low.

I'd do the food transition somewhat slowly so as not to cause any GI issues but also so that you can track her BG and make dose adjustments as needed. While dose reductions too frequently often don't hold, when changing diet, they are sometimes necessary. Let the numbers be your guide.
 
If Bandit were to start dropping way below 90, then you can feed her even if it's within that 2 hour window. Safety first and you don't want her dropping too low.

I'd do the food transition somewhat slowly so as not to cause any GI issues but also so that you can track her BG and make dose adjustments as needed. While dose reductions too frequently often don't hold, when changing diet, they are sometimes necessary. Let the numbers be your guide.

Thanks for clarifying!

We have been transitioning her slowly and she has had no GI issues (thank God!) but she does like her 16% carb kibble much more than the YA zero carb one!

Bandit's dose requirements do seem to be falling quite a bit. Despite a skipped shot yesterday (I was too scared to shoot at 109 since she falls quite dramatically at +3) and a dose reduction last night by 0.25 units, she was only 215 this morning at AMPS. I find myself giving her carbs to ensure she doesn't fall too much.
 
If Bandit is dropping fast or you have to leave her and are worried, then higher carb food is fine but you don't want to carb her up too much because it's those lower BGs you are seeking. If BG is dropping and she needs some food, try the lower carb first (at least once the transition is complete). If that gets her surfing along in the low numbers without dropping more, then stick to the low carb. If she continues to drop, then adding a little extra carb into the mix is fine but until she gets down to the 50s she is in no danger of going too low and high carb is less necessary in most cases.
 
If Bandit is dropping fast or you have to leave her and are worried, then higher carb food is fine but you don't want to carb her up too much because it's those lower BGs you are seeking. If BG is dropping and she needs some food, try the lower carb first (at least once the transition is complete). If that gets her surfing along in the low numbers without dropping more, then stick to the low carb. If she continues to drop, then adding a little extra carb into the mix is fine but until she gets down to the 50s she is in no danger of going too low and high carb is less necessary in most cases.

she is fully transitioned GI-wise, but I worry that she will fall like a rock to dangerous levels on the current level of insulin - especially at night - and i might miss that between tests. i have been giving her higher carb food at shot times and at +1 to ensure she doesn't fall too much. she's also quite bouncy though she is now clearing bounces in a day.

when she falls below 100, what is the frequency i should test at? every hour? every half hour? she is still new to greens. we saw that 92 two nights back and I expect a repeat performance tonight.
 
100 is a perfectly safe BG and no need to pump her up with carbs from pre-shot. I know it's worrisome overnight so try giving her the low carb only on a day cycle when you can monitor to see what she does. Track her by getting a test around +2 and if she is dropping, pumping her up with more low carb. Save the higher carb for when BG get below 90. There is no danger of hypo until BG drops below 50 and while you aren't aiming to get her that low just yet, if her BG should drop to the 60s/70s, I'd still try the low carb food first and retest in 30 minutes to an hour to see if that is holding her at those healing numbers.

By trying the low carb on a day when you can monitor her closely, you'll know if dose needs to be lowered. Right now Bandit is doing just fine and in no danger of hypo given her BG readings so far but keeping her on the low carb food only, should bring her numbers down more.
 
100 is a perfectly safe BG and no need to pump her up with carbs from pre-shot. I know it's worrisome overnight so try giving her the low carb only on a day cycle when you can monitor to see what she does. Track her by getting a test around +2 and if she is dropping, pumping her up with more low carb. Save the higher carb for when BG get below 90. There is no danger of hypo until BG drops below 50 and while you aren't aiming to get her that low just yet, if her BG should drop to the 60s/70s, I'd still try the low carb food first and retest in 30 minutes to an hour to see if that is holding her at those healing numbers.

By trying the low carb on a day when you can monitor her closely, you'll know if dose needs to be lowered. Right now Bandit is doing just fine and in no danger of hypo given her BG readings so far but keeping her on the low carb food only, should bring her numbers down more.

THANK YOU for patiently responding to my questions! It's such a big help! :-)
 
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