Changing diet, fighting neuropathy

[Deb & Wink]

Thanks Teo for replying.
Have your mom reduce the dose to 2 Units for tonight.
Viamo may "bounce" like crazy, have high blood glucose numbers, until you get back.
Let's not change to using insulin syringes for now.
We can do that change to insulin syringes drawing from your "insulin pen" when you get back.

I'll keep looking at Viamo's spreadsheet every day.
After you get back from vacation is soon enough to start posting in the Lantus ISG (Insulin Support Group).

Sorry to interrupt your vacation.

But the dose needed to be lower to keep Viamo safe.

 

[Teo]

Great. Thank you, Deb. Don't apologize: you keep on helping us a lot. We appreciate it!

Another thig: what should be our no-shoot number now?

 

[Deb & Wink]

If your mom wants to write in Spanish, I can use google translate to understand what she says.

I've actually been helping a new member in Spain that does not write or understand English.
We use google translate to write back and forth to each other.

If your mom would like to write a reply to us, that would be ok.

 

[Deb & Wink]

I want to keep the "no shoot" blood glucose number at 200 for now.
That is higher than normal, but we don't have a lot of blood glucose numbers to use. To let us know if a lower "shoot/ no-shoot " threshold would be appropriate.

We can work on reducing that "no shoot" number later.

Would need some more tests to see when that could change.
Would your mom be willing to do 1 or 2 blood glucose tests in the evening, before she goes to sleep?
Somewhere in the +4 to +7 hour time frame would be good.
The same should be done in the +4 to +7 hour time frame in the AM testing cycle.

We need to teach you and your mom about how to handle a low blood glucose reading, by using food to bring the blood glucose numbers up, slowly and safely.
I do not want to do that right now. But if you and or your mom would like to read this document, it gives you some ideas on how to handle low blood glucose numbers. It also gives some of the hypoglycemic symptoms to watch out for.

How to treat HYPOS - THEY CAN KILL! Print this Out!!
Don't let the title on that post scare you too much. But a hypo or hypoglycemic number can be dangerous.
I believe you translated this to Spanish and left it for your cat sitter to use as a reference document.

 

[Deb & Wink]

Expected those higher blood glucose numbers for Viamo last night 2/3/20 and this morning 2/4/20.

It's a combination of the low blood glucose numbers Viamo had yesterday morning and the reduced dose from 3U to 2U you needed to do because you are using the "insulin pen".

 

[Deb & Wink]

Hi Teo, I saw you were signed on. What is your mom's name? If you and she are willing to share her first name with us, I'd like to know what it is.

Hola a, vi que habías iniciado sesión. ¿Cual es el nombre de tu mama? Si usted y ella están dispuestos a compartir su nombre con nosotros, me gustaría saber de qué se trata.

 

[Deb & Wink]

I realize your mother is a very busy woman. All those tasks of daily life like cooking, grocery shopping, errands, maybe she works. She wants to visit friends and other relatives. All of those life responsibilities take up a lot of time. "Life is Full" is an expression we say here in the US.

She needs some time to take care of herself as well as the rest of her family. I don't want to ask too much of her with the care of Viamo.

When would it fit better into her schedule to get some tests for Viamo? I don't want to impose on her time too much. Or yours.
Trying to remember to give the Spanish translation. To see if that helps.

Me doy cuenta de que tu madre es una mujer muy ocupada. Todas esas tareas de la vida diaria, como cocinar, comprar comestibles, hacer recados, tal vez ella trabaja. Ella quiere visitar amigos y otros parientes. Todas esas responsabilidades de la vida toman mucho tiempo. "La vida está llena" es una expresión que decimos aquí en los Estados Unidos.

Necesita algo de tiempo para cuidarse a sí misma y al resto de su familia. No quiero pedirle demasiado con el cuidado de Viamo.

¿Cuándo encajaría mejor en su agenda para hacerse algunas pruebas de Viamo? No quiero imponerle demasiado tiempo. O el tuyo.

Tratando de recordar dar la traducción al español. A ver si eso ayuda.

 

[Ana & Viamo]

Hi Deb, hope you are doing well today, thank you for your help with our beloved Viamo. I am available to do the tests you need.

 

[Teo]

Hi Deb, hope you are doing well today

That's my mom by the way

 

[Deb & Wink]

Hi Ana! Very nice to meet you. I see that you have created your own user id for the message board. That is good. I did not realize until a few days ago that Teo had never told us your name.

Would you be able to get a blood glucose test at +3 tonight and tomorrow morning? That is 3 hours after the pre-shot test.
Then if you could also get a test in sometime tonight a couple of hours later, that could be helpful.

I do not want you staying up later than your normal bedtime to get these blood glucose tests for Viamo.
You need your sleep too.
I do not want you to stay up too late and deprive yourself of sleep.

So you tell me what is better. Would it be easier for you to get a +5 night time test? Would it be easier for you to get a +6 test?

Night time testing can be a strain on the person doing the testing. Teo is young, and he can feel better on less sleep than some older people like I can. Resiliency of the young. They have more energy.

¡Hola Ana! Mucho gusto en conocerte. Veo que ha creado su propia identificación de usuario para el tablero de mensajes. Eso es bueno. Hasta hace unos días no me di cuenta de que Teo nunca nos había dicho su nombre.

¿Podría hacerse una prueba de glucosa en sangre a +3 esta noche y mañana por la mañana? Eso es 3 horas después de la prueba previa al disparo.
Entonces, si también pudieras hacerte una prueba en algún momento de esta noche un par de horas más tarde, eso podría ser útil.

No quiero que te quedes despierto más tarde de tu hora normal de dormir para hacerte estas pruebas de glucosa en sangre para Viamo.
Tú también necesitas dormir.
No quiero que te quedes despierto demasiado tarde y te prives del sueño.

Entonces dime qué es mejor. ¿Sería más fácil para usted hacerse una prueba nocturna de +5? ¿Sería más fácil para ti obtener una prueba +6?

Las pruebas nocturnas pueden ser una carga para la persona que las realiza. Teo es joven y puede sentirse mejor con menos sueño que algunas personas mayores como yo. Resiliencia de los jóvenes. Tienen mas energia.

 

[Deb & Wink]

That's my mom by the way

I think Teo is very lucky to have a mother like you Ana. I think he is very proud of you and all you are doing to help your beloved cat Viamo.

Creo que Teo tiene mucha suerte de tener una madre como tú, Ana. Creo que está muy orgulloso de ti y de todo lo que estás haciendo para ayudar a tu querido gato Viamo.

Does it help you if I use google translate to provide my responses to you in both Spanish and English?
¿Le ayuda si uso el traductor de Google para proporcionarle mis respuestas en español e inglés?

 

[Deb & Wink]

We ask about the blood glucose levels/readings/numbers for a cat, because it is a good way to see how effective the insulin dose is for any 12 hour testing cycle. Lantus is a "depot" type insulin, with a little storage area under the skin. So the dose you give one day may take a while to see any changes in the blood glucose. It is a very good insulin. The best one available for cats in my opinion.

But a cat is more than simply their blood glucose numbers.
How is Viamo feeling?
How is Viamo's appetite?
Are the size of the urine puddles in the litter box or tray getting smaller?
Is the urine output still high?
Is his diabetic neuropathy better at all?
Is he still walking on his hocks or is he able to walk better now?

Does he jump up on furniture or is that still difficult for him?
Does Viamo groom himself?
Does his fur look good? soft and shiny? dull and lifeless? lots of dandruff?
Does he purr?
Is he playing again and chasing the other cats you have?

How is Viamo feeling overall is what I would like to know. Like the questions a vet might ask you when you take Viamo to the vet for a visit. Anything notable in his behavior or habits.

Preguntamos sobre los niveles / lecturas / números de glucosa en sangre para un gato, porque es una buena manera de ver qué tan efectiva es la dosis de insulina para cualquier ciclo de prueba de 12 horas. Lantus es una insulina de tipo "depósito", con una pequeña área de almacenamiento debajo de la piel. Por lo tanto, la dosis que administra un día puede tomar un tiempo para ver cualquier cambio en la glucosa en la sangre. Es una muy buena insulina. El mejor disponible para gatos en mi opinión.

Pero un gato es más que simplemente sus números de glucosa en sangre.
¿Cómo se siente Viamo?
¿Cómo es el apetito de Viamo?
¿Se está reduciendo el tamaño de los charcos de orina en la caja de arena o en la bandeja?
¿Sigue siendo alta la producción de orina?
¿Es mejor su neuropatía diabética?
¿Sigue caminando sobre sus corvejones o puede caminar mejor ahora?

¿Salta sobre los muebles o todavía es difícil para él?
¿Viamo se prepara?
¿Se ve bien su pelaje? suave y brillante? aburrido y sin vida? mucha caspa?
¿Ronronea?
¿Está jugando de nuevo y persiguiendo a los otros gatos que tienes?

Lo que me gustaría saber es cómo se siente Viamo en general. Al igual que las preguntas que un veterinario podría hacerle cuando lleva a Viamo al veterinario para una visita. Cualquier cosa notable en su comportamiento o hábitos.

 

[Ana & Viamo]

Hi Deb! Thank you for your nice words! I´m a lucky person to have Teo as a son. I´m going to take with pleasure the test you ask for +3 tonight and tomorrow morning after the shot. Also +5 at night. You are very kind, your responses in Spanish are helpful, especially with Teo abroad.

 

[Deb & Wink]

These are the tests you will be doing for Viamo for now.
2/5/2020 PMPS evening pre-shot test.
+3
+5

2/6/2020 AMPS morning pre-shot test
+3
maybe one more test later in the morning, but I'd like to see the +3 test number first.

Teo, sleep well on that airplane on your trip home Sunday. Because I'd like you to do a curve as soon as you get back. Monday would be ok.

Estas son las pruebas que harás para Viamo por ahora.
2/5/2020 Prueba de pre-disparo nocturno PMPS.
+3
+5

2/6/2020 AMPS mañana pre-tiro prueba
+3
quizás una prueba más más tarde en la mañana, pero me gustaría ver primero el número de prueba +3.

Teo, duerme bien en ese avión en tu viaje a casa el domingo. Porque me gustaría que hicieras una curva tan pronto como vuelvas. El lunes estaría bien.

Teo, we will want you to practice with some colored liquid with using the insulin syringes when you get back home. Use only one syringe, and mark it well with some colored tape if you have any. That is so you do not confuse a used syringe with a fresh syringe. You will be surprised how small the insulin doses are. Practice first and learn how to do that. Before you use the insulin syringes for drawing the insulin dose from the pen.

Syringes have a lubricant inside them. You will want to move the colored plunger in the barrel of the syringe up and down a few times before you withdraw the insulin dose. If you don't, the plunger can stick a little bit.

Teo, queremos que practiques con un poco de líquido coloreado usando las jeringas de insulina cuando vuelvas a casa. Use solo una jeringa y márquela bien con cinta adhesiva de color si tiene alguna. Eso es para que no confunda una jeringa usada con una jeringa nueva. Se sorprenderá de lo pequeñas que son las dosis de insulina. Practica primero y aprende cómo hacerlo. Antes de usar las jeringas de insulina para extraer la dosis de insulina de la pluma.

Las jeringas tienen un lubricante dentro de ellas. Deberá mover el émbolo de color en el cilindro de la jeringa hacia arriba y hacia abajo varias veces antes de retirar la dosis de insulina. Si no lo hace, el émbolo puede pegarse un poco.

 

[Teo]

2/5/2020 PMPS evening pre-shot test.
+3
+5

2/6/2020 AMPS morning pre-shot test
+3
maybe one more test later in the morning, but I'd like to see the +3 test number first.

Are you referring to +3 and +5 in the morning or in the evening?

Teo, we will want you to practice with some colored liquid with using the insulin syringes when you get back home.

We are actually having problems finding the correct syringes. The ones we have at home actually had only half-unit markings, not 0.25. At our main diabetic supply store they don't know about those syringes with such small markings.

Anyway, I can't really focus on this right now! I'm sorry, but I will have to do the proper research when I come back home.

 

[Deb & Wink]

At our main diabetic supply store they don't know about those syringes with such small markings.

There are no insulin syringes with 0.25 unit markings. You will have to use the ones with 1/2 unit markings and make your best estimate of the 0.25U doses. My fault for the poor explanation I gave you previously.

Will send you pictures when you get back home.
No hay jeringas de insulina con marcas de 0.25 unidades. Tendrá que usar los que tienen marcas de 1/2 unidad y hacer su mejor estimación de las dosis de 0.25U. Mi culpa por la pobre explicación que te di anteriormente.

Te enviaremos fotos cuando vuelvas a casa.

Are you referring to +3 and +5 in the morning or in the evening?

PM is the evening. PS is the pre-shot. Put them together and you have the PMPS.
The +3 and +5 shots are for the times indicated.
PMPS is the evening pre-shot test so a +3 and a +5 for this evening.

AM is the morning. PS is the pre-shot. Put them together and you have AMPS.
AMPS is the morning pre-shot tests so a +3 and maybe a +5 for tomorrow morning.

My meaning got lost in the translation I think.

Don't worry about too much right now. We'll wait for more lessons until after you get back home.

PM es la tarde. PS es el pre-tiro. Póngalos juntos y tendrá el PMPS.
Los disparos +3 y +5 son para los tiempos indicados.
PMPS es la prueba nocturna previa al disparo, por lo que un +3 y un +5 para esta noche.

AM es la mañana. PS es el pre-tiro. Ponlos juntos y tienes AMPS.
AMPS son las pruebas de pre-tiro de la mañana, así que un +3 y quizás un +5 para mañana por la mañana.

Mi significado se perdió en la traducción, creo.

No te preocupes demasiado por ahora. Esperaremos más lecciones hasta que vuelvas a casa.

 

[Ana & Viamo]

Hi Deb, answering your questions about how is Viamo feeling, today was a very hot day cause we are on summer, he spends mostly of time lying on the floor. However his appetite was very good.
His neuropathy is not improving, is still walking on his hocks and sometimes jumps on the furniture with difficulty, but he go up the stairs waiting for me to wake up every morning.
His fur doesn´t look soft and shiny and he loses a lot of hair, so I brush him frequently and it looks better.
He always purrs, he answers looking to me when I call his name and he is aware of all the movements around him.
I could assure his urine output is less.
Sorry about my previous confusion about the schedule, I could already understand now.
Have a good night!

 

[Deb & Wink]

Good Morning Ana. How are you and Viamo doing today?
Buenos dias Ana ¿Cómo están tú y Viamo hoy?

Maybe I should have said good afternoon, since the time of day is later where you live.
Tal vez debería haber dicho buenas tardes, ya que la hora del día es más tarde donde vives.

Will you be able to get more blood glucose tests for Viamo today?
Always test before giving insulin.
Would you be home around +6 and +9 today to get tests for the AM (morning) cycle?
Then how about 2 more tests in the PM (evening) cycle. +2 and +5.
Will that work for you? You may choose different tests times if that works better for you.
¿Podrá hacerse más pruebas de glucosa en sangre para Viamo hoy?
Siempre pruebe antes de administrar insulina.
¿Estaría en casa alrededor de +6 y +9 hoy para hacerse las pruebas del ciclo AM (mañana)?
Entonces, ¿qué tal 2 pruebas más en el ciclo PM (tarde). +2 y +5.
¿Funcionará para ti? Puede elegir diferentes tiempos de prueba si eso funciona mejor para usted.

I'm trying to have you get those blood glucose tests at different times of the day. It gives us a better idea of how Viamo is doing on this dose of insulin.
Estoy tratando de que te hagas esas pruebas de glucosa en sangre en diferentes momentos del día. Nos da una mejor idea de cómo le está yendo a Viamo con esta dosis de insulina.

 

[Ana & Viamo]

Hi Deb! We are fine. I don´t notice any significant change in Viamo, he looks like always. Only these last few days is asking for food very frequently but is something normal in Viamo, because of his diabetes I understand. I will take the tests you are asking for. I will handle it so it can be useful.

 

[Deb & Wink]

Viamo needs more insulin. But the insulin pen can only give does in 1 unit increments.
After Teo is back and rested from his flight, I'd like you to start giving Viamo 2.5U of insulin, withdrawing from the pen with an insulin needle.
I realize that may not be until Monday2/10/2020. Simply trying to plan ahead a little bit, for the next step with Viamo.

Viamo necesita más insulina. Pero la pluma de insulina solo puede ceder en incrementos de 1 unidad.
Después de que Teo regrese y descanse de su vuelo, me gustaría que comience a administrarle Viamo 2.5U de insulina, retirándose de la pluma con una aguja de insulina.
Me doy cuenta de que puede no ser hasta el lunes 2/10/2020. Simplemente tratando de planificar un poco por adelantado, para el siguiente paso con Viamo.

p.s. Teo and Ana. Please remove the country from your signature. I mistakenly had you add it and it should not be there. Thanks. Sorry for the bit of extra work. No hurry to do this. This can wait until Teo is back home.

Teo y Ana. Elimina el país de tu firma. Por error te hice agregarlo y no debería estar allí. Gracias. Perdón por el poco trabajo extra.
No tiene prisa por hacer esto. Esto puede esperar hasta que Teo vuelva a casa.

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

If I may make a request...

It would be very helpful to start a new thread. There are 170 posts. Having more than 50 is a long set of comments.

 

[Deb & Wink]

Maybe when he gets back from vacation he'll be able to do that. But his mom is the one posting for now.

 

[Teo]

I'm about to start a new thread.

 

[Deb & Wink]

Sounds good. Be sure to link this old thread at the top of the new one.

 

[Teo]

I've finally done it! This discussion will continue HERE.

Thank you so much @Deb & Wink and everyone else who has contributed to this first thread where my mother and I have learnt so much and, I like to think, made real progress.