? Minnie’s Flat BGs and what to do for PMPS

Ale & Bobo & Minnie (GA)

Ale & Bobo & Minnie (GA)

Member Since 2019
Hello All,

I hope her numbers mean the pneumonia is giving in, but the last few days I’ve gotten some pretty flat numbers. 2 days ago she was in the 300’s all day, yesterday she was in the 200’s and today it looks like we’re staying in the 170’s range. I only adjusted the dose today giving her a token dose. I didn’t want to go too low because she was recently still pretty so I gave her 2.5. I guess my question is about tonight’s dose if she stays where she’s at. Should I give her 2.5 again? That was her dose before the hospitalizations, but she hasn’t gone down below 90 to earn an official dose reduction and even if she did, I’d be going down to 3 not 2.5 So what is a mother to do? o_O

Thanks!
 
Wendy&Neko said:
We don't typically lower the dose in anticipation that they might go low. We wait for them to earn reductions. Glad you moved the dose back up, at least part way.
Click to expand...
I know but I don’t know what’s going on with the flat numbers the past 3 days. It’s odd like she’s working her way back down to where she was before and it scares me to give her the full dose especially at night time
 
A couple of additional points to consider.
  • Every time you make a dose adjustment, you disrupt the depot. Back-to-back changes can result in wonky numbers. Lantus likes consistency.
  • There is nothing inherently wrong with flat numbers.
  • If you're nervous about numbers at night, can you set an alarm and test (or if you wake up for any reason, test Minnie)?
  • The numbers may be indicating that she's feeling better and the antibiotic is doing it's job.
Can you also put a note in your signature regarding which dosing method you're using? Are you still feeding Minnie glycobalance?
 
Sienne and Gabby (GA) said:
A couple of additional points to consider.
  • Every time you make a dose adjustment, you disrupt the depot. Back-to-back changes can result in wonky numbers. Lantus likes consistency.
  • There is nothing inherently wrong with flat numbers.
  • If you're nervous about numbers at night, can you set an alarm and test (or if you wake up for any reason, test Minnie)?
  • The numbers may be indicating that she's feeling better and the antibiotic is doing it's job.
Can you also put a note in your signature regarding which dosing method you're using? Are you still feeding Minnie glycobalance?
Click to expand...

I agree that the lower numbers may mean she’s getting better, but I couldn’t give her full dose when she was at 175 so I gave a token dose. I didn’t see any replies till after I had given her the night shot at 7:30pm my time but she’s back to the regular dose today. If she had stayed in the 100’s all day even at pmps I would have had to give a smaller dose again isn’t that right? I’ve never seen these fluctuations in numbers before so I can really use some advice, especially before I start her on the steroids which may throw the numbers off again. Thanks!
 
I can test at night but I’m still confused as to what I was suppose to do yesterday and the days leading up to it with the flat numbers. Can someone explain it to me like I’m a 5 year old ;)? Im trying to figure out what I’m suppose to do when she drops below 200 in the pre shots but not below 90 for a dose adjustment. I understand Lantus needs consistency but below 200 I’m suppose to give her a token dose no way around it, correct? Thanks!
 
First, you've been following SLGS since April. By all counts, you're really not a "newbie" any more. You've shot 4.0u at a 168 pre-shot on 4/10. Ultimately, regardless of whether you're following TR or SLGS, you want to be shooting progressively lower numbers. Initially, the "post and ask for help" if your pre-shot test is at 200 or below is a recommendation for caregivers who are still new to FD. You gradually work your way down to shooting lower numbers. Just as a comparison, I followed TR with Gabby. I would shoot any number greater than 50.

With SLGS, you have 3 options if you are not comfortable giving a shot:
  • Do not feed your cat and stall for 20 or so minutes. Re-test. If numbers are rising to a point you're comfortable, shoot. If they are about the same or not substantially rising, stall again. You can repeat this for a few times.
  • Shoot a reduced dose.
  • Skip
Each of these options has an effect on the depot so you have to weigh the options.

I'm not sure I understand what concerns you about "flat" numbers. If you look at the spreadsheets of kitties that are on OTJ trials, you'll see lots of flat cycles -- first in blues and then greens. The CGs are shooting low numbers with flat cycles.

You do need to get more PM tests. If you look at 6/3, Minnie's numbers dropped 138 points by PM +2. For most cats, numbers at +2 are roughly about the same as at pre-shot. A substantial drop by +2 suggests that it's an active cycle -- numbers are going to continue to drop. Given that your subsequent AMPS was 176, it looks like Minnie's numbers continued to drop over the PM cycle. The +2 should have alerted you to keep testing to make sure Minnie didn't drop into dose reduction territory.
 
First, I’m not sure what constitutes a newbie because I very much still feel like one. Maybe because I comment often you guys think I am, but I’m not especially in a situation with so many other factors adding to the elevated numbers. What I was trying to get at is that the flat drops by 100 from each day going from 300s to 200s to 100s merited a dose reduction given that the elevated numbers were likely due to the infection. I was trying to get feedback on whether or not my thinking was correct. Isn’t that what we do here? Provide each other with reassurance that what we’re doing is in fact correct? Given that I just got an 80 at her +6, I will be reducing the dose tonight. I think my instincts were right so I guess the lesson is listen to my instincts and stop asking for input. I think that maybe it’s not that easy to relate to being the only one taking care of both cats in a city/country where I have no family at all. It feels a bit like putting your oxygen mask first before helping your child because if you go, they go too. So in a perfect world, I’d love to get an evening +4 or +6, set an alarm, get up test feed and not being able to fall asleep again, but still being able to get through the day on a few hours of sleep, but im afraid that with all the stress and anxiety of the last few weeks, I just can’t. If I get sick or anything at all happens to me I literally have no one to step in and help care for them. Or for me for that matter. So I have to make choices on what is a priority and what and how much I can and cannot do. To make matters worse, I wasn’t feeling great the last 2 days and was freaking out that I may have corona. I feel better today but I’m beyond exhausted and overwhelmed. Liquid meds alone, I have to give her 8 times a day in addition to the regular pill meds, probiotics, and insulin. I’d rather right now err of the side of caution at night so that I can get through this because honestly if I had a job right now I’m not sure how I’d be handling it all

does that make sense?
 
I was helping take care of my elderly I’ll mother and treating Max all by myself as well. Over the years that I’ve been here and continued to help out when possible since I lost Max, many others were in our shoes. Everybody here is volunteering to coach others as best they can. It isn’t easy. So if anyone appears abrupt please consider this.

Sometimes cats all of a sudden go down the dosing ladder. it can be as a result of clearing an infection or we never know why. All I know is that the methods here do work and keep the cats safe. Sometimes you might feel a need to deviate and that’s your choice. You hold the syringe.
 
Many of us, myself included, are/were sole caretakers and caring for a diabetic cat is not for the faint of heart. And, frankly, I didn't have family to rely on to care for my kitty or to care for me. I have friends who have been with me after a surgery. Everyone here has a life with ups and downs and struggles and victories.

Some of what makes managing your kitty's FD is based on your accumulating knowledge about your cat. If you see a big drop at +2, it may warrant another test to two to make sure Minnie is safe. There are other nights when that +2 or a +3 lets you know it's fine to turn in for the night. If you look at Gabby's spreadsheet, there were any number of nights that I didn't get much sleep and I work full time. It felt like sleep was vastly overrated -- I needed to make sure she was safe. But that's me. And frankly, everyone here will advise you to take care of yourself as well as Minnie.

Of course you're encouraged to ask questions. In looking through the posts from yesterday and today, I noted that I wasn't clear what you were asking. If people aren't responding in a way that seems to be addressing what your question is, it's possible that the question isn't clear. As I noted, I didn't understand what your concern was with respect to flat numbers. The only time that flat cycles can sometimes be something to be attentive to is that with some cats, a flat yellow cycle can indicate the next cycle may be active.

It also helps to remember that as knowledgable as members here may be, you're the one who knows your cat best. You're there -- we're not. There have certainly been times when I've disagreed with someone's instinct and I was wrong. Theory is great but it only tells you so much. Asking for input, especially if you think you need the feedback is what we're here for.
 
We’ve all been in these situations or worse, I was caring for my mom after my dad passed away while caring for my late cat with terminal intestinal cancer. Then I was caring for my mom after 2 strokes before she passed while Minnie was getting sicker and became diabetic. Having that in mind and the fact we don’t know what others are going through, I don’t think it hurts to be aware of how we phrase things and whether or not it comes across as unsympathetic. That’s why I love using emojis so the sentiment of my text is not misinterpreted. For the record, saying I’m not a newbie feels like you’re saying I shouldn’t have questions or ask for advice because I should know what I’m doing by now and it does come across as a bit insensitive. I do my best to help members when moderators are busy and give back and I’d appreciate the benefit of the doubt. I don’t ask questions all the time, so if I do is because I’m honestly uncertain and would rather have advice than second guess myself. That’s all
 
Last edited:
Aleluia Grugru & Minnie said:
First, I’m not sure what constitutes a newbie because I very much still feel like one. Maybe because I comment often you guys think I am, but I’m not especially in a situation with so many other factors adding to the elevated numbers. What I was trying to get at is that the flat drops by 100 from each day going from 300s to 200s to 100s merited a dose reduction given that the elevated numbers were likely due to the infection. I was trying to get feedback on whether or not my thinking was correct. Isn’t that what we do here? Provide each other with reassurance that what we’re doing is in fact correct? Given that I just got an 80 at her +6, I will be reducing the dose tonight. I think my instincts were right so I guess the lesson is listen to my instincts and stop asking for input. I think that maybe it’s not that easy to relate to being the only one taking care of both cats in a city/country where I have no family at all. It feels a bit like putting your oxygen mask first before helping your child because if you go, they go too. So in a perfect world, I’d love to get an evening +4 or +6, set an alarm, get up test feed and not being able to fall asleep again, but still being able to get through the day on a few hours of sleep, but im afraid that with all the stress and anxiety of the last few weeks, I just can’t. If I get sick or anything at all happens to me I literally have no one to step in and help care for them. Or for me for that matter. So I have to make choices on what is a priority and what and how much I can and cannot do. To make matters worse, I wasn’t feeling great the last 2 days and was freaking out that I may have corona. I feel better today but I’m beyond exhausted and overwhelmed. Liquid meds alone, I have to give her 8 times a day in addition to the regular pill meds, probiotics, and insulin. I’d rather right now err of the side of caution at night so that I can get through this because honestly if I had a job right now I’m not sure how I’d be handling it all

does that make sense?
Click to expand...
That makes perfect sense:bighug::cat:
 
Diane Tyler's Mom said:
Hey Ale how's Minnie feeling
Click to expand...
She seems to be doing well still, but I’m afraid of jinxing it :nailbiting: anyway, eating well and without any of the anti nausea so I think the steroid is working now. Drinking and peeing a lot still which I take it as a good sign as well as BG numbers down to the 300’s again :bighug: I’m about to count her resting respiratory rate which I obsessively do half a dozen times a day now ha! Oh Diane, I found this additional info on furosemide. I was curious about how it really works after you asked me and since it does seem to be a real life saver:
“Furosemide is a type of medicine called a loop diuretic. A diuretic makes your body get rid of extra fluid through your kidneys. A loop diuretic works on a specific part of the kidney called the "loop of Henle" to increase the salt and water you pee out. This means you have less fluid in your tissues which helps get rid of oedema (swelling). You will also have less fluid in your blood, which helps reduce blood pressure.”
 
Aleluia Grugru & Minnie said:
She seems to be doing well still, but I’m afraid of jinxing it :nailbiting: anyway, eating well and without any of the anti nausea so I think the steroid is working now. Drinking and peeing a lot still which I take it as a good sign as well as BG numbers down to the 300’s again :bighug: I’m about to count her resting respiratory rate which I obsessively do half a dozen times a day now ha! Oh Diane, I found this additional info on furosemide. I was curious about how it really works after you asked me and since it does seem to be a real life saver:
“Furosemide is a type of medicine called a loop diuretic. A diuretic makes your body get rid of extra fluid through your kidneys. A loop diuretic works on a specific part of the kidney called the "loop of Henle" to increase the salt and water you pee out. This means you have less fluid in your tissues which helps get rid of oedema (swelling). You will also have less fluid in your blood, which helps reduce blood pressure.”
Click to expand...
Oh Ale I'm so glad Minnie is doing well, that's very interesting about the furosemide
Learn something new every day.great Minnie is eating without the anti nausea med

I'm like you I would be counting her respiratory rate a half dozen times a day too
How we worry about our babies.
I'm always thing of Minnie. Have a good night:cat:
 
Mood of the day
9B20D703-5317-47FF-9D48-BA1DC70831C4.jpeg


Mom’s got beds and water bowls placed on all my favorite spots. A cat can get used to this life! :cat:
 

Attachments

  • 9B20D703-5317-47FF-9D48-BA1DC70831C4.jpeg
    9B20D703-5317-47FF-9D48-BA1DC70831C4.jpeg
    68.3 KB · Views: 92
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top