New with dosing question

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Jack & Mopem'sMom

Jack & Mopem'sMom

Member Since 2020
Hi,
I wanted to make an introduction post first, but Mopem had other ideas. He is a 10y/o male, just diagnosed 2 days ago. We are currently transitioning from mostly dry to mostly wet, but have only begun. I just got a glucometer and started doing readings at home. I have been taking advice from 2 friends who had diabetic cats and doing ok because they generally agree with each other but now that Mopem got a 418BG on my ReliOn Premier meter at +6 hours today (he was 116 this am, no insulin given. Spreadsheet updated) one says give him 2 units now, test at his 12 and give more then or a little after based on reading. The other says no insulin, wait for his 12 hr check tonight, and dose accordingly. Can anyone offer advice as to what to do right now? I'm a mess and don't want to make the wrong decision. He ate 1/2 can Fancy Feast Oceanfish pate with a tbsp. of Friskies Oceanfish shreds this morning. He lives in a multiple cat household and as I stated is slowly being weaned off dry but has it available and may have had some today; I had to go outside to mow lawn so did not have total eyes on him today.
Thanks in advance for anyone who can help.
Christine
 
Hi Christine and welcome. I cannot give dosing advice (havent had a diabetic kitty in too many years) But I did look at your spread sheet. I see 4 units were given on the 11th and none after that. Is this correct?
 
jt and trouble (GA) said:
Hi Christine and welcome. I cannot give dosing advice (havent had a diabetic kitty in too many years) But I did look at your spread sheet. I see 4 units were given on the 11th and none after that. Is this correct?
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No, that's not correct That means you are not seeing the updated sheet for some reason. Thanks for replying I'll have to go see what the spreadsheet problem is
 
jt and trouble (GA) said:
Hi Christine and welcome. I cannot give dosing advice (havent had a diabetic kitty in too many years) But I did look at your spread sheet. I see 4 units were given on the 11th and none after that. Is this correct?
Click to expand...
When I click on it, I see the updated sheet. Can anyone offer advice on why this is? I have it set to let anyone with the link view it.

He had 4 units at the vet on the 11th, then 2 units at home that night (11th) He had no vetsulin yesterday (12th) morning since he wouldn't eat and the vet told me not to give if he doesn't eat. I got the ReliOn meter yesterday and first home test was yesterday at 1:45pm (269) He tested 331 yesterday (12th) at 8:30pm so had 3 units since he ate a lot. This morning (13th) he had no vetsulin since he tested 116, but he ate. He might have eaten dry at some point in the 6 hour window, like I said transitioning food and I'm not sure since I was outside for a while, and tested 418. Now I don't know what to do and I'm getting opposing views yelled at me and I don't know what to do for the poor cat. I'm just sitting here crying and that's not helping I know.
 
A diabetic needs insulin I
Mopem'sMom said:
When I click on it, I see the updated sheet. Can anyone offer advice on why this is? I have it set to let anyone with the link view it.

He had 4 units at the vet on the 11th, then 2 units at home that night (11th) He had no vetsulin yesterday (12th) morning since he wouldn't eat and the vet told me not to give if he doesn't eat. I got the ReliOn meter yesterday and first home test was yesterday at 1:45pm (269) He tested 331 yesterday (12th) at 8:30pm so had 3 units since he ate a lot. This morning (13th) he had no vetsulin since he tested 116, but he ate. He might have eaten dry at some point in the 6 hour window, like I said transitioning food and I'm not sure since I was outside for a while, and tested 418. Now I don't know what to do and I'm getting opposing views yelled at me and I don't know what to do for the poor cat. I'm just sitting here crying and that's not helping I know.
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If he got into that dry food that would def raise his bg numbers. Are you saying your friends are yelling at you? While they have diabetic kitties ...ECID "Every Cat Is Different." What works for their cats might not work for yours. The numbers in the 200's are not horrible. We've had cats that are consistently in the 400's . So Mopem's got that going for him.
Like I said I dont give dosing advice but the 4 units all at once ...well seems its got you bouncing all around.
Have you read had time to read here?
Beginner's Guide to Caninsulin (Vetsulin)

@Deb &Wink, [USER=15296]@JanetNJ

Hang on for more replies ok?
j

[/USER]
 
jt and trouble (GA) said:
A diabetic needs insulin I


If he got into that dry food that would def raise his bg numbers. Are you saying your friends are yelling at you? While they have diabetic kitties ...ECID "Every Cat Is Different." What works for their cats might not work for yours. The numbers in the 200's are not horrible. We've had cats that are consistently in the 400's . So Mopem's got that going for him.
Like I said I dont give dosing advice but the 4 units all at once ...well seems its got you bouncing all around.
Have you read had time to read here?
Beginner's Guide to Caninsulin (Vetsulin)

@Deb &Wink, [USER=15296]@JanetNJ

Hang on for more replies ok?
j

[/USER]
Click to expand...
One is yelling, literally. I had to close my door. The other is strongly advising in a calm tone. The vet gave 4 units to start at the office, and advised to dose 4 units in the am and 3units in the pm, and come back Monday at 3pm to test again. They also did not stress the importance of testing at home and just gave that dosing advice. So, the friends were helpful in that they offered good advice on the importance of home testing, and starting at a lower dose, which I see echoed a lot on this site, but I feel a bit like an abused ping pong ball at this point about what to do with this 6 hour reading. I'm trying to read as much as I can, and might have glanced at the link you posted, but I appreciate you posting it here for me. I'll go look at it now. Thanks again for your responses- just talking to someone who isn't yelling at me is keeping me saner. Thanks again.
EDIT to say, I didn't realize how much even a few mouthfuls of dry would spike his numbers. I really need a solid plan for this food transition. ~sigh~
 
OK your numbers are all over the place. I think you were overdosing at 3 U, and possibly too much at 2 units.

If it were my cat I would I would go to 1 unit twice a day for several days. lets see what these numbers are actually doing. Then you can reevaluate if he needs more. If he needs more raise the dose by by 0.25-.5 units at a time. 1 unit is the recommended starting dose.
 
JanetNJ thanks. I started that high on vet advice (grumble) My syringes are 40U so I can probably do an eyeball .5 dose, no lines for that measurement but definitely not a .25 change in dose with these syringes. I'm hoping to switch to Prozinc sooner rather than later, and get short needle 40U syringes with .5 and .25 markings. Do you know if they are made that way? Thanks again for your input. Your Mayor of Cat Town is adorable.
 
Mopem'sMom said:
JanetNJ thanks. I started that high on vet advice (grumble) My syringes are 40U so I can probably do an eyeball .5 dose, no lines for that measurement but definitely not a .25 change in dose with these syringes. I'm hoping to switch to Prozinc sooner rather than later, and get short needle 40U syringes with .5 and .25 markings. Do you know if they are made that way? Thanks again for your input. Your Mayor of Cat Town is adorable.
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There are none that have quarter markings, but YES there are half unit markings. I just bout these and they have short needles and half unit markings and are 31 g which is really thin! I ordered from this company for the first time this week and they arrived really quickly.https://www.countrysidepet.com/coll...ate-31-gauge-3-10cc-u-40-syringes-pack-of-100



You can also order 3/10 u 40 with half unit markings on adwdiabetes.com.

ty yes she is pretty cute. Lol
 
He was just diagnosed, be kind to yourself! It may take awhile to start to see some pattern or improvement. Based on my limited experience, I agree with Janet...dose seems too high.

The midcycle numbers are often influenced by food, if he has free access during the day. The dry food will really mess your numbers (if you peek at mine, the first few days are dry-influenced...the remaining ones are low carb diet and much more predictable).

Stick to the 12 hr schedule, or you're going to be bouncing all over the place and losing your mind trying to get some semblance of a schedule. A high number here and there isn't the worst thing in the world, he'll survive a few more hours til shot time...and more importantly, a number not influenced by food. Vetsulin peak action is around 4-6 hr mark, so if you were to load him up with another dose it could just spiral down (dangerously)a food leaves his system.

On the side,sounds like a talk with your friends is in order. Calm, non judgmental advice welcome - yelling and pestering are not. You know what they say about opinions...
 
JanetNJ said:
There are none that have quarter markings, but YES there are half unit markings. I just bout these and they have short needles and half unit markings and are 31 g which is really thin! I ordered from this company for the first time this week and they arrived really quickly.https://www.countrysidepet.com/coll...ate-31-gauge-3-10cc-u-40-syringes-pack-of-100



You can also order 3/10 u 40 with half unit markings on adwdiabetes.com.

ty yes she is pretty cute. Lol
Click to expand...
Thanks for this link!
 
FrostD said:
He was just diagnosed, be kind to yourself! It may take awhile to start to see some pattern or improvement. Based on my limited experience, I agree with Janet...dose seems too high.

The midcycle numbers are often influenced by food, if he has free access during the day. The dry food will really mess your numbers (if you peek at mine, the first few days are dry-influenced...the remaining ones are low carb diet and much more predictable).

Stick to the 12 hr schedule, or you're going to be bouncing all over the place and losing your mind trying to get some semblance of a schedule. A high number here and there isn't the worst thing in the world, he'll survive a few more hours til shot time...and more importantly, a number not influenced by food. Vetsulin peak action is around 4-6 hr mark, so if you were to load him up with another dose it could just spiral down (dangerously)a food leaves his system.

On the side,sounds like a talk with your friends is in order. Calm, non judgmental advice welcome - yelling and pestering are not. You know what they say about opinions...
Click to expand...
Frost D, thanks so much. I am sticking to the 12 hour schedule, thankful for this Board and all of you here and the experienced advice. He is transitioning from 'regular" dry to Hills M/D dry (STILL waiting for idiot vet to approve the script...grrr) and then hopefully off entirely. It's a multiple cat household, most eat dry all day, I'm worried about yanking it completely too fast. I've read on here that is dangerous as well. Patience is not a virtue of mine, I want to do everything right all at once...I know that's not logical and it doesn't 'work' that way, so just stressed. I have a feelign his numbers will bounce for a while. I'm hoping the switch from Vetsulin to Prozinc helps. My friends mean well, I did ask for advice, but I did reach my breaking point with them yesterday so safe to say I'll be on here a lot more often. Thanks again for advice and support...much appreciated
 
Mopem'sMom said:
Frost D, thanks so much. I am sticking to the 12 hour schedule, thankful for this Board and all of you here and the experienced advice. He is transitioning from 'regular" dry to Hills M/D dry (STILL waiting for idiot vet to approve the script...grrr) and then hopefully off entirely. It's a multiple cat household, most eat dry all day, I'm worried about yanking it completely too fast. I've read on here that is dangerous as well. Patience is not a virtue of mine, I want to do everything right all at once...I know that's not logical and it doesn't 'work' that way, so just stressed. I have a feelign his numbers will bounce for a while. I'm hoping the switch from Vetsulin to Prozinc helps. My friends mean well, I did ask for advice, but I did reach my breaking point with them yesterday so safe to say I'll be on here a lot more often. Thanks again for advice and support...much appreciated
Click to expand...
I planned a slow transition...but as soon as the wet came out he wanted nothing to do with dry lol just watched him closely.

You'll get there! In a few weeks hopefully you'll feel like an old pro :)
 
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