Hi Lucy!
Welcome to you and Kevin! Have you considered checking out the
Lantus / Basaglar/ Levemir Insulin support group (ISG) on this site? there is a lot of Lantus specific information (including
dose change information) and many members highly experienced in using Lantus. This ISG can seem overwhelming at first since there are a couple formatting protocols with titles and a lot of traffic, but the community is totally welcoming and will help you get comfortable
One thing I notice is that you are using the wrong spreadsheet for the alphatrak, animal and human BG monitors are not the same (as you reference in your post) so there are actually different goal posts for what are safe and dangerous numbers when using them. I recommend switching to the World Spreadsheet Template for Pet Meters so that you have a more accurate idea of when Kevin is in safe or dangerous BG levels. You can find it, with directions how to use it
HERE
Congrats on switching to fancy feast! what a financial relief eh? I was so happy to know that there are affordable options safe for a diabetic kitty
RE: Your Post:
My questions are for over the past 10ish days with the AlphaTrak2:
1. Have we been doing the right thing by not shooting when it's green?
Short Answer: I think yes.(my opinion)
Long Answer:
When you start using Lantus, the general consensus on this forum is that it is very helpful to choose a dosing method meant for a depot style insulin such as Lantus. There are two to choose from (linked above) Start Low Go Slow (SLGS) and Tight Regulation (TR). Please read over the sticky in the Lantus ISG (also linked above) to see which one might work best for you. It is important to note that you don't have to stick to one method forever, for example, I started as SLGS and then switched to TR once I felt I was ready for it. It is also important to note that both of these dosing methods were developed for a human glucosometer, I chose to use human due to price point mainly but do what is right for you
With that preamble behind us, due to the amount that you test, right now you basically would be advised to stick with SLGS, as TR requires more frequent testing and more frequent dose changes. SLGS suggests that with any numbers below 90mg/dL(on a human meter) that a decreased dose of 0.25u is actually recommended. This would bring Kevin's dose to 0.75u.
You are getting below 90 on a
pet meter so I feel it is even more advisable to decrease dose.
If you aren't comfortable following these dosing protocols I definitely think it is advisable for you to be skipping any green numbers ESPECIALLY since you are using the human spreadsheet for a pet monitor.
2. The 69/78 -- isn't that lower than a normal cat's BG range? Why is that happening? Is that ok?
For a cat without diabetes, it is normal to see some of these lower numbers as it is their natural BG level *however* Consider that using a pet meter anything 68 and below is considered risk for a hypoglycaemic event.
When you get into these lower numbers that are produced with the use of insulin you really need to be careful because it isn't the cats natural BG level... it is produced with insulin. The insulin *could* cause Kevin to drop lower and worst case scenario drop Kevin into a hypoglycaemic event. If you are getting numbers this low I definitely recommend propping his BG up with some MC or HC food and testing again after 15 mins and then 30 mins to see if his BG is coming up.
It is very important that you read the sticky on treating Hypos, which from your post I am sure you already have... but just in case Please go over
this sticky on how to recognize and prevent Hypos
3. Does the AlphaTrak measure a bit higher than the ReliOn? It seems higher recently than the earlier numbers that I got with the human meters.
It does, there is no direct comparison that can be made between human and pet meters for conversion, but generally pet meters read higher than human. It is best to choose one meter and stick with it, instead of comparing results between the two. And to double down on my above tip, I think it is important you switch to the pet meter spreadsheet so you are using the right BG reference ranges
4. Is it normal to miss so many shots like this? We've skipped so many lately.
While I agree that you don't have a lot of test data, with the numbers you are seeing in Kevin, along with the skipped shots, I personally would decrease the dose in his situation. Would you be comfortable trying 0.75u 2x/day?
HERE is a sticky outlining measuring doses.
You really are doing great testing Kevin, but as others have mentioned a curve would be really helpful to understand how his cycles are really going, additionally, I really would like to encourage you to at least grab a test before you go to bed at night, most cats have a tendency to drop at night and a before bed test is the best indicator for if you need to be worried about that happening.
@Marje and Gracie,
@Wendy&Neko and
@Sienne and Gabby (GA) are our site moderators and have a great understanding of how Lantus works: if one of you ladies have some time, would you mind taking a look at Kevin's SS and Lucy's questions? Additionally, I have recommended the idea of a decrease to Lucy. I would value one of your opinions as a second opinion.
Sorry for the lengthy post, I have a habit of being long winded
