10/21 Comet's AMPS 216; really need shot guidance

[Jenny and Comet (GA)]

Hi, everyone, asking for help again. Here is last night's thread.

Shot .1 for the first time last night. Vet's protocol has been >250, 1/4 unit Lantus, provided he has eaten well. I am not sure we will get to 250 by AMPS and am nervous about what to do. Editing to add AMPS: 216. I have never shot that low before. We can't have a day like yesterday. I have a meeting in the morning and one in the afternoon that I can't get out of; can monitor fairly closely outside of those. Newly back on insulin as of 10/17 PM. Have not shot under 250. Comet is sixteen and a bit underweight. Your help would be much appreciated.

 

[JaxBenji]

Hi Jenny - looks like we must have similar shot times Comet did nicely on that 0.1 last night.

Let's see if @carfurby or @Sue and Luci can weigh in...they may have gone to to work already but are on early sometimes.

And sorry I haven't reviewed all your previous threads so someone may have suggested this but you may also want to consider reading through the dosing method sticky (link) when you have time. Lantus craves consistency and these dosing methods support that but each caregiver has to decide for themselves of course

 

[Jenny and Comet (GA)]

Hi Jenny - looks like we must have similar shot times Comet did nicely on that 0.1 last night.

Let's see if @carfurby or @Sue and Luci can weigh in...they may have gone to to work already but are on early sometimes.

And sorry I haven't reviewed all your previous threads so someone may have suggested this but you may also want to consider reading through the dosing method sticky (link) when you have time. Lantus craves consistency and these dosing methods support that but each caregiver has to decide for themselves of course

Thank you! His vet thought he might be able to do 1 shot a day and said that many cats can, it depends on the cat, but I thought that didn't make sense after reading here about how Lantus works. SLGS sounds like it makes sense of the two methods, I am just unsure of how to do it and am nervous experimenting with my little guy. We have had some hypo scares and I get scared when numbers drop too quickly because I don't trust that there will be safe floor. Also mentally it is challenging for me to look at things differently than the vets do; they're supposed to know everything, right? It messes with my head they they don't always.

 

[Jenny and Comet (GA)]

Hi Jenny - looks like we must have similar shot times Comet did nicely on that 0.1 last night.

I thought he did too and am relieved! I think 1/4 would have been too much.

I have edited the thread title and first post to include AMPS of 216. Hoping for help very soon, I have never shot that low. I would guess maybe .1 again, but am scared and don't trust my assessment. He reacts strongly to small doses.

 

[JaxBenji]

I thought he did too and am relieved! I think 1/4 would have been too much.

I have edited the thread title and first post to include AMPS of 216. Hoping for help very soon, I have never shot that low. I would guess maybe .1 again, but am scared and don't trust my assessment. He reacts strongly to small doses.

How long will you be out at your meetings? I really am not one to give dosing advice but am inclined to agree with you on the 0.1. Is Comet eating okay? How's the vomiting?

I think the two options are:

(1) Give 0.1
(2) Skip

If you need to run out for an hour, looks like your medium carb (13%) helped boost him up a little bit yesterday.

And FWIW, as you learn more and understand Comet more, your perspective on low numbers will evolve

 

[Jenny and Comet (GA)]

How long will you be out at your meetings? I really am not one to give dosing advice but am inclined to agree with you on the 0.1. Is Comet eating okay? How's the vomiting?

I think the two options are:

(1) Give 0.1
(2) Skip

If you need to run out for an hour, looks like your medium carb (13%) helped boost him up a little bit yesterday.

And FWIW, as you learn more and understand Comet more, your perspective on low numbers will evolve

He hasn't vomited since that one time yesterday, and I really think then it was because he ate too much too fast. He ate well last night. I need to feed him soon -- his vet wants him to have something in him before shots. The meeting this morning will be 30-60 minutes, the one this afternoon should be about the same.

I think I am just scared of low numbers. I know that 50-99 are good, but to me they kind of feel like Watch Out, Bad Things Are Coming Soon. I need to learn to breathe through that. Editing to note that his vet does not want him to go below 70, at least not yet.

I will feed now and check the board again before I make a decision. Thanks for your help!

 

[carfurby (GA)]

You can either skip or shoot and test before your meeting and leave extra food out if necessary. You've not shot this low before, so I'm not sure what he'll do.

 

[Diane Tyler's Mom GA]

Just in case you wanted an image of the 0.1 unit
Pictorial guide using a U-100 syringe marked with half units:

 

[Jenny and Comet (GA)]

Just in case you wanted an image of the 0.1 unit
Pictorial guide using a U-100 syringe marked with half units:

Thank you. I tried shooting .1 but think I was a little under. He is up at +1 and +2. He did have a good and extended breakfast, so that might be affecting it. We'll see how the day goes. Will keep monitoring.

 

[Sue and Luci]

Also mentally it is challenging for me to look at things differently than the vets do; they're supposed to know everything, right? It messes with my head they they don't always.

Hello there! I've got a few minutes before my boss lands on me again with both feet after surgery - so I just have to share with you that unfortunately vets do not get any training on Feline Diabetes in vet school. They have a few hours or cursory overview of the fact that animals get diabetes and a very generalized crash course on what to do about it - treat with insulin or advise euthanasia because cats in particular are very hard to regulate and most pet owners do not have the skills, time, patience, etc. to treat a diabetic cat long term.

Well about the only thing they're right about is that many cats are indeed hard to regulate - but diabetes does not need to be fatal! You can learn how to treat it here on this forum - there is so much collective wisdom and most importantly - experience - among these folks - and guess what - they're willing to share, support and advise you free of charge! It's all volunteer and we've all learned by doing.

Many many cats have gone into remission with the help of this very forum and all the lovely people here who are willing to chime in and help you. However since so many have already walked these paths now we have the infamous 'stickies'. At the top of this forum is a ton of reading - well written informative how to's and what to do 'if'.

You can see your vet for other things for Comet, but for this one, you're going to need to take that leap of faith that all of us have...we go with what the folks at the forum advise and have much better results for doing just that.

Just take a deep breath and keep doing what you're doing. It'll be ok.

Looking forward to seeing you around the forum as we get Comet back on the road to remission



Another thing that will be so helpful to you is to review other people's condos and their spreadsheets. I know it sounds like a lot, but take it one day at a time...

The other thing that your vet doesn't have is 'time'...they just don't have time to sit and pour through medical journals, trails and presentations of treatment of FD (feline diabetes)...that said, your vet is simply uninformed.

Many cats here do just beautiful and they go under 70 every day. So I think it's time to start reading the information we have here (the stickies)...post your questions - all questions are welcome - and get your title formatted so that folks will know you're an active member and would like to participate with us every day.

 

[Jenny and Comet (GA)]

Hello there! I've got a few minutes before my boss lands on me again with both feet after surgery - so I just have to share with you that unfortunately vets do not get any training on Feline Diabetes in vet school. They have a few hours or cursory overview of the fact that animals get diabetes and a very generalized crash course on what to do about it - treat with insulin or advise euthanasia because cats in particular are very hard to regulate and most pet owners do not have the skills, time, patience, etc. to treat a diabetic cat long term.

Well about the only thing they're right about is that many cats are indeed hard to regulate - but diabetes does not need to be fatal! You can learn how to treat it here on this forum - there is so much collective wisdom and most importantly - experience - among these folks - and guess what - they're willing to share, support and advise you free of charge! It's all volunteer and we've all learned by doing.

Many many cats have gone into remission with the help of this very forum and all the lovely people here who are willing to chime in and help you. However since so many have already walked these paths now we have the infamous 'stickies'. At the top of this forum is a ton of reading - well written informative how to's and what to do 'if'.

You can see your vet for other things for Comet, but for this one, you're going to need to take that leap of faith that all of us have...we go with what the folks at the forum advise and have much better results for doing just that.

Just take a deep breath and keep doing what you're doing. It'll be ok.

Looking forward to seeing you around the forum as we get Comet back on the road to remission



Another thing that will be so helpful to you is to review other people's condos and their spreadsheets. I know it sounds like a lot, but take it one day at a time...

The other thing that your vet doesn't have is 'time'...they just don't have time to sit and pour through medical journals, trails and presentations of treatment of FD (feline diabetes)...that said, your vet is simply uninformed.

Many cats here do just beautiful and they go under 70 every day. So I think it's time to start reading the information we have here (the stickies)...post your questions - all questions are welcome - and get your title formatted so that folks will know you're an active member and would like to participate with us every day.

Thank you so much for taking the time to write all this out. I appreciate it. Trying to read everything I can here. Will work on the title formatting and keep reading everything and hopefully retaining more of it as I keep reading. Trying to breathe, sometimes feels like I am washing away with all the stress and worry. I appreciate your help here!

 

[Sue and Luci]

sometimes feels like I am washing away with all the stress and worry.

I remember the early days - after Luci's diagnosis - very well. I was so upset about what the vet said, and then I was googling around for help and found this group - and remember feeling like I was drinking from a firehose.

I work fulltime and my job is stressful too - I am a software developer for a medical center - so everything is always so 'life or death'...and then on top of that my precious Luci is sick - and to hear it from the vet, my best choice is which day to pick to, well, for lack of a better word, kill her...it was awful...

Here are these folks telling me a thousand things - do this, fix that, change this...figure out this Spreadsheet thing and then test her 20 times a day...I'm like WHAT???? TEST?? HOW OFTEN??? OMG! I can barely manage to do what I've already go on my plate to do and you want me to test her HOW OFTEN???

I was just about pulling my hair out...and then of course Luci was not having any of it...she was difficult and every test was a wrestling match. Fortunately my husband helped out - most of the time - but otherwise, Luci didn't get a test...until later...and then I found myself worrying because he'd be gone or asleep, or whatever...how am I ever going to test this cat by myself? Well, eventually she got to where she didn't seem to mind it so much...and he would test her alone! And then I figured if he could do it, so could I...and then Luci would present herself like a Queen - waiting on the testing towel (for a treat, ya know?) which made it easier...but I still to this day have to set timers to remind me to do all those tests...when to test for AM/PM, feed, shoot, the whole nine yards..otherwise I'd get distracted and I'd forget...sometimes the day gets by me and I forget all sorts of things!

But you'll get it...really I promise...it just takes time and willingness There is a lot to learn here, but the reward is far from infinitesimal...magnitude of times ten!