10/26 Bocephus Let's get this OTJ Trial officially started Day 1

Discussion in 'Lantus / Levemir / Biosimilars' started by Wendy & Bocephus cat, Oct 26, 2020.

  1. Wendy & Bocephus cat

    Wendy & Bocephus cat Member

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    Sep 29, 2020
    https://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/posts/2666104/

    I feel like a giant ? These days but I've felt like worse things. :bookworm:
    So I have been up since 3 am with my 15 year old dog and I've been reading the stickys, forums, looking over other spreadsheets, my posts, others posts and in my lack of slumber stupor I think we'll go to TR instead of SLGS. I know we are at a .1 but I'm afraid to try OTJ just yet but if I keep skipping shots I'm basically starting towards the OTJ.
    He got NS last night and by the 85 this am if following the rules for SLGS I would skip again.
    If I go to TR would I have shot this 85?

    I'm off work today because I was up most of the night with my dog so I can monitor him closely.
     
    Last edited: Oct 26, 2020
  2. tiffmaxee

    tiffmaxee Well-Known Member

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    Nov 15, 2013
    It gets tricky. With SLGS a reduction was earned. Honestly you might get different opinions but I would take it and go to a drop dose. I’m curious to know how many drops are in your .1, would you fill a used syringe with water and count the number of drops? Then you can see if a drop dose even makes sense. Here’s the tricky part. I think he’s in remission. Others will say keep shooting. He is in normal numbers. If your .1 is 4 drops then you can try 2 drops but I would not shoot and do an OTJ trial. Others might disagree.
     
  3. Wendy & Bocephus cat

    Wendy & Bocephus cat Member

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    I measured and my eye balling a .1 was barely 3 drops so I think I agree. I've put a call into the vet and will see what she says.
     
  4. Wendy & Bocephus cat

    Wendy & Bocephus cat Member

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    Just did a +3 more like+3.4 hr check and it is 74 and that is following two skipped shots
     
  5. tiffmaxee

    tiffmaxee Well-Known Member

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    Nov 15, 2013
    Exciting! 337CBF8F-70A9-4EC2-948B-249A07C0EAFC.png

    If you decide to try an OTJ Trial I will get you the directions. You would basically start with a green amps test and test morning and night for 14 days. If normal he’s OTJ! :D
     
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  6. Wendy & Bocephus cat

    Wendy & Bocephus cat Member

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    Sep 29, 2020
    I see a lot about the depot and x amount of cycles before it's cleared. Does the 14 day count down start immediately or give a few days to clear depot while monitoring numbers of course then start a count down
     
  7. tiffmaxee

    tiffmaxee Well-Known Member

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    Nov 15, 2013
    If you start now I would call today day 1 of the trial. The 14 days is when you see if it will stick.
     
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  8. Wendy & Bocephus cat

    Wendy & Bocephus cat Member

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    Sep 29, 2020
    I'm excited and nauseated all at the same time. It's like sending a kid to kindergarten lol
     
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  9. tiffmaxee

    tiffmaxee Well-Known Member

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    Nov 15, 2013
    I totally understand. If she tells you she needs more support then you will give it. Let us know what your vet thinks.
     
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  10. Wendy & Bocephus cat

    Wendy & Bocephus cat Member

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    Sep 29, 2020
    I'm seriously at the ER be with my 15 year old girl dog and she has glucose of 486. Are you kidding me?? Please NO.
    We haven't got to discuss Bocephus yet but will once we get my pup stable
     
  11. Vyktors Mum

    Vyktors Mum Well-Known Member

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    Nov 15, 2011
    Oh no I’m so sorry to hear that, hoping it’s just a temporary blip from whatever else is ailing her :bighug:
     
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  12. tiffmaxee

    tiffmaxee Well-Known Member

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    Oh no! If it’s real dogs are easier to treat but don’t go into remission like cats do. :bighug:
     
  13. Red & Rover (GA)

    Red & Rover (GA) Well-Known Member

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  14. Wendy & Bocephus cat

    Wendy & Bocephus cat Member

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    Thank you
     
  15. Wendy & Bocephus cat

    Wendy & Bocephus cat Member

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    Sep 29, 2020
    I'm literally in shock. Maybe she can give me some pointers.
     
  16. Wendy & Bocephus cat

    Wendy & Bocephus cat Member

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    Unfortunately it appears to be real. She has Cushing's (was diagnosed last year) and now diabetes too. It was definitely unexpected.
     
  17. Wendy & Bocephus cat

    Wendy & Bocephus cat Member

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    As sad as I am about my little old Dixie Doodlebug Dog being diagnosed with diabetes today and requiring a ER visit after collapsing for unknown reason (waiting test results) today is one with a equally good outcome.
    Bocephus's vet was thrilled with his spreadsheet and gave the green light for OTJ Trial.
    :bighug::otj: trial :cat::bighug:
     
  18. tiffmaxee

    tiffmaxee Well-Known Member

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    I’m sorry about Dixie. :bighug: Good luck with the OTJ Trial.
     
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  19. Vyktors Mum

    Vyktors Mum Well-Known Member

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    Unfortunately Cushings and diabetes often go hand in hand but fortunately (though I’m sure it won’t feel like it right now :bighug::bighug:) the combo is easier to treat in dogs. I have a friend that had a Cushings diabetic dog, I’ll see if I can’t get some insights from her and report back.

    And yay for Bocephus choosing now for her OTJ trial to give you some happy news today.
     
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  20. Wendy & Bocephus cat

    Wendy & Bocephus cat Member

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    Thank you that is very kind of you
     
  21. tiffmaxee

    tiffmaxee Well-Known Member

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    @carfurby I can’t find the OTJ directions. Would you please give them to Wendy?
     
  22. carfurby (GA)

    carfurby (GA) Well-Known Member

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    Feb 19, 2012
    I'm sorry about your dog. I hope you can get a good treatment plan in place.

    Here are the OTJ Trial instructions:

    Instructions for starting the OTJ trial
    Start the trial on the next green pre shot.
    If he/she is green at your normal test times, no need to test further until the next "PS" time; just feed small meals and go about your day. If he/she is blue at your normal "PS", feed a small meal and test again after about 3 or 4 hours. If his/her number is lower 3-4 hours after a meal, then the pancreas is working!
    Post every day so we can monitor your progress and see if any tweaks are needed. He/she may have a sporadic blue number. Don't panic but post before you decide whether to shoot so we can have a discussion.
    After 14 days of no insulin, we have a party!!
    Sometimes the trial doesn't work the first time and we have to give a little more support in the form of resuming insulin. It's not the end of the world if that happens; we just give him/her the support needed. Our goal is a strong remission and it's better to take our time to get that than to rush into remission just to have it fail later on.
    Good luck with the trial!!!
    Once he/she is through the trial successfully, you enter a new phase. Your cat is still diabetic but has now become diet-controlled. Continue feeding low carb food in the manner successful for your kitty. If you decide to change his/her feeding schedule, let your meter be your guide to the best times to feed. Avoid medications with sugar in them and steroid medications unless they are medically essential. Continue testing blood glucose weekly for the first month and then monthly forever. It's a good idea to weigh him/her monthly. Weight should remain stable. If he/she seems "off" or sick, or is showing signs of diabetes (excessive drinking, eating, urinating, weight loss), test his/her blood glucose right away. Keep the teeth and gums clean and healthy; dental issues can bring a cat out of remission. If you see rising blood glucose numbers, it's time for a visit to the vet!
     
  23. Wendy & Bocephus cat

    Wendy & Bocephus cat Member

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    Thank you so much
     
  24. tiffmaxee

    tiffmaxee Well-Known Member

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    Nov 15, 2013
    @carfurby Thanks.
    How about adding day one to your title? We will route you on. :D
     
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  25. Vyktors Mum

    Vyktors Mum Well-Known Member

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    So my friend wasn’t able to be too helpful because it was some years ago but she did comment that the medicine they were prescribed for the Cushings, lysodren, was cheaper from a compounding pharmacy than from the vet. But since Dixie Doodlebug has had the Cushings for a while you’re probably already up on what’s best for her meds.
    They did learn to spot test the BG from Lucy’s paw after about a year and did that before shots. Per their vet Cushings makes the diabetes a bit more difficult to control and they had two hypo events but they knew what to do and Lucy was fine (I’m guessing these happened before they learnt how to test). She had good quality of life up to the end. My friend said that even when she was blind as a bat towards the end, she would always remember where one of the neighbours on her walk kept the cat food.
    I’m sure you’ll learn how to manage this very quickly, and you have a head start on learning how to paw test! Scritches to Dixie and Bocephus and more :bighug:for you.
     
    Last edited: Oct 27, 2020
  26. Sam&Milo(GA)&Singha

    Sam&Milo(GA)&Singha Member

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    Jul 2, 2020
    Sorry to hear about your dog. These furry babies really keep us on our toes. It's a constant worry and care but we continue because they love us and we love them. And they need us. Take care!:bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug:
     
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  27. Wendy & Bocephus cat

    Wendy & Bocephus cat Member

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    It was helpful if for no other reason I really needed a positive sweet story and what better than picturing her sweet baby blind as a bat but knowing right where to hit up the cat food. Dixie isn't blind as a bat yet but she's deaf and her vision is limited and we've always had a good laugh about our testing method to see if she was really deaf or just using really good selective hearing. My husband jokingly said one day "Hey while she's in the bedroom sleeping and the other dogs are outside so she won't react to them running or barking, you should open the fridge and get out a piece of cheese because I don't know of any dog that can hear that doesn't come running to the sound of a cheese wrapper" I rolled my eyes thinking that's ridiculous but decided to humor him and gave it a try. On that particular day she didn't come immediately but I moved closer to the bedroom door and could see she was still sleeping soundly. I gave it one more rattle and crinkle and she jumped up and come running. A few months later it didn't even matter if it was held right next to her ear she didn't react and my husband said "Well, its official our baby is deaf now" We later confirmed with the vet and I was shocked to hear him agree with my husband that the cheese wrapper crinkling was a no questions deaf or not deaf test for dogs.
    It was so thoughtful and sweet of you to reach out to me and especially to take the extra time to reach out to your friend. :bighug:
     
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  28. Wendy & Bocephus cat

    Wendy & Bocephus cat Member

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    Sep 29, 2020
    Thank you and you are spot on there. This morning I sat down and had a long talk with the dogs and cats about just because one gets something doesn't mean its a competition and I would really appreciate it if they felt the need to compete that they competed to see which one could be the healthiest and cause me the least amount of stress. They all looked like they were getting my point but you know how stubborn they can be :smuggrin:.
     
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