Need an extra set of eyes - Magic crashing all of a sudden

[Denver & Magic (GA)]

For some background, Magic's usually starts dropping significantly around +3.5 and hits nadir around +6 and starts heading upward from there.

A few days ago Magic had an abnormally low AMPS preshot (177). Instead of his normal dose, I dramatically reduced it to 1.4 based on what's happened before when he's below 180. As expected his PMPS was super high (379) that evening so I went back to his normal dosage.

The next morning he was significantly lower at +4 than expected and I had to intervene. I lowered his dosage by .2 that night and he ran high that evening. The next morning was pretty normal and uneventful and then that evening we ran into issues again and it's now started a vicious cycle.

For some reason - even with dose reductions - he's crashing and I'm having to intervene.

I'm trying to figure out what to do. I'm going to reduce again this evening but am struggling to figure out what to reduce to. I'm thinking maybe 3u??? (My vet's closed this week due to vacation and I'm pretty much on my own.)

Any ideas what's happened all of a sudden? His diet hasn't changed, he's still on the same vial of insulin, etc.

Thoughts???

@FrostD

 

[FrostD]

Given how low he's going, even with the treats, I'd go down to 3-3.2U and hold that if you can to let him even out a bit (obviously take reductions when needed).

It's possible his pancreas is starting to work a bit.

Have his eating habits changed at all? Food changes?

What's current food schedule and carb %? Tweaking that will help those steep dives.

 

[Denver & Magic (GA)]

Given how low he's going, even with the treats, I'd go down to 3-3.2U and hold that if you can to let him even out a bit (obviously take reductions when needed).

It's possible his pancreas is starting to work a bit.

Have his eating habits changed at all? Food changes?

What's current food schedule and carb %? Tweaking that will help those steep dives.

He currently gets 3oz of Sheba Roast Turkey Pate from 6am-9am. From 9am-3pm he gets a 3oz can of Fancy Feast Pate (either Beef and Chicken, Turkey and Giblets or Chicken and Liver). From 6pm-9pm he gets 3oz of Sheba Savory Chicken Pate and from 9pm-3am he gets another 3oz can of Fancy Feast from the variety box. The Sheba PM serving is the one where he gets his Zobaline. He usually eats most or all of the Sheba and will eat about 50-75% of the Fancy Feast.

Typically for treats he gets freeze dried duck. Only time he gets Temptations is for emergency purposes for a sugar boost because he'll always eat them and they seem to work really quickly.

His eating habits have been totally normal - except the evening of 7/9. That evening he just wasn't in the mood for food at all. He'd drink water, eat treats, etc but he just didn't like either his 6pm or his 9pm meal at all - tried three different options. Didn't seem nauseous or anything - just wasn't hungry. Next morning and since he's been totally fine. There have been no food changes since we switched to some of the Sheba offerings back in December. At that time Fancy Feast was making him sick and finding flavors was a big issue. He seems to like the texture difference between the two brands.

I'll give 3u a try this evening and see where that gets us... I feel SO sorry for him.

 

[FrostD]

What are those times in terms of (+X)? Or, what is shot time?

 

[Denver & Magic (GA)]

What are those times in terms of (+X)? Or, what is shot time?

Shot times are 6am/6pm. That’s when he gets his Sheba meals. The feeder takes those away and replaces them with the Fancy Feast at +3 (9am/9pm) which he has access to until +9. At +9 all food goes away.

 

[Denver & Magic (GA)]

He typically eats nearly all of the Sheba and has devoured a little over half of the Fancy Feast by +6. He’ll then pick at the remaining until it gets taken away.

 

[FrostD]

Thanks!

Can you try to get some +1 and +2s over the next week? I want to see where his onset is really happening. If you shift the carbs to about half an hour before that, it should help slow him down. You may even need something higher carb - by that I mean possibly closer to 8-10% - just for that first hour or two of each cycle

 

[Denver & Magic (GA)]

Thanks!

Can you try to get some +1 and +2s over the next week? I want to see where his onset is really happening. If you shift the carbs to about half an hour before that, it should help slow him down. You may even need something higher carb - by that I mean possibly closer to 8-10% - just for that first hour or two of each cycle

I’ll try but it may be weekend. During the week I have elderly father cat-sit him while I’m at work. With his Parkinson’s, I’ve just been having him test during his main drops since some days even that is taxing for both of them due to his coordination issues.