11/20 Jackson AMPS 394 +2 332 +7 109 PMPS 161 +1.5 117 +3 81 +3.5 59 +5 77 +6 53 +7 96

Skye & Jackson

Skye & Jackson

Member Since 2022
https://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/thr...-275-4-329-7-372-pmps-359-2-384-4-358.270947/

Second day on the new dose. Hoping to see some yellows and blues today… yesterday it was like he went somewhat rapidly down from 400 to 275 (over 2 hours) and then proceeded to bounce from that, even though it was only high 200s! And he bounced from yellows the night before, nowhere near blue. And it looks like at only +2 this morning he’s already rebounding from a fast dive (394 to 300 in half an hour) too. It feels like the situation is getting worse, not better; we had a few nights with such nice blues…. Am I just too impatient? I know that what’s only a few days on the spreadsheet sometimes feels like ages in my mind, but seeing things look like they’re going backwards every day for the last three days is worrisome.
 
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At +11.5, he’s still only 184. I’m gonna go for it, shot in 30 minutes. :):cool: And hope we can keep surfing blues a little longer without the inevitable bounce too soon…
 
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I admit, I’m kind of hovering… not doing anything, but crossing fingers, checking his BG every 15 or so minutes (114 right now) and hoping he stays low for awhile yet, without going down too low. But he’s not dropping fast… so I think his body is able to handle it. I know Mr Liver is probably going to react eventually but I’m figuring the longer Jack stays on the lower side, maybe the more chance his body will have to get used to it before the next bounce?
 
Yes, as his body gets used to lower numbers, the stretches of lower numbers gets longer and the bounces get slower and he will clear them faster.
 
Advice please! @Bandit's Mom

Jack is at +2.75 and at 75. I don’t want him to go too low, but also don’t want to mess up a good thing. Also, I’m afraid to say “reduction” because he’s only been on this dose for a little over 3 cycles, and the last dose certainly wasn’t doing it.

What should I do? I’m thinking to at least feed him some carbs….
 
78 @ +3.25. I did give him a few TikiCat Crunchers treats which briefly took him up to 81 at +3, they have some carbs but I don’t know how much. He doesn’t appear to be dropping further at the moment, but I’m watching close for it.

He on the other hand just wants a snuggle-nap, since I just really sat down with him.
 
A few minutes after honey, he’s at 61. For now. Borderline, maybe not actually 911 level but too close for my comfort, considering Jack has shown he does not tolerate 50 or below well at all.
 
From what I understand, he won’t register carbs for 15-20 mins…I would have probably given HC too with that big and fast of a plunge.
 
Just gave half a can of Gravy Lovers and 1.0 ml honey syringed (honey first, he’s eating the food now).

(Correction a few minutes later: really he just licked up the gravy. But that’s the most important/carby part, right?)
 
Depending on your experience with how he handles carbs, you can give HC canned gravy (they usually advise a small amount, like a few tsp so he doesn’t get full on it when you might need to keep giving over the course of an hour or a few hours potentially) without the syrup. You can mix syrup with LC and forgo HC altogether if he has GI issues. Usually people pick one or the other…or add syrup if they aren’t good responders to carbs. So maybe you already know how he responds, or maybe you will learn based on how he does now.
 
I'm out and checking on my phone so haven't read the full thread. The Libre can read much lower at lower numbers. Is it possible to get a test with a regular meter?
 
I’m not sure exactly how he’s supposed to respond, but I’ve managed a couple times in the past by giving both carbs and syrup; the latter kicks in fast and the former kicks in about when the syrup wears off. Or so it seems…

Previously I’ve ended up giving small amounts of syrup frequently, more rarely a bigger dose. And waiting with bated breath for either the carbs or the liver to kick in…
 
Looks like you have been giving him high carb treats and/or honey since +3? Where are you now in the cycle. The Libre can be quite wonky and numbers do Bob up and down a lot on it.
 
In my experience honey seems to work pretty fast. Of course glucose liquid is faster but I try to not just jump for that.

Jack’s poor ears. On the fourth stick (second ear attempted) we finally got enough blood for a reading. Which was 77. Which is fine. I wonder if the Libre isn’t as accurate at lower numbers, or whether it’s just that it lags… I read something in the literature for the unit, recently, that said fast-changing numbers need a blood check because the interstitial fluid is slower to shift. Hm…

Libre is now reading 63.

I guess I can take off the 911 now, though I’m still a little wary. He’s acting okay though. Although his ears are now bothering him. Sorry, sweet boy!
 
Now the Libre is agreeing with the 77.

Hm. I was thinking that the lower numbers the Libre might not be accurate at were lower than that - like actual 50 maybe. Guess I need to get better at getting blood on a first stick so I don’t hurt my boy’s ears so much, if I’m going to have to double check more often.

I still have the question though, should I reduce back to 2 units? He’s only been on 2.25 since yesterday morning - this is his fourth cycle. The 2 units didn’t seem to be holding him down, but the 2.25 seems to have dropped him too far. Or was it just that I shot too low? Should I have better followed the SLGS guidelines and gave a decreased shot? I think I got a little cocky.

But I’m not sure what to do. With the holiday weekend coming up (most of which I actually have to work), maybe I should play it safe and go back down to 2 units? I hate to lose ground but have to keep him safe, and I can’t watch him close enough when I have to work.
 
With SLGS he has earned a reduction even with your lower reduction point of 80.

It would be good to be able to verify his BG with the meter especially in lower numbers since that affects dosing. And of course, safety. Warning his ear and massaging it before poking will help with blood flow. Sometimes you have to "milk" the ear after poking to increase the size of the blood drop.

Go easy on the carbs for now. You want to ensure he stays over 50 2 hours after the last high carb snack.
 
Even going by a reduction point of 70, which I was considering (wanting to give him room to drop a little if he needed) he would have earned it, I suspect. I doubt I got a true low-point blood test, as he was already rising again by the time I got a big enough drop for the meter.

I guess it’s back to 2 units awhile longer and see what happens.

As for the ear, I was trying to milk it but he wasn’t too happy about it. Being able to plan ahead would help…. I hadn’t been planning on having to do an ear stick. Hm…
 
Glad he's coming up, good luck with the reduction
If his ears are sore a lot of members use pure coconut oil
If his ears are a little sore or beat up
I have read that many members use pure coconut oil, I have copied this from one of the members posts
just make sure the only ingredient is coconut oil (mine is solid at room temp and I would take an itty bitty dab and rub on his ears)
It seemed to help with the healing
You might be able to get it at a health food store or just Google pure coconut oil
 
I actually have coconut oil - both the solid and the purified liquid kind. I use them for human body care purposes mostly, but I’ve also been using the liquid one on a cotton swab to help loosen and more gently remove old Libre sensors. I can try it on his ear, thanks for the suggestion.

As for regular pricks, I hate to do it to him… that’s the whole reason I spring the money for the Libre every two weeks… but I suppose I do at least need to practice enough to be able to get a good droplet when I need to. Actually it may also help to buy some slightly bigger lancets; the ones I have for humans are 30 and 31 gauge, and I think I read that 29 g work better on cats. Anything to keep from having to stick him multiple times in a row. I know from personal experience (IV placement when I was in the hospital) that the more times you stick an area, the WAYYYY more it hurts. Like, exponentially after that first not-so-bad poke. My veins like to move away from the needle, so I’m unfortunately intimately familiar with the feeling…
 
Diane Tyler's Mom said:
Glad he's coming up, good luck with the reduction
If his ears are sore a lot of members use pure coconut oil
If his ears are a little sore or beat up
I have read that many members use pure coconut oil, I have copied this from one of the members posts
just make sure the only ingredient is coconut oil (mine is solid at room temp and I would take an itty bitty dab and rub on his ears)
It seemed to help with the healing
You might be able to get it at a health food store or just Google pure coconut oil
Click to expand...
I'm an over tester LOL so I use it on Panzer's ear often. I buy LouAnn pure coconut oil at Walmart.
 
Poking them is usually painless and their ears learn to bleed with time. You can use a lower guage lancet (26-28 g) which will poke a larger hole.

I'm out right now but when I have access to a computer I'll share a post with some testing tips by another member.
 
Surfing at 77 for now, was 82 ten minutes ago and 77 ten minutes before that. So for now, stable… definitely going to be staying up to watch him for a couple hours, or until he starts rising more.
 
Skye & Jackson said:
I actually have coconut oil - both the solid and the purified liquid kind. I use them for human body care purposes mostly, but I’ve also been using the liquid one on a cotton swab to help loosen and more gently remove old Libre sensors. I can try it on his ear, thanks for the suggestion.

As for regular pricks, I hate to do it to him… that’s the whole reason I spring the money for the Libre every two weeks… but I suppose I do at least need to practice enough to be able to get a good droplet when I need to. Actually it may also help to buy some slightly bigger lancets; the ones I have for humans are 30 and 31 gauge, and I think I read that 29 g work better on cats. Anything to keep from having to stick him multiple times in a row. I know from personal experience (IV placement when I was in the hospital) that the more times you stick an area, the WAYYYY more it hurts. Like, exponentially after that first not-so-bad poke. My veins like to move away from the needle, so I’m unfortunately intimately familiar with the feeling…
Click to expand...
I started out with 28 gauge lancets now after a year I use 30 gauge. Kitty's have lots of capillaries in there ears unlike us humans so it doesn't hurt them as much as it does us humans. My boy does pretty good with testing. I test him alot, he's pretty cooperative but sometimes he hits me & scratches me so I wear a rubber glove to protect my hand. It becomes a routine & your kitty will get used to it. I give boiled chicken for a treat after every test & lots of pets & tell him good boy. It gets easier I promise you.
 
Bandit's Mom said:
Poking them is usually painless and their ears learn to bleed with time. You can use a lower guage lancet (26-28 g) which will poke a larger hole.

I'm out right now but when I have access to a computer I'll share a post with some testing tips by another member.
Click to expand...

The way Jack flinched, it was not painless. Whether that be his sensitivity or my lack of skill… He didn’t lash out at me at all, but I could tell it hurt and he wanted to squirm away.

Tips might be a good thing.
 
He’s not done yet… Libre says 53 at +6. Although an ear prick says 76. So I guess there really is some difference in lower numbers - a higher range than I hoped it would be though.

Jack is definitely not going to tolerate much pricking though. He jumped every time I barely touched him with the lancet, and when I finally got a good poke he started growling. He let me get the reading, but he’s pawing at his ear and shaking his head now, and he’s quite pissed off.

I may just have to estimate the differentiation at lower numbers between interstitial fluid and blood glucose, unless he’s showing symptoms… Or at least only spot check once in a while. Jack puts up with a lot from me normally, but the ear pricking has him mad now.
 
I would go with the ear prick. Feed some LC. It's late in the cycle. I think he should be okay

I'm out and on my phone, so my responses are short. Will post tips and a more detailed reply later when i get home.
 
Bandit's Mom said:
Poking them is usually painless and their ears learn to bleed with time. You can use a lower guage lancet (26-28 g) which will poke a larger hole.
Click to expand...
Before we were yet to choose between home-testing or Freestyle Libre on Oreo, we went out to buy the human meter and started to poke ourselves to see if it is any painful, cos we definitely didn't want to impose any more physical discomfort on poor Oreo. It ended up in the next few days we (human) did our blood glucose test whenever it was a new scenario: just get up, before breakfast, after breakfast, before lunch, after lunch..., until we were too familiar with our BG curve and satisfied, even our 5-year-old son did a few BG tests as well, LOL.. :p

Even though we felt lancing our fingers was just like tingling sensation, of course our first day to poke Oreo's ears was a disaster, exactly like everyone else. The 2nd day was a bit better, and by the 3rd day I think I got the hang of it and he was relaxed enough already. From his reaction, I'd say it was the beep of the meter that disturbed him more. Anyway, now he will come to me when he sees me have the meter in hand. Sometimes I did the test when he was sleeping, he didn't even wake up to the poke (and I've turned off the beeping long time ago.) Just some personal experience to share. :rolleyes:
 
Wow people are different lol. Tingling? I check my glucose every once in a while - did it tonight in fact while I had the meter out - and it not only stung going in, but the finger ached for like an hour afterward! In fact I can still feel a mild soreness to pressure at the site now (two hours later).

Jacks reaction is definitely to the prick itself. I’m using the lancing device just as something to hold; there’s no click or beep. And he lets me get close. It’s literally the prick itself that he hates. I don’t know if he’ll get better about it or not; he really lost his temper tonight. (He only just now came back to lay next to me two hours later.)

I guess ECID and so are all us humans.

On the positive side, the Libre is now reading 96; I think we may finally be safe to stop hovering so close… maybe even sleep.
 
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