How many times a day should I be testing BG?

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Meredith Bear’s Mom

Meredith Bear’s Mom

Member Since 2022
Hi there! Hope you had a nice holiday :) We are having some trouble with our Freestyle Libre so I’m using a typical human reader to test right now. With the Libre I’m used to checking him every 30 minutes. I don’t want to poke him that often obviously, but also want to make sure I’m catching any low BG numbers. How often should I be poking him? I always do before a shot, but should I be doing more if he’s fine clinically? Im still getting used to poking so it takes me a few tries sometimes which I know isn’t fun for him. Thank you in advance!
 
Hi there. In addition to the two preshot tests, please get at least one (if not two) additional test per cycle. It looks like you want to test around +3 or +4 (nadir). Maybe get a +4 and a +6.
 
I see he had DKA and a kidney infection. Due to the history of DKA, are you testing for ketones in his urine (or using a ketone blood meter?) Is the kidney infection gone? Has he finished the course of antibiotics and been retested (bloodwork/urinalysis) to confirm that it's gone? He's just adorable. I'm so glad that you have him now.
 
Welcome back! This is a link to your previous thread in case people want to get caught up.

@Suzanne & Darcy - she has a ketone meter and the ketone numbers are in the comments on Bear's spreadsheet. I also agree -- if Bear hasn't been checked to see if the kidney infection is history, that may need to be done. And Bear is adorable!

Meredith - if you're following TR, you need to evaluate Bear's dose every 3 days/6 cycles. Doses are also increased by 0.25u amounts unless the nadirs (lowest point in the cycle) are over 300. Given Bear's history of DKA, it's possible you were getting suggestions to be a bit ore aggressive about dosing but it does seem like Bear's ketone levels have been good. In case you haven't seen the sticky note about Lantus dosing, I've included the link. You may also want to give some thought to posting on the Lantus board since it seems like you've mastered the basics.

I also agree with Suzanne's suggestion about how often and when to test.
 
Suzanne & Darcy said:
I see he had DKA and a kidney infection. Due to the history of DKA, are you testing for ketones in his urine (or using a ketone blood meter?) Is the kidney infection gone? Has he finished the course of antibiotics and been retested (bloodwork/urinalysis) to confirm that it's gone? He's just adorable. I'm so glad that you have him now.
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Hi! Thanks for responding :) He went to the IM specialist and was checked last week after the antibiotics were finished. Kidney values were much better (she thinks he might not have CKD after all), but we are going back next week to check again and make sure. And thank you! He is such a love. We are so happy to have him.
 
Sienne and Gabby (GA) said:
Welcome back! This is a link to your previous thread in case people want to get caught up.

@Suzanne & Darcy - she has a ketone meter and the ketone numbers are in the comments on Bear's spreadsheet. I also agree -- if Bear hasn't been checked to see if the kidney infection is history, that may need to be done. And Bear is adorable!

Meredith - if you're following TR, you need to evaluate Bear's dose every 3 days/6 cycles. Doses are also increased by 0.25u amounts unless the nadirs (lowest point in the cycle) are over 300. Given Bear's history of DKA, it's possible you were getting suggestions to be a bit ore aggressive about dosing but it does seem like Bear's ketone levels have been good. In case you haven't seen the sticky note about Lantus dosing, I've included the link. You may also want to give some thought to posting on the Lantus board since it seems like you've mastered the basics.

I also agree with Suzanne's suggestion about how often and when to test.
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Hi there! Thank you for your feedback :) I responded to Suzanne & Darcy above about the kidney check!

In terms of dosing, the specialist thinks he might be able to get off of the insulin actually. She is the one who bumped him up to 1 unit and wants to try that for two weeks before his recheck next week. I think I need to read into TR more - so thank you for including the link to the Lantus dosing. I'll take a look at that. I will start posting on the Lantus board as well :) Thank you for your help.
 
Meredith Small said:
Hi! Thanks for responding :) He went to the IM specialist and was checked last week after the antibiotics were finished. Kidney values were much better (she thinks he might not have CKD after all), but we are going back next week to check again and make sure. And thank you! He is such a love. We are so happy to have him.
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Good. I’m glad you have had/are having him checked out! I was going to mention that many times kidney values do improve dramatically after a kidney infection is cleared up. Sometimes they are really hard to clear though, and take weeks of antibiotics. You probably already knew that though. You are lucky to have each other! ❤️
 
Suzanne & Darcy said:
Good. I’m glad you have had/are having him checked out! I was going to mention that many times kidney values do improve dramatically after a kidney infection is cleared up. Sometimes they are really hard to clear though, and take weeks of antibiotics. You probably already knew that though. You are lucky to have each other! ❤️
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Yes, I've heard the kidney infections are tricky to get rid of. And who knows how long he was living with it in his previous situation! The specialist said he would have died if our rescue didn't find him when we did. I love him so much. <3 thank you for all your help!
 
I see Bear dropped to 42 at +5 today
Following TR for a kitty that has been diagnosed less then a year
It says
Reducing the dose:

The TR Protocol is an aggressive method in itself. The modified version of the protocol is slightly more aggressive. Let's keep all our kitties in the Lantus, Levemir, & Biosimilars ISG safe by taking reductions when appropriate.
  • If kitty drops below 40 (long term diabetic) or 50 (newly diagnosed diabetic) reduce the dose by 0.25 unit. If kitty has a history of not holding reductions well or if reductions are close together... sneak the dose down by shaving the dose rather than reducing by a full quarter unit.
  • Alternatively, attempt a reduction when the cat regularly has its lowest BGs in the normal range of a non-diabetic healthy cat (50 - 80 mg/dL) while staying under 100 mg/dl overall for at least one week.
I'm wondering if you should reduce
Tagging
@Suzanne & Darcy

@Sienne and Gabby (GA)

@tiffmaxee
 
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Your previous post for continuity
https://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/lantus-amps-of-140.272332/#post-3029066

Hi Meredith Bear is so adorable
I don't know if this was mentioned to you when you post on the lantus board we ask that you put in your title
Date then Bear, then AMPS and any other tests after that, you can then continue with the PMPS
To add additional tests look to the right you will see the word Thread Tools ,tap that then tap on Edit Title add the tests and then tap save
We also link the previous days post to your new one in case members need to see it :cat:
Your previous post will be all the way up top above the pic of that cat on the left hand side that says Feline Diabetes Just copy and paste it to your new post
 
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Diane Tyler's Mom said:
Your previous post for continuity
https://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/lantus-amps-of-140.272332/#post-3029066

Hi Meredith Bear is so adorable
I don't know if this was mentioned to you when you post on the lantus board we ask that you put in your title
Date then Bear, then AMPS and any other tests after that, you can then continue with the PMPS
To add additional tests look to the right you will see the word Thread Tools ,tap that then tap on Edit Title add the tests and then tap save
We also link the previous days post to your new one in case members need to see it :cat:
Your previous post will be all the way up top above the pic of that cat on the left hand side that says Feline Diabetes Just copy and paste it to your new post
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Hi Diane Tyler's Mom! Thank you for this - I've updated my title and will continue to do that in the future. I am also wondering about reducing the dose. According to the reading it seems I may want to reduce by .25, but will wait for further confirmation of that. Thanks!
 
@Meredith Small
I hope you saw what Sienne said you need to give 0.75 for your next shot
Do you have the U-100 syringes with the half unit markings. It makes it easier when you reduce by 0.25 units
49823063143_3437e9e997_o.jpg
 
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I am confused. Are you posting on the Lantus/Levemir/Biosimilars forum or on Feline Health. This is not a criticism. I am just trying to keep up to date on Bear and wanted to make sure I don’t miss the whole thing! :)
 
Suzanne & Darcy said:
I am confused. Are you posting on the Lantus/Levemir/Biosimilars forum or on Feline Health. This is not a criticism. I am just trying to keep up to date on Bear and wanted to make sure I don’t miss the whole thing! :)
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I thought I was supposed to post on the Feline Health for general questions but seems like the Lantus forum is probably the best place for me to post. Is that correct? Sorry if I have been posting incorrectly.
 
Meredith Small said:
I thought I was supposed to post on the Feline Health for general questions but seems like the Lantus forum is probably the best place for me to post. Is that correct? Sorry if I have been posting incorrectly.
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Hey Meredith stay on the lantus forum, you can post questions there ,you don't have to start a new post for a question , just post it on your thread
Members that are familiar with lantus are Suzanne & Darcy
Elise would be tiffmaxxe

Bron and Sheba (GA)

Wendy who usually comes on late afternoon

Bhooma is Bandit's Mom[/USER]

I would update your title with the rest of the BG numbers you have :bighug::cat:

@Meredith Small
 
Diane Tyler's Mom said:
Hey Meredith stay on the lantus forum, you can post questions there ,you don't have to start a new post for a question , just post it on your thread
Members that are familiar with lantus are Suzanne & Darcy
Elise would be tiffmaxxe

Bron and Sheba (GA)

Wendy who usually comes on late afternoon

Bhooma is Bandit's Mom[/USER]

I would update your title with the rest of the BG numbers you have :bighug::cat:
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Thank you for the clarification. Title updated! Maybe feeling like I’m starting to get the hang of this all. Kind of. Haha. Nice to see some familiar names on that list :)
 
So it is also okay to keep posting here for a while. I was just thinking that tomorrow was the first day with a new insulin and a good time to start a new thread. On the LLB forum, we start a new post for each new day and we link the previous post in the new thread.
 
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