? 08/25 Fistuk AMPS 380

Fistuk & Shelly

Fistuk & Shelly

Member Since 2023
https://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/08-24-fistuk-amps-184.280803/

Good morning :)

I've had a night of much-needed (mostly) sleep!

Fistuk seems to be back in the pinkies and some reds. Any suggestions for test times today?

Would the recommendation be to wait the full 6 cycles before deciding what's next?

It looks very likely we're heading towards another raise. I'd like to time it for my AM cycle as I'm no good to anybody/thing if I don't sleep. Could perhaps be tomorrow my morning? - will be the 6th cycle

Thank you :)
 
Was just thinking of another question... Is it always best to test at +2? Fistuk seems to show lower BG at the +3 but I really don't think I know yet how to look at the trends.

Is there a resource where I could learn more about testing times, curves ect...?
Thank you!
 
shellys said:
Was just thinking of another question... Is it always best to test at +2? Fistuk seems to show lower BG at the +3 but I really don't think I know yet how to look at the trends.
Click to expand...
We usually suggest a test at +2 because it can act like a crystal ball of what the rest of the cycle is going to look like.
  • If the +2 is about the same as the PS, it's usually going to be a pretty normal cycle - gradually down to nadir and then gradually back up to the next PS.
  • If the +2 is a lot higher than the PS, that usually means there's a bounce starting and it's usually OK to take a little bit of a break from testing.
  • If the +2 is (a lot) lower than the PS, that's your early warning that it could be an "active" cycle and numbers might go a lot lower later in the cycle and it's important to try to get more tests.
Of course, some cats have an onset later in the cycle like +2.5 or +3. In that case, a test at +2.5 or +3 would be a better indicator than a +2. Some cats can onset earlier than +2 also. For unregulated cats, patterns can be harder to discern because of all the bouncing and bounce clearing.

Have you seen this sticky:
Tight Regulation: Becoming Data Ready to Shoot / Handle Lower Pre-shot Numbers


shellys said:
Would the recommendation be to wait the full 6 cycles before deciding what's next?

It looks very likely we're heading towards another raise. I'd like to time it for my AM cycle as I'm no good to anybody/thing if I don't sleep. Could perhaps be tomorrow my morning? - will be the 6th cycle
Click to expand...
Once you start seeing blue nadirs, you hold a dose 8-10 cycles. And it makes sense to increase in the AM cycle - especially for cats who respond to a dose increase in the very first cycle. Let's see how long Fistuk takes to clear this bounce and what his numbers look like after he does.
 
Bandit's Mom said:
We usually suggest a test at +2 because it can act like a crystal ball of what the rest of the cycle is going to look like.
  • If the +2 is about the same as the PS, it's usually going to be a pretty normal cycle - gradually down to nadir and then gradually back up to the next PS.
  • If the +2 is a lot higher than the PS, that usually means there's a bounce starting and it's usually OK to take a little bit of a break from testing.
  • If the +2 is (a lot) lower than the PS, that's your early warning that it could be an "active" cycle and numbers might go a lot lower later in the cycle and it's important to try to get more tests.
Of course, some cats have an onset later in the cycle like +2.5 or +3. In that case, a test at +2.5 or +3 would be a better indicator than a +2. Some cats can onset earlier than +2 also. For unregulated cats, patterns can be harder to discern because of all the bouncing and bounce clearing.

Have you seen this sticky:
Tight Regulation: Becoming Data Ready to Shoot / Handle Lower Pre-shot Numbers



Once you start seeing blue nadirs, you hold a dose 8-10 cycles. And it makes sense to increase in the AM cycle - especially for cats who respond to a dose increase in the very first cycle. Let's see how long Fistuk takes to clear this bounce and what his numbers look like after he does.
Click to expand...
Thank you so much for all this knowledge! It’s very helpful

I haven’t seen that post, I’ll read it!

Do if I understand correctly he’s bouncing from the last increase and we need to observe how he’s doing. So my guess would be today +2 +3 +6 during the am cycle to get more data. Would that be a good plan?
 
shellys said:
Do if I understand correctly he’s bouncing from the last increase and we need to observe how he’s doing.
Click to expand...
Yes, he is bouncing - not from the increase - but from the lower numbers he saw in the first cycle of the increase. Bounces can take up to 6 cycles to clear, so we wait for the bounce to clear.

shellys said:
Do if I understand correctly he’s bouncing from the last increase and we need to observe how he’s doing. So my guess would be today +2 +3 +6 during the am cycle to get more data. Would that be a good plan?
Click to expand...
You could start with a +3 this morning. If he is much lower, you want to get more tests later. Numbers can be flat and high when bouncing, so those cycles are a good time to give them a pokie and break and take some time off yourself :-)
 
I just got a very disturbing email from the vet. I feel stressed, angry and frustrated!

I don't know if this is the right place to post this so hopefully it is and if not someone will help me move the thread to its rightful place.

I got consultations from the hospital where Fistuk was last hospitalised. No regular vet though I tried to speak with a particular one.

I called a few days ago to ask for another insulin cartridge so I have a spare just in case (I got only one). I also mentioned I'd like to discuss his BG and dosing, having in mind I'd like to share about TR.

I got a phone call from an assistant two days ago asking me to send the vet the BG. So I sent a link to the SS. Got an email today - in total that's nearly a week since I called and asked to speak to a vet!

In her email she basically told me to f**k off, n a very Swiss way. She said:
Freedom Lite os not a valid meter for cats!
There's no research about it
They want me to buy the Alpha track
Insulin adjustment should me done every 5-7 days, a faster adjustment can lead to Somogyi effect.

Since I started receiving support from this community I felt reassured, supported and hopeful. Each time I'm in some contact with this veterinary hospital I'm experiencing levels of stress that are uncharacteristic of me.

I will obv need to find a new vet, hopefully one that will be willing to work with me. For the moment I still have insulin but I don't have a spare and I will need a prescription to buy.

Any support, guidance, and resources to refute these claims and clarity would be very welcome.

Thank you!
 
I have another question:
I just tested Fistuk for +11. First test was 274. So I wanted to make sure, tested in a different spot with tiny more blood, was 326.

What do I make of this?
 
I'm sorry your vet is giving you such a hard time. They will insist on an expensive pet meter but have no objection to using a human CGM like the Libre on cats. :mad: I hope you are able to get a new vet - at least to ensure an uninterrupted supply of insulin for Fistuk.

shellys said:
I just tested Fistuk for +11. First test was 274. So I wanted to make sure, tested in a different spot with tiny more blood, was 326.

What do I make of this?
Click to expand...
You can get a 15-20% meter variance - even with the same drop of blood. 274 and 326 is pretty much that.
 
I went through several vets-the first vet kept recommending euthanasia ….vet #3 was very nice and did not automatically suggest euthanasia. I was able to work with her and get him tested for IAA, which revealed extreme insulin resistance. She eventually became terrified of the amounts of insulin I was using and decided that Prozinc would be better. I politely refused. She then told me she would not continue to write me prescriptions for Lantus. I smiled and nodded and got him Lantus from Canada. It was about that time that things turned around and after 21 months of total craziness BK went OTJ. She just shook her head and said “he is amazing”. He remained in remission for 6.5 years (which was the rest of his life).

I think most folks here have had difficulty with veterinarians when it comes to FD. Thank goodness for the FDMB :cool:
 
shellys said:
PMPS 329, +2 382 - shall I leave him be until AMPS?
Click to expand...
You can give his ears a break, but if you have the opportunity to get a PM+10 or PM+11 go for it.

It’s good to periodically step back from your screen and squint your eyes while looking at the ss as a whole. There should not be any wide open white areas. If there are, try to sprinkle some tests in those areas…a +5 on one day, a +8 on another…
 
Sandy and Black Kitty said:
I went through several vets-the first vet kept recommending euthanasia ….vet #3 was very nice and did not automatically suggest euthanasia. I was able to work with her and get him tested for IAA, which revealed extreme insulin resistance. She eventually became terrified of the amounts of insulin I was using and decided that Prozinc would be better. I politely refused. She then told me she would not continue to write me prescriptions for Lantus. I smiled and nodded and got him Lantus from Canada. It was about that time that things turned around and after 21 months of total craziness BK went OTJ. She just shook her head and said “he is amazing”. He remained in remission for 6.5 years (which was the rest of his life).

I think most folks here have had difficulty with veterinarians when it comes to FD. Thank goodness for the FDMB :cool:
Click to expand...
Thank you thank you thank you thank you!! :) That's exactly what I needed to hear.
It's really painful to feel that a vet cares more about their ego than anything else or witness how ignorant they are.

I draw so much support and knowledge from the community.

Sandy and Black Kitty said:
get a PM+10 or PM+11
Click to expand...
Great. Was thinking go setting the alarm so I can get a +11

Sandy and Black Kitty said:
There should not be any wide open white areas.
Click to expand...
Great advice. Thank you

I must say that Fistuk has felt so much like himself today and a way he hasn't been since the whole thing started. At morning he asked to sit on my lap and went after my butter (I didn't give him any :D)) and in the evening he did the same with my chicken. He stayed more awake after breakfast and after supper. He's been much more Fistuk than anything we've seen in the past three weeks. It's very encouraging
 
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