10/13 Basic amps 370 +4 361 +8 308

[Basic's Mom]

https://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/thr...as-been-over-400-all-day.282468/#post-3113365

I need someone's help. My cat hasbt been under 300 in the last 6 days except for several hours pm on the 9th.

I have asked for help a few times regarding this. He has been eating on hisnown for almost 48 hours now (today he isn't eating as much and may have to give more via feeding tube).

I'm trying to be patient about this, but I feel like I'm taking chances with his health by only increasing .25 every six days.

I have upped his dosage, but feel like it should be increased again.

I am very concerned about ketones (he tested negative today). I have to take him back to the vet today for more blood work. This will definitely raise his BG even more.

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[Angela & Cleo]

{{Sybil}} hugs to you! I know that you are doing all you can.
What GREAT news that he is eating on his own !!
Are you still using the feeding tube for snacks/meals?

What even better news that he doesn't have Ketones !!
I'd keep testing daily like you have been.

Your SS and signature say that you're following SLGS. Have you decided to try the TR protocol which allows for increases more frequently (every 3 days / 6 cycles) and, based on the last 3 days of data, an increase of 0.5 instead of 0.25 as in SLGS?

As far as increasing the dose, some more eyes on your SS should help. @Bron and Sheba (GA) should be on in a couple of hours (she's in Australia); Elise @tiffmaxee should be around; @Wendy&Neko

Good luck at the Vets. Let us know how it goes

 

[Basic's Mom]

{{Sybil}} hugs to you! I know that you are doing all you can.
What GREAT news that he is eating on his own !!
Are you still using the feeding tube for snacks/meals?

Spoke with his vet last night. She said not to give more than meds in FT if he is eating all his food. Which he has, it's just been slower today. I saw him stealing his sister's as I was getting ready for the vet. That is definitely him to his core and I haven't seen that behavior in a over a month.

What even better news that he doesn't have Ketones !!
I'd keep testing daily like you have been.

I plan to and my blood ketone meter should be here any day. His vet told me my cat will hate me if I poke him daily, let alone twice a day (BG) and I explained I am not comfortable dosing him w/o knowing his BG. She argued with me a little and I explained to her that I will cross that bridge with her when it comes as he still has his libre. While I love her, I will not just do as she says when I know it can kill my cat. I don't blindly follow any advice, let alone when it comes to the well being of my animals.

Your SS and signature say that you're following SLGS. Have you decided to try the TR protocol which allows for increases more frequently (every 3 days / 6 cycles) and, based on the last 3 days of data, an increase of 0.5 instead of 0.25 as in SLGS?

I will change my signature after this response. While I was to utilize that method, currently it definitely isn't an option.

As far as increasing the dose, some more eyes on your SS should help. @Bron and Sheba (GA) should be on in a couple of hours (she's in Australia); Elise @tiffmaxee should be around; @Wendy&Neko

Good luck at the Vets. Let us know how it goes

Thank you for your time, energy, and kindness. Also, thanks for tagging others.

 

[Basic's Mom]

Spoke with his vet last night. She said not to give more than meds in FT if he is eating all his food. Which he has, it's just been slower today. I saw him stealing his sister's as I was getting ready for the vet. That is definitely him to his core and I haven't seen that behavior in a over a month.


I plan to and my blood ketone meter should be here any day. His vet told me my cat will hate me if I poke him daily, let alone twice a day (BG) and I explained I am not comfortable dosing him w/o knowing his BG. She argued with me a little and I explained to her that I will cross that bridge with her when it comes as he still has his libre. While I love her, I will not just do as she says when I know it can kill my cat. I don't blindly follow any advice, let alone when it comes to the well being of my animals.


I will change my signature after this response. While I was to utilize that method, currently it definitely isn't an option.

As far as increasing the dose, some more eyes on your SS should help. @Bron and Sheba (GA) should be on in a couple of hours (she's in Australia); Elise @tiffmaxee should be around; @Wendy&Neko


Thank you for your time, energy, and kindness. Also, thanks for tagging others.

His vet just called. All of his liver values have improved tremendously and he is in normal range. His bilirubin is back to a normal range. Once I have the actual numbers, I will update his lab tab on SS. His weight has also stabilized. She wants me to give him 2 u every 12 hours over the weekend and see what happens with his BG. I'm to call on Monday to update her.

 

[tiffmaxee]

That is a bigger increase than we do here. We do not increase more than .50. Your cat won’t hate you for testing and you will keep Basic safe. I thought that Max would hide all the time. I was wrong. At first I was afraid to test. When I went for a nadir check by my vet and saw a 65 I became a testaholic and Max waited patiently for me and his treats. Even with TR we do not increase sooner than 6 cycles.

 

[Basic's Mom]

That is a bigger increase than we do here. We do not increase more than .50.

I understand that we don't increase doses that large in this group. I also KNOW what has been happening to his BG since receiving his daily caloric intake for the past 6 days with no improvement on his BG. He isn't just a cat that was discovered to have diabetes. He had hepatic lipidosis as well. He absolutely could not eat. He hadn't truly consumed calories before his tube was placed, since getting sick on 9/21. Now that he is eating, I can see what is happening with his BG.

While I am grateful for this group and the knowledge here, and for his vet's help in saving him, I have to do what I feel is best for my cat. I can't wait on a response from this group or his vet if I feel he is in danger.

With his BG being that high, for that long, with ZERO improvement after his shots, I had to increase and increase by more than .50. If it needs lowered later, I am fine with that. If it needs increased, I will have to be fine with that as well. I do not plan on doing anything drastic with his doses from this point forward unless I am in a similar situation.

I have tried to be patient regarding his situation from all angles, but ultimately I have to do what I feel is best and that is whether this group or his vet agree or not.

Your cat won’t hate you for testing and you will keep Basic safe. I thought that Max would hide all the time. I was wrong. At first I was afraid to test. When I went for a nadir check by my vet and saw a 65 I became a testaholic and Max waited patiently for me and his treats. Even with TR we do not increase sooner than 6 cycles.

Thank you. We just had a similar conversation again this evening. I feel somewhat bad because I know she feels I'm questioning her knowledge. I am not. I question absolutely everything in life no matter who or what it is or about. I am not comfortable now or in a year, blindly injecting my cat with insulin. I don't care if that is how this is handled in veterinarian medicine and has been for decades. It isn't how I'll be handling my cat and his care.
Again, thank you for the reassure that he won't hate me. I am willing to take that chance to save him AGAIN. He was on death's door and while not one thing has been easy or come to us easily, we have made it this far. I am very proud of him. His entire life, he has getting scolded for stealing his sister's food, but not today. It was a welcome sight.

 

[Marje and Gracie]

I understand that we don't increase doses that large in this group.

No we don’t but we certainly have other ways to fast track his dose so he’d be moving forward faster overall.

For where his BG is, I would have suggested you hold the dose two more cycles and then increase by 0.5u. Then hold another four cycles and see where his nadir is and if it’s not below 300, increase by another 0.5u.

While I respect a member’s right to dose their cat, it should be based on knowledge and I worry that an increase like this so quickly is not based on knowledge and can potentially backfire on you. The TR protocol is based on almost two decades of experience and data. It’s already aggressive.

With Lantus, one shot layers on the one before so the effect on the depot becomes cumulative. Think of a bucket where you just keep adding water; at some point, it overflows. When that happens with Lantus, you can see prolonged hypoglycemia. Lantus hypos can last well over 24 hours.

Please know we are just trying to help you keep Basic safe.

 

[Bron and Sheba (GA)]

Hi Sybil, I also echo Basic will not hate you for testing. This is a myth vets often say with absolutely no evidence.

I know you want what’s best for Basic. We all do but I would caution you increasing too fast. Lantus is a depot insulin and the depot will build up and you might find yourself with very low numbers.

Please keep posting

 

[Suzanne & Darcy]

If he is stealing his sister’s food and it is higher carb than his, that may account for some of the higher BG. I would not increase my cat any greater than .5 units at a time— when his ketones were negative and I would do this increase only if I were following TR and all his nadirs were over 300 and I had already held the dose for 6 cycles to determine that this was the case. This is for safety. I understand the anxiety. My boy nearly died and spent over a week in the ER and had a feeding tube as well. I’m very happy that Basic has improved so greatly. This is wonderful news. I’m really happy with that update.

If you have decided to increase his dose by .75 units all at once, please test him frequently (I guess he has the Libre) and be prepared with HC and karo if needed.

As far as your cat hating you. Nonsense. My cat loved me and I tested him all day and all night. He slept right next to me every night. I would turn on the light and test him and go back to sleep. He never ran or hid. He enjoyed the treats. He would go to his testing spot on his barstool during the day for tests and treats. Every cat is different, but you cannot assume that he will “hate” you for home testing. That’s overly dramatic (unless he’s a feral cat — I only say that because I’ve had a few who fortunately were not diabetic.)

 

[Chrispooky12]

I agree with all of the very FD knowledgeable people whom have talked to you about dosage.
You also must take into account that when our kitty's are sick that can also be a cause for the higher BG #s, now that he's feeling better they should come back down. That's how it's been with my boy. I never thought I would ever be able to test Panzer but he comes running when I say it's test time & waits for me & always gets a boiled chicky treat after he evens purrs sometimes. We have a much closer bond then we've ever had...sugar kitty's are extra special be patient & you will see how close you & your beautiful Basic will become.

 

[Suzanne & Darcy]

I agree with all of the very FD knowledgeable people whom have talked to you about dosage.
You also must take into account that when our kitty's are sick that can also be a cause for the higher BG #s, now that he's feeling better they should come back down. That's how it's been with my boy. I never thought I would ever be able to test Panzer but he comes running when I say it's test time & waits for me & always gets a boiled chicky treat after he evens purrs sometimes. We have a much closer bond then we've ever had...sugar kitty's are extra special be patient & you will see how close you & your beautiful Basic will become.

That’s beautiful, Christina. It’s so true that we develop very special bonds with our diabetic kitties.

 

[Basic's Mom]

https://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/thr...as-been-over-400-all-day.282468/#post-3113365

I need someone's help. My cat hasbt been under 300 in the last 6 days except for several hours pm on the 9th.

I have asked for help a few times regarding this. He has been eating on hisnown for almost 48 hours now (today he isn't eating as much and may have to give more via feeding tube).

I'm trying to be patient about this, but I feel like I'm taking chances with his health by only increasing .25 every six days.

I have upped his dosage, but feel like it should be increased again.

I am very concerned about ketones (he tested negative today). I have to take him back to the vet today for more blood work. This will definitely raise his BG even more.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Thank you to everyone who commented. I appreciate your time and energy. I mad e a new post with a few new questions and discoveries.

I put the questions at the bottom in case you don't want to read through everything.

Thanks again

Here is a link to the new post. I read we should start a new one each day. Please let me know if that is what we do. I don't want to confuse things even more.
https://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/thr...home-testing-and-dosage-at-the-bottom.282551/