Always better to err on the side of caution when dealing with a possible hypo.
So what are you using as your reduction number? (The BG where if you see anything below that number, you reduce the dose). Is it 50? 60?
I’m relieved to see you’re using a human meter; those lime BG numbers on a pet meter would be very worrisome. It would be helpful if the color formulas in the spreadsheet were adjusted to align with a human meter; if you want someone to do it for you, I know
@Bandit's Mom could do it in a jiffy.
As for your dosing—and I mean this with complete respect—I think you might be making life harder than you need to, for both you and Apache.
Apache dropped below 50 so if you’re generally following TR, it would be appropriate to drop to 0.75u and ride that out for awhile. The reason I say “ride that out” is because after dropping into lime green numbers (or dropping fast, or dropping lower than they’re used to), a cat’s system will often react by dumping counter regulatory hormones and something akin to “sugar” into the system to protect him from low numbers, and the fallout from that can be higher numbers (also called a “bounce” around here) that can last up to three days or so. I was asking how long you waited to increase dose because if you don’t wait out at least the 3 days, you can end up misinterpreting the higher numbers as being a result of the reduced dose when it’s not, so then one increases dose again and ends up in a loop…
It also seems you might be (or had in the past) dosed based on the PS number—a little more insulin if the PS is higher, a little less if it’s lower. That almost never works with Lantus. I know because not only have we seen it over and over around here, in my early days using Lantus many many years ago, my instinct was the same. But Lantus is not an “in and out” insulin. It’s a depot insulin, so what you do today can impact tomorrow and beyond, and likewise what you did yesterday can impact today. It’s a bit of a dance. I liken it to adding oil to a car…you add a bit more (i.e., increase insulin dose) then wait for the oil to settle before adding more again. In this case, Lantus takes several days to “settle” and to show you whether a reduction has failed and you need to increase dose again.
After low numbers or a hypo, I’d almost be surprised if the BG didn’t spike higher for awhile, maybe a few days. Again, that’s the body’s defenses and might have less to do with the reduced dose and more to do with the body’s reaction to low numbers.
You’ve been doing a good job with Apache, but I think maybe we can help you do even better. I’ve been following you since you joined and I know you’re very dedicated to Apache. We’re here for you if you’re willing. Feline Diabetes is sometimes a team sport, and we all help each other.
