Am I dosing correctly ?

Katie & Max

Member
Max’s numbers are high so I increase insulin
And now he has dropped to 52 … am
I not leaving him on one dose for long enough ? I have no idea on dosing anymore. We stopped
Giving him snacks during the day because his numbers were high so often
 
Max’s numbers are high so I increase insulin
And now he has dropped to 52 … am
I not leaving him on one dose for long enough ? I have no idea on dosing anymore. We stopped
Giving him snacks during the day because his numbers were high so often
I have to drive for about 10 minutes and will get right back to you. But don’t stop the LC snacks! Even when he’s high. They’re still important and also he needs the calories spread out during the day a bit. That’s probably why he dropped so much. More in a few…
 
Hi Katie. I have been looking at Max’s spreadsheet and it’s pretty hard to see what’s been going on because there are just so many cycles with no tests, both a.m. and p.m. Also the doses are all over the place. You will shoot a reduced dose based on a lower preshot, but then we can’t tell if that was a good decision or not because there are no tests after that until PMPS. We are kind of blind here. If you (or is there anyone else?) can’t get some more tests on most days, I would drop his dose down to a dose that you think you will consistently be able to shoot (even on days with lower preshots) and then you need to run curves (testing every 2 hours) on days when you are home. We need to know his nadir (with snacks) on his dose to be able to safely make decisions. Tell me again about your work schedule - even just for this week for now. Does it vary a lot? What will your schedule be today through Friday? I guess your mom went back to work?
 
Thank you for your reply . I didn’t want to personally msg as I know you have your hands full helping so many . The doses being all over the place is stressing us out and we have such a hard time deciding on what to dose based on his numbers because they fluctuate so high sometimes . This morning my mom dosed low because was unsure . It’s hard deciding what to do when numbers are lower.
My schedule fluctoates a lot as I pick up shifts but generally I’m gone Thursday to Monday . When I am home I get a mid cycle test in . My mom can finally test and does so before pre shots . I can ask her to test mid cycle on Friday and Saturday when she is off . She is gone for 9 hours after the morning shot and in bed 3.5 hours after pm shot so it’s hard . I am back to work tomorrow but will set alarms and do a 12 hour curve tonight . What would you suggest to dose him tonight ? I can test more next week when I’m home also
 
Right now it looks like the .75 wasn’t enough insulin since he’s climbing - but unless we get a test later in the cycle we won’t know for sure. I totally understand the caution. He did have some similar AMPS back in April and did all right on a little more insulin. For tonight, if he’s around 200 you could try 2 units. If he’s around 150 you could try 1.5. He’s very bouncy it seems like- but it’s hard to tell since we have so many gaps. I certainly would like to have him at a dose where you could hold the dose for a week and the. Run a curve — so that probably means just lowering the dose overall and then gradually increasing based on what the curve tells us. Sorry this is so frustrating for you. It is really difficult to be gone so much and love your boy so much and try to do your best for him and keep him safe. We can do this, it’s just going to take a little extra time maybe. And don’t stay up all night to get a curve. Try to get one during a day off if you can.
 
Hey . I was running errands yeaterday but got some tests in last night . So we will leave him at 2 for a week or so . I am back home Monday for a few days so will do more tests and get a curve in to see we’re he is at and then touch base to get your thoughts .
Max has a pretty severe skin infection and recently has a cyst on his neck that keeps filling with infection . We are wondering if that is affecting his numbers being so up and down . He sees the dermatologist on Wednesday so hoping we can get him some help .
Thank you again for everything you do for all the kitties !
 
Hi! A very flat yellow cycle today could be an indication that he will drop lower tonight… hopefully just blues like last night.

I am sorry to hear about Max’s skin infection. That sounds nasty. It could be elevating his numbers a bit.
 
Hey Suzanne .
Maxs numbers have been pretty good today . He didn’t drop below 90 . I was a bit panicked when my mom told me she gave him 2 this morning with his number but he seemed to be ok during the day. I thought 2 units mite have been ok tonight but my mom felt more comfortable with 1.75. Do you think today was good ? I’ll be doing his curve on Monday
 
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Sorry I didn’t see this last night. I think, in view of the daytime AMPS and the dose of 2 units where he did really well— and the PMPS being similar/a little higher — that you could have gone ahead with 2 units last night. But I understand your apprehension and it’s all good data for making dosing decisions in the future. Well done getting the +5 last night. Try to consistently give the 2 units if you can monitor him this weekend.
 
Hey Suzanne . I just got back from camping and max was 90 at pre shot last night and is currently 94 at pre shot tonight. My mom did not get any tests done mid cycle :arghh: am going to hold off feeding and re test in 30 minutes and then debating on if I should give him .5 unit or not . He was very high this morning after skipping dose this last night . It’s really weird both nights he is so low at shot time . Tomorrow is when I’m planning on doing the curve
 
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Yes. It wasn’t good skipping the dose last night. But the last few days we have just empty cells on the spreadsheet so we don’t know anything. You will test before bed tonight?
 
I’m very frustrated with the lack of tests but I am really trying to stress the importance . I can typically get her to test 4 hours after pm shot though recently .After I get the curve in could you help me do out a general guide line of what my mom can give based on his numbers if she can’t get ahold
Of me ? I’ve done out a rough draft for now telling her this
5.5(100) or less no insulin
6 (106) to 7 (126) I think 1.5
7 (126) to 9 (162) think 1.75
9 (162) or higher 2 units
 
Yes last night was good ! Numbers today seem odd he went lower at +8
Skin is not good . His cyst on his neck keeps coming back after being drained , it’s full again now. I do not want him put under but they think he may need surgery to have it fully removed. His dermatologist appointment is on Wednesday so hoping to know more then .
 
Yes last night was good ! Numbers today seem odd he went lower at +8
Skin is not good . His cyst on his neck keeps coming back after being drained , it’s full again now. I do not want him put under but they think he may need surgery to have it fully removed. His dermatologist appointment is on Wednesday so hoping to know more then .
I think he’s going to trend downward toward PMPS
 
I’m very frustrated with the lack of tests but I am really trying to stress the importance . I can typically get her to test 4 hours after pm shot though recently .After I get the curve in could you help me do out a general guide line of what my mom can give based on his numbers if she can’t get ahold
Of me ? I’ve done out a rough draft for now telling her this
5.5(100) or less no insulin
6 (106) to 7 (126) I think 1.5
7 (126) to 9 (162) think 1.75
9 (162) or higher 2 units
And yes, we can work out a guideline for your Mom about what to shoot. Today he had a flattish string of yellow after last night’s greens and then blue and this morning’s blue. He’s actually coming back down fast than I expected. I predict a green Pmps tonight. How many hours until shot time. I think it works out to be about 8 o’clock my local time? (Eastern)
 
Those cysts seem nasty. I am sorry. I do hope the dermatologist can help! Poor boy! I will have a cat at the vet on Wednesday too. Keep me posted on what the dermatologist says.
 
Hey . Yes insulin time is 5 pacific so 8 eastern . I just tested pre shot and he is 7.2 (130) How much insulin would you suggest ?
 
The 2 was my mom and had me really nervous , I was so surprised he was good . I think the 1.75 sounds good . I’m
Home to test him tonight and see how he does at this dose too
 
Okay. But I thought it was interesting he was okay on that dose. I remember your mom shot that morning and you were nervous. I thought you would be more comfortable with the 1.75 tonight. :bighug:
 
Good. That’s only a little drop from Pmps. Glad he’s getting the snack. He should reach green. I don’t think he will drop into an unsafe number. What are you feeding for the +2 snack. What carb percentage?
 
I think it is 2.6 % but I’m not sure if I’m reading it correctly . It’s his regular raw cat food . It’s called red dog blue cat venison . I’m trying to upload the screenshot I took of nutrional information but can’t figure out how to upload
 
I think it is 2.6 % but I’m not sure if I’m reading it correctly . It’s his regular raw cat food . It’s called red dog blue cat venison . I’m trying to upload the screenshot I took of nutrional information but can’t figure out how to upload
It’s okay. It’s probably just meat for the most part.
 
I was just thinking of having some slightly higher carb options in case you needed to steer his numbers - but still 9 percent and under so still low carb. But I am sure he’s used to his raw food. I have considered feeding raw, but because of my FIV kitties I have hesitated. I was afraid it would not be good for them. How long have you had Max? He is a big boy!
 
I will have to look into tiki and some of the higher low carb options as I feed him that sometimes also . We have had Max since 2020 . He was a local stray we fed and eventually trapped him along with Sam a feral we were feeding . Both boys are fiv+ but love their lives indoor with us now . Max wasn’t diabetic till he gained so much weight being inside . He is actually down to 16.2 pounds now :) . I feed my dogs raw and was hesitent to switch Max but Our holistic vet convinced us about a year ago even though he is Fiv and he has done well on it other then the persistent terrible skin issues that started when he was diagnosed with diabetes
 
Look at that preshot this morning! He really is making progress and getting great duration from the ProZinc. This is good.
 
Have you been able to get any more tests this afternoon? Or was this one of your days that you’re not there in the afternoon?
 
I got called into work untill tomorrow morning. My mom is running late tonight but will get his pre shot test and then a +3 test in tonight . I’ll be able to get some tests tomorrow
 
Have her give snacks too! Hope she won’t skip the test(s). If she is at home, first snack should be at +2. He was about the same as last night so hopefully tonight’s cycle will be similar to last night’s.
 
We were gone most of the day at the vets today . Max has a bacterial and yeast infection on his skin aswell as likely allergies which they want an elimation diet to determine . I declined the prescription food because of his diabetes. Trying to figure out a novelty protein and making it myself possibly.
They prescribed Terbinafine for the yeast infection but after reading about some body on here’s horrifying experience with the medication I am terrified to give it to him .
he will be on Reactine twice daily and antibiotics for the next month once the bacteria culture comes back . ( Convenia was suggested and I also declined)
I’m really stressed about the Terbinafine though
 
Hi Katie. Max has earned a reduction down to 1 unit, I would say. So going forward his new dose will be 1 unit. That’s fantastic! Looks like you did a great job last night taking care of him.
 
Okay , thank you . With his number so low this morning should we still have given 1 unit ? At what number would we not shoot ?
 
Well you shot a 97 with 1.25 recently so he probably would have been okay. But let’s see how the cycle goes today, and we will have a better idea of whether you could have tried a .75 or 1 unit dose.
 
We are both at work today so won’t be able to get any tests done during am cycle so I had her go kind of low . I was a bit unsure about how low his numbers are recently .

At what pre shot number for Max would we skip a dose ?
 
How is Max doing with his skin? I am sorry I didn’t see that on Wednesday. I took one of my cats to the vet on Wednesday as well. And Thursday I took 4 kittens to be fixed which takes most of the day because the spay/neuter clinic is an hour away and I had to return home to take care of my heart kitty because she has so many meds and I have to feed her or she won’t eat almost anything. Then later back to the clinic. Anyway, I just saw your PM this morning and came here to the thread to reply.

Have you been giving him the Terbinafine? When my cat Delilah had a yeast infection last year, she had topicals and Ketoconazole 200 mg. for 4 days- the topicals last longer. From what I’ve read, the Terbinafine should be used with caution in cats with kidney disease or liver disease.
 
We are both at work today so won’t be able to get any tests done during am cycle so I had her go kind of low . I was a bit unsure about how low his numbers are recently .

At what pre shot number for Max would we skip a dose ?
Well hopefully his PMPS will give us an indication of how things went. Since you were not going to be home and neither was your mom then it was a good idea to be conservative.
 
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