10/03 PrettyGirl - AMBG 137 - Stalling
- Thread starter JeanW
- Start date
Mandy & Rex (GA)
Member Since 2017
Did you get any tests after PMPS last night? Did you feed while you stalled? Is 137 after 2 hours of no food?
JeanW
Member Since 2017
No tests after PMPS as I did about 6 yesterday and more the day before.
Yes I fed while stalling.
137 is before feeding
Mandy & Rex (GA)
Member Since 2017
Did you test again? Next time, do not feed when you stall. We need to know if the number is rising without food.
JeanW
Member Since 2017
I will remember that for next time. But what do I do now
JeanW
Member Since 2017
I tested again after eating and it’s now 207.
Mandy & Rex (GA)
Member Since 2017
How far off from schedule are you? Can you work backwards the shot times because you will need to shoot 12 hours from now if you shoot? Do you have HC food and plenty of test strips? Can you monitor?
Mandy & Rex (GA)
Member Since 2017
Then it's best to skip. You haven't shot a blue AMPS yet from what I could see on the SS. Tonight, be sure to test at least one more after PMPS.
JeanW
Member Since 2017
Thank you for your help. I will do as you recommend. Thank you.
Mandy & Rex (GA)
Member Since 2017
Pretty Girl hasn't had DKA before, correct?
Gill & George
Member Since 2015
Chances are she would be OK if you shot, that said you have never shot a blue before and 137 would be the lowest you have ever shot, since you have always skipped before, so you have no way of knowing how the cycle migh pan out. In and ideal world you want to shoot a low blue and monitor the cycle.
It would have been really good to have had just one test in the PM cycle, (as you can see from your own ss one cycle can be very different to the next) that might have given us some indication if she was rising at amps, or if she was dropping into AMPS, and that can help with your decision to shoot or not. Shooting a dropping number can often lead to a much more active than usual cycle. So advice would be different than if we saw a number that was looking flat or rising. If you are up early in the mornings and are able to catch a +11 then that would help you decide what to do with a lower PS.
Because you fed this morning while you were stalling we don't know what the BG was doing since the second BG you got was food influenced and we don't know how much of that was food or insulin wearing off. So next time, if you have a low number and don't know whether you should shoot or not, don't feed and stall, check again in 30min, that will (hopefully) tell you which way numbers are heading.
I agree with Mandy this morning is best to skip as long as there is no history of DKA
It would have been really good to have had just one test in the PM cycle, (as you can see from your own ss one cycle can be very different to the next) that might have given us some indication if she was rising at amps, or if she was dropping into AMPS, and that can help with your decision to shoot or not. Shooting a dropping number can often lead to a much more active than usual cycle. So advice would be different than if we saw a number that was looking flat or rising. If you are up early in the mornings and are able to catch a +11 then that would help you decide what to do with a lower PS.
Because you fed this morning while you were stalling we don't know what the BG was doing since the second BG you got was food influenced and we don't know how much of that was food or insulin wearing off. So next time, if you have a low number and don't know whether you should shoot or not, don't feed and stall, check again in 30min, that will (hopefully) tell you which way numbers are heading.
I agree with Mandy this morning is best to skip as long as there is no history of DKA
JeanW
Member Since 2017
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JeanW
Member Since 2017
Thank you both very much.
I will do my best to remember all of this for next time. I've noticed she drops into her PMPS sometimes but don't know that about this morning's AMPS.
She is free feed and I happened to be awake at +9 and noticed that she ate a reasonable amount of food at that time. She's been eating the Nature's Variety Instinct Original Chicken the last 2 or 3 days and that food seems to really make her numbers drop - it's what she ate at PMPS +9 which was this morning at 3 am.
I did skip and it's what I am comfortable with doing at this point. Hopefully I will get better at being able to shoot the low blue numbers - but PrettyGirl and I have had some scary experiences - before I knew about this board and before I knew about home testing duh - and I want to be safe.
Gill & George
Member Since 2015
Grabbing a pm test say just before you go to bed can give you an idea if you are missing any lows, or if she is just running high and flat. It helps build a much better picture of her BG, this can help when it comes to making dosing decisions or indeed help you to make a more informed choice in the morning if you are faced with a lower than usual amps.
JeanW
Member Since 2017
JeanW
Member Since 2017
Thank you.
Gill & George
Member Since 2015
Some cats get hungry and look for food when they drop lower than they are used too. Given this morning's amps it's possible she might have got lower than you think, and her snacking hungrily at +9 was her waywof self regulating. Isshe on just a wet LC diet, I'm not familiar with all the foods you use, I'm in Europe.
JeanW
Member Since 2017
Yes LC wet canned food. It is Nature's Variety Instinct Original Chicken and - per Dr. Lisa's chart - 7% carbs and has lots of moisture in it.
What I've been feeding for the last 3 months or so is also LC wet canned food and is Nature's Logic Turkey or Chicken or Rabbit - also very high quality and - per Dr. Lisa and per the manufacturer - it is anywhere from 1 - 5% or so carbs and also has lots of moisture. I'm thinking maybe she's one of those kitties that needs just a bit more carbs. However she did very well on the Nature's Logic for quite a while and gained several much needed pounds.
Gill & George
Member Since 2015
I'm not sure what makes you say that. I don't see anything scary low, on slgs you're looking for numbers 140-90 The blues are good you want to see her in those numbers as most kitties will be under the renal threshold when in blue(varies from cat to cat) and puts less stress on them so it's healthier.
JeanW
Member Since 2017
Sorry. What I was trying to say is that she seems to be getting lower numbers (blue numbers) from the Nature's Instinct vs the Nature's Logic but maybe that's not true. More testing and trying the food = necessary to really know. Agree that we want the blue numbers. Hard to put in words what I'm trying to say.
Thanks for your help and perspective.
Gill & George
Member Since 2015
Sorry I didn't understand. Might be coincide, as you say further testing should confirm.
Are you sure about the carb content? Is the info from Dr Lisa's most recent list? When we say kitties do better with more carb, what often folk are referring to is that it helps keep them flatter. For example some kitties, particularly those prone to fast drops do better with slightly higher low carb at shot time and early in the cycle as they can slow the fast drops and mitigate the bounces.
That said I did notice with George that one particular flavour of LC food from same manufacturer, and in same carb range, caused his BG to spike and he would run higher, I don't know why, perhaps it just didn't agree with him, or maybe he was just being a cat.
Are you sure about the carb content? Is the info from Dr Lisa's most recent list? When we say kitties do better with more carb, what often folk are referring to is that it helps keep them flatter. For example some kitties, particularly those prone to fast drops do better with slightly higher low carb at shot time and early in the cycle as they can slow the fast drops and mitigate the bounces.
That said I did notice with George that one particular flavour of LC food from same manufacturer, and in same carb range, caused his BG to spike and he would run higher, I don't know why, perhaps it just didn't agree with him, or maybe he was just being a cat.
Gill & George
Member Since 2015
It's good to make note of these idiosyncrasies, it will help you manage her fd.
JeanW
Member Since 2017
I'm as sure about the carb content as I can be. Yes, the info is from Dr. Lisa's recent list. And I confirmed the numbers with the manufacturer on the Nature's Logic - have not done that with the Nature's Variety.Sorry I didn't understand. Might be coincide, as you say further testing should confirm.
Are you sure about the carb content? Is the info from Dr Lisa's most recent list? When we say kitties do better with more carb, what often folk are referring to is that it helps keep them flatter. For example some kitties, particularly those prone to fast drops do better with slightly higher low carb at shot time and early in the cycle as they can slow the fast drops and mitigate the bounces.
That said I did notice with George that one particular flavour of LC food from same manufacturer, and in same carb range, caused his BG to spike and he would run higher, I don't know why, perhaps it just didn't agree with him, or maybe he was just being a cat.
I know what you mean about just being a cat
Pretty Girl turned up her nose last night at her most favorite (or maybe formerly favorite 
) flavor of the Nature's Logic.It's all like figuring out quite an intricate puzzle.
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Mandy & Rex (GA)
Member Since 2017
Since you skipped, I would get a test as soon as you finish work if that's before PMPS. When Rex was on insulin, I'd do a +10 when I get off work.
JeanW
Member Since 2017
I can get a +10 late this afternoon and will do that. Do I need to run home and check her before that?
Thank you!
Mandy & Rex (GA)
Member Since 2017
No need for that. You can focus on your work until you are done.
JeanW
Member Since 2017
Thank you! Such a relief.
JeanW
Member Since 2017
@Mandy & Rex, am I looking for anything in particular with the +10 test?
Bobbie And Bubba
Member Since 2015
Hey, there Jean. The +10 is a good test to get so that when you get the Pre shot test of the next cycle, ( in this case your PMPS) you will know if the PMPS is rising or falling. That knowledge makes it easier to shoot a lower number if you know that she is on the rise.
JeanW
Member Since 2017
Thank you thank you for the info.
I went and checked on her at my lunch hour cause the worry was making me get nothing done at work. Just looked in on her and patted her head. She looked great - like she was resting very comfortably.
The +10 right now - 4 hours later - was 542.
So unless there's a big change in 2 hours I won't have to worry about shooting. She does sometimes drop into her PMPS. Do we know why that happens?The vet that we saw last week - that I said seemed so good - had the tech tell me yesterday on the phone to only test every 7 days in order to not stress Pretty Girl.
I told her straight out that I wasn't doing that. Then she also gave a recommended dosing - that I haven't yet followed - based on Pretty Girl's very very high very very stressed out BG reading at the animal hospital. 
So I am again so thankful for all of YOU.
Bobbie And Bubba
Member Since 2015
It looks like to me that sometimes she nadirs late at the pre shot time. But, not always. Remember, these cats have their own rule books.
Bubba was a late nadir cat on one of his previous rodeos with insulin ( he is more early now) It made shooting lower numbers easier. So, for now the more data you can get for strategic times, like the +2 and the +10 will really help you at dose time. But, post if you need help. It all takes times gathering data and examining it and seeing trends and patterns.
JeanW
Member Since 2017
Thank you. That is so helpful. Is it possible that she nadirs twice? That's what it often seems like - like maybe at +3.5 and +8.5/9.It looks like to me that sometimes she nadirs late at the pre shot time. But, not always. Remember, these cats have their own rule books.
So, for now the more data you can get for strategic times, like the +2 and the +10 will really help you at dose time. But, post if you need help. It all takes times gathering data and examining it and seeing trends and patterns.
The reminder about their own rule books is helpful also. Of course we all know this - but it helps to hear it again.
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Bobbie And Bubba
Member Since 2015
They can do what we call double dipping where they nadir and then around +10 they drop again and then go back up.Thank you. That is so helpful. Is it possible that she nadirs twice? That'swhat it often seems like - like maybe at +3.5 and +8.5/9.
The reminder about their own rule books is helpful also. Of course we all know this - but it helps to hear it again.
JeanW
Member Since 2017
This is what I've thought happens sometimes - usually ? - with Pretty Girl. But I didn't have a name for it.
More helpful info. Thanks again.
Mandy & Rex (GA)
Member Since 2017
That's too bad she went so high, but now you can shoot and get a test or two in before going to bed. Right now, what's the lowest you're comfortable shooting? The more blues you shoot, the more level Pretty Girl will get.
JeanW
Member Since 2017
@Mandy & Rex I really don't know the answer to this and need help. If I'm going to work or sleeping and unable to monitor, then probably not too low. It truly terrifies
me due to experiences we had before I found this board and before I knew to home test. If I'm available to monitor, then somewhat lower. Even on a regular daily basis - not terribly low numbers - I can hardly manage the fear related to this - some days worse than others.