10/1 Charlie - AMPS 285, +5 128, PMPS 544 - Huge increase in BG normal?

Karen & Charlie

Karen & Charlie

Member Since 2020
Charlie was on Vetsulin when we first started this journey 7 wks ago and I was told to
test
feed
wait 20-30 min to shoot
@JaxBenji has mentioned that the wait to shoot was probably because he was on Vetsulin and needed food on board.

He's been on Lantus for almost 2 weeks now and I haven't changed that practice.

Can I please get guidance on test | feed | shoot, and what the timing of that sequence should be on Lantus?

Thanks!
 
Most of us test,feed, shoot all within 10-15 minutes. You test to see if it’s safe to shoot, feed to make sure your cat will eat, and then shoot. Lantus inset is usually no sooner than +2 but some cats onset earlier and others later. Max always got a food bump as he was very carb sensitive.
 
tiffmaxee said:
Most of us test,feed, shoot all within 10-15 minutes. You test to see if it’s safe to shoot, feed to make sure your cat will eat, and then shoot. Lantus inset is usually no sooner than +2 but some cats onset earlier and others later. Max always got a food bump as he was very carb sensitive.
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I've also been not feeding in the 2 hours before test. Is that the same on Lantus as it was on Vetsulin?
Thanks!
 
Nice to see you start a condo and to see the blues on your spreadsheet. He’s responding g to the dose. Great job testing too. Now how about putting AMPS### and some of the others results in the title as well. Since it’s late just put AMPS ### +5 xxx PMPS XXX.
 
Karen & Charlie said:
I've also been not feeding in the 2 hours before test. Is that the same on Lantus as it was on Vetsulin?
Thanks!
Click to expand...

You are correct. You pick up food 2 hours before so the preshot is not food influenced. When you have a day where he seems to be going down all day and you think he might be too low to shoot it’s a good idea to ask if a +8 or +9 snack is a good idea and test around +11.5 as well as the preshot to see if he’s on his way back up or at least still not heading down.
 
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tiffmaxee said:
Nice to see you start a condo and to see the blues on your spreadsheet. He’s responding g to the dose. Great job testing too. Now how about putting AMPS### and some of the others results in the title as well. Since it’s late just put AMPS ### +5 xxx PMPS XXX.
Click to expand...
I change this title. I'm still several hours out from PMPS, so didn't put it.
I'm rather thrilled for Charlie's first BLUE, also. But, it feels like maybe the real work begins now!
Thanks!
 
It’s exciting but scary I know. We all have been where you are. There’s lots of experience here to guide you. Get ready for pj parties. I’d print out how to handle low numbers just in case nobody is around when you get a surprise reading. . I used to read it over and over when Max went under 50 after midnight.
 
tiffmaxee said:
You are correct. You puck up food 2 hours before so the preshot is not food influenced. When you have a day where he seems to be going down all day and you think he might be too low to shoot it’s a good idea to ask if a +8 or +9 snack is a good idea and test around +11.5 as well as the preshot to see if he’s on his way back up or at least still not heading down.
Click to expand...
Charlie is a grazer, and eats a little around each test, sometimes during! So, he'll usually always have a snack at testing up until +10 when he gets cut off. Plus, he is still underweight, so I've been giving him as much as he wants to eat (except the 2 hr window). I can see how that may change as his numbers go lower and lower.
 
tiffmaxee said:
It’s exciting but scary I know. We all have been where you are. There’s lots of experience here to guide you. Get ready for pj parties. I’d print out how to handle low numbers just in case nobody is around when you get a surprise reading. . I used to read it over and over when Max went under 50 after midnight.
Click to expand...
I've also been reading condos (is that the right use of that word...what a funny one! :) ) to educate and get prepared.
 
Can someone take a look at his data sheet and tell me if today's numbers are something "normal," as Charlie is building up his depot, etc? Blues and yellows, until a black PMPS.
 
Charlie is bouncing from the blues he hit today because his body isn’t used to bg numbers that low. A bounce can take up to 6 cycles to clear. I’d get a +2 or 3 to see if he’s coming down much but it will likely be a night to save some strips and stop testing after that. The more time he spends in more normal numbers the less he will bounce and the faster the faster will clear.
 
tiffmaxee said:
Charlie is bouncing from the blues he hit today because his body isn’t used to bg numbers that low. A bounce can take up to 6 cycles to clear. I’d get a +2 or 3 to see if he’s coming down much but it will likely be a night to save some strips and stop testing after that. The more time he spends in more normal numbers the less he will bounce and the faster the faster will clear.
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  1. I've not been able to understand what is meant by "cycle."
  2. Charlie's a super chill dude, but he's been getting gritchy, so he'll be happy if I only do one more test and call it good. He's getting gritchy because I'm going through minimum of 2 strips per test, sometimes 4, plus 2 lancets. I try not to hurt him and it backfires and I spend more time trying. Grrrrrr.
Thanks, Elise!
 
A cycle is the 12 hours after you administer insulin. So there’s a day and night cycle. Testing will get easier. You can try warming his ear by heating rice in a towel. Are you using size 29 lancets? My vet taught me using a needle free hand. I bought size 25 Terumo needed which are very sharp. Are you giving a treat if freeze dried meat each time? Is tge problem getting the ear to bleed ? Why are you using more than one strip? Too little blood?
 
tiffmaxee said:
A cycle is the 12 hours after you administer insulin. So there’s a day and night cycle. Testing will get easier. You can try warming his ear by heating rice in a towel. Are you using size 29 lancets? My vet taught me using a needle free hand. I bought size 25 Terumo needed which are very sharp. Are you giving a treat if freeze dried meat each time? Is tge problem getting the ear to bleed ? Why are you using more than one strip? Too little blood?
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  • I have a rice-filled ear warmer, but I only use it if his ear is cold to the touch.
  • I'm free-handing 31 gauge lancets. I'd started with larger 28g, as someone suggested when I started, but I can't now remember why...(gah!)
  • The problem is that I'm trying so hard to poke as close to the edge as I can and I sometimes end up with something akin to a fur shot, or just nick the edge and get too little blood. I try for it anyway and that's when I have to poke again and use another strip.
  • He definitely gets a freeze dried chicken piece :-) Sometimes one for each poke if I'm having an especially hard time.
Also, I have a very hard time testing his other ear because its on my non-dominant side, and very awkward for me. Has there every been concern about testing only in one ear. I apply Neosporin once a day.

Thanks for the testing sticky. I read it at the very start, wouldn't hurt to take another look.
 
Karen & Charlie said:
I have a rice-filled ear warmer, but I only use it if his ear is cold to the touch.
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I use the rice-filled sock, warmed in the microwave every time...it helps to support Luci's ear and she seems to enjoy the warmth..

Karen & Charlie said:
I'm free-handing 31 gauge lancets. I'd started with larger 28g, as someone suggested when I started, but I can't now remember why...(gah!)
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The smaller the number with the lancets/syringes, the bigger the hole. 28's will make a much larger hole than 31 - it's all relative of course, it's not that much larger, but initially while the veins are building up there, it's easier to use the larger gauge lancets. After a while, you'll notice it's so much easier to get the ear to bleed, it's because they become more venous as the pokes continue...I had a hard time getting started too...I think the first time we tried it was 5 pokes and I had to give up...it was a mess...Luci was angry, I was exhausted and I finally got blood when a drop landed on the floor - of all things! Getting a drop on your thumbnail and hanging on to it was a good idea...we did that for a while...DH would hold on to Luci while I did the poking and she was just not agreeable to all that...you should see her now...she sits and purrs through the whole thing...while I do my thang...she sits and waits...she knows that I'm helping her...and sometimes I still tell her, this is for YOU...and she always always gets a snack, a treat or food...she knows about that too :)

Karen & Charlie said:
I apply Neosporin once a day.
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I apply Neosporin every time...it helps the area to heal and Luci likes one brand so much she'll try to eat it...I think it smells fishy - I try to get the store brand because theirs doesn't smell quite as fishy and the Neosporin brand...who can figure?

I'll be looking for your new condo this morning...I don't usually go back and post on previous day condos because I work and just don't have time to re-review all the previous condos...see you later :)
 
Sue and Luci said:
I'll be looking for your new condo this morning...I don't usually go back and post on previous day condos because I work and just don't have time to re-review all the previous condos...see you later :)
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Thanks for checking this morning!! And, for sharing how you do things; it's really helpful
Do people post every day, even if there's no 911 or question? I've not created a new condo because I haven't felt a need, plus it's still morning on the West coast and there's really not data to report.
Have a good one!! :-)
 
Karen & Charlie said:
Thanks for checking this morning!! And, for sharing how you do things; it's really helpful
Do people post every day, even if there's no 911 or question? I've not created a new condo because I haven't felt a need, plus it's still morning on the West coast and there's really not data to report.
Have a good one!! :)
Click to expand...

Oh heck, we post daily..many of us just to keep the group up to date...I post in two forums (Tresiba and LB&L)...it's nice for social reasons and it helps to stay in touch with other kitty parents who are going through the same thing as you. We have many many days of the doldrums...nothing to see here kind of days...but why not post? And then while you're there you can look at some of the other kitty condos and see how things are going with other members. I found the best way I learned how to handle situations before they happened was to look at other people's condos and their Spreadsheets...it's a wealth of situations and solutions with all kinds of variables. Why wait until you have an issue when someone else has already had it and there are lots of opinions and comments on best approaches and solutions. Every cat is different of course, but so many of our issues are similar. It's a great place to visit and hang out if you've got a little time to spare...and I should be working right this minute, yet here I am ... peeking around at the forum!

Come on and join in the fun :)
 
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