10/4 Asia 696

[Stacy & Asia]

New here, I'm trying to read/absorb all the sticky notes. Just created my spreadsheet. Many of Asia's numbers are waaaaay higher than anything I'm seeing around here, is this normal for the beginning? How long is the beginning?

After reading around here, I've also discovered I've made a few mistakes. I didn't know you shouldn't squirt excess insulin back into the bottle (have done, several times, have stopped now). Does that make the insulin bad or is it still potentially okay? It's not cloudy or anything, but I've done it 5-10 times probably.

Also, I get an air bubble when I draw the insulin, it's hard to know how much of a proper dose I'm giving, it's a tiny bubble near the top, but then again, the dose is also pretty tiny. The bottle of lantus I'm currently using was donated to the vet and the vet gave to me. I was able to find a pharmacy to sell me a single pen, but there is still a good 30% of this bottle left.

Another question, is it unusual for cats to be asymptomatic at both low and high sugar numbers? We have had both and Asia keeps purring and is alert/good appetite/ elimination, happy and her usual self no matter what the meter says??? It makes me concerned that I won't know if anything is off with her unless it's dire.

Her only symptom thus far has been being food obsessed since a couple weeks before diagnosis. Prior to this she was "huh? Food? Okay, I'll eat it when I get hungry" and ZERO interest in people food. Now it's "food food food, what are you eating? Can I have some? Is it dinner/breakfast time yet?" She does drink more than most cats, but that was happening already because of CRF, so nothing new there with the diabetes diagnosis.

So thankful to have found this board.

 

[Christie & Maverick]

Welcome! I'm fairly new too, but Asia looks like she has some good numbers (that recent 64 on Oct 2 in particular) then bounces higher because she's not used to those lower numbers. I recall Girlie @Girlie's mom had some pretty high numbers as well as Titan, @MyTitan, but they are both settling down and doing great now, so hang in there. Because every cat is different, it's hard to say what is normal . I'm sure more experienced folks will pop in to offer some suggestions...I must run and take care of my Maverick now

 

[Girlie's mom]

Welcome! I'm fairly new too, but Asia looks like she has some good numbers (that recent 64 on Oct 2 in particular) then bounces higher because she's not used to those lower numbers. I recall Girlie @Girlie's mom had some pretty high numbers as well as Titan, @MyTitan, but they are both settling down and doing great now, so hang in there. Because every cat is different, it's hard to say what is normal . I'm sure more experienced folks will pop in to offer some suggestions...I must run and take care of my Maverick now

High numbers? Did you say high numbers? For a very long time - two months, actually - I was convinced that we would remain in black forever.... So don't despair! I think Girlie just took a long time to adjust to insulin and to stop being afraid of lower numbers...so she'd go to blue or green then bounce sky high, then dip her toes in again...just stick with it! It will get better.

 

[Mandy & Rex (GA)]

Welcome! I see that 64 on the SS. You didn't reduce the next dose. If you ever see a lime green, you want to reduce by 0.25 u for the next dose because that's a sign the cat doesn't need that much insulin.

Great job on home testing!

Don't hesitate to ask questions. That's what we are here for!

 

[Doodles & Karen]

Hi and Welcome to the best place you never really wanted to be I have a few questions and additional links below.

Please add the following to your signature so the folks here don't ask over and over again.
- add that you are using an Alpha Trak Meter. Most use a human meter because the protocols were written with one and the strips are much less expensive. There are differences with dosing advise using the AT meter vs. human meter...

- What food does Asia eat? Is she eating an all wet food diet or is there dry in the mix. What does her typical feeding schedule look like.

- You mentioned CRF...please add any medications she may be on

Good job setting up the spreadsheet and home testing! We use 2 protocols here which are in the stickies at the top of the page. Please let us know in your signature if you plan to follow Tight Regulation (TR) or Start Low Go Slow . The main difference is your ability to test and the reduction number. On an AT meter for TR the reduction is under 68 or if you follow SLGS it is under 90.

Since she hit 64 2 days ago she earned a reduction to .75u regardless of the protocol you plan to follow. Please reduce her dose at the next preshot. Lantus is dosed on how low they go....not how high....or the preshot. It also craves consistency with dose and timing of shots. She's responding well but bouncing from low numbers, possible large drops and skipped shots will cause those higher numbers. No worries...we all started out and I certainly didn't get good advise from my vet. Getting a mid cycle test both day and night are important. Sometimes there is a need for more testing.

I'll leave it there for now not to overwhelm you but please keep asking questions.

 

[Stacy & Asia]

Thanks, Karen. I put all that info in my profile, I thought that's what the sticky instructed, but I will put it in my signature as well. I don't know how to measure to reduce her dose. My vet sold me syringes that don't have half dose measures and then wanted me to increase to 1.5 and told me she would order half dose syringes at a pharmacy they use, but I don't have them yet. Is it crazy to guesstimate that? Or should I give her 1 unit until I get the new syringes?

I'm going to read up on the protocols and see which one makes more sense for us.

She isn't on any medications for CRF. my old vet before we moved basically said she's on a great diet for CRF and if she starts getting dehydrated frequently, we could discuss sub q fluids at home but never suggested any medications. She has done well, her numbers have remained pretty stable and she's typically not dehydrated.

 

[Doodles & Karen]

Good job putting the info into your profile but 90% of the people would not look there. When you can please add it to your signature.

No, I do not think it's safe for you to continue with 1u. Any number under 68 on AT requires a reduction in dose. I think NY requires a prescription for syringes so as soon as you can get the ones with 1/2 unit markings the better. Then you'll be able to eyeball those in-between doses. With the protocols here doses are changed systematically and in .25u unless your kitty has high dose conditions. In the meantime until you get those new syringes I might suggest drawing up a dose that looks like .75u with food coloring and using that as a sample to draw consistently. If she has another reading under 68 with the dose needs to be reduced....that's following the Tight Regulation protocol. If you chose to follow SLGS then her dose is reduced by .25u if she goes below 90. You can always start with one protocol and switch later. TR historically has a better chance for remission but does require closer monitoring.

Since the protocols were written with a human meter, TR states reductions are taken under 50. Using the AT meter that number is 68.

 

[Doodles & Karen]

Here is a picture of drawing .75u which is found in the Insulin Info_ Handling-drawing-Fine doses . BTW, I include the links for reference. There is loads of info on this site and takes time to understand it all. Please ask questions.