10/5 - Lantus - Flash - Test Number - 196

[Flash's human]

So, finally a decent number, easily the lowest he has EVER had since I began testing this week. It appears removing dry food from his diet for even 8 hrs prior to his insulin made a LOT of difference. I will of course continue to watch him closely and attempt to do more tests this morning, while watching my 4 and 6 year old boys, which require attention as well while my wife is out shopping

 

[Flash's human]

Ok, now he has a 116 which is quite a bit lower after +4, is this normal to see this dramatic a decrease, is he dropping too fast?

 

[Flash's human]

And, now he's at 80 after +6 testing, do I need to consider giving him honey soon?

 

[Idjit's mom]

@Wendy&Neko

I would begin testing about every half hour now (so now again please), just to see if he's going to continue to drop. You may need to get some input on reducing the Lantus dose since you have cut out the dry food from his diet. Do you have any high carb gravy type canned food on hand?

The 80 is not a take action number, but he's dropping pretty quickly. 50 is the number for a human meter, which you are using. But it's great that you are watching and taking good care of Flash.

 

[Flash's human]

@Wendy&Neko

I would begin testing about every half hour now (so now again please), just to see if he's going to continue to drop. You may need to get some input on reducing the Lantus dose since you have cut out the dry food from his diet. Do you have any high carb gravy type canned food on hand?

The 80 is not a take action number, but he's dropping pretty quickly. 50 is the number for a human meter, which you are using. But it's great that you are watching and taking good care of Flash.

Yes, I have friskies turkey or beef w/gravy which should be fine though he didn't even finish all his wet food from this morning yet. And, I'm amazed he isn't sleeping next to the water dish like usual. Could he be noticing an effect on his body to drink less water after 1 day of no dry food?

 

[Flash's human]

I will have to seriously consider dropping from 5 to say 3 UI for tonight's shot if this is the possible effect since I won't be around all hours of the night to verify. 5 definitely seems like too much after cutting out dry food. Can see that may be a treat going forward and not part of his meal w/wet food. I'm learning a lot from this, and I'm giving him some deli honey smoked turkey after each blood draw as a reward which hasn't raised his sugar at all it seems.

 

[Idjit's mom]

I can't advise on how much to reduce the dose, I would really like to get veteran members to advise you on that. I expect he's going to bounce into high numbers again at PM preshot..reacting to the lower BG numbers today. So, do not be surprised. It's a natural reaction because he's not used to the lower blood sugar levels.

Please don't reduce that dose that much without some input from experienced members. We want to keep Flash safe and as comfortable as possible. Sometimes these things go at a snail's pace, even though we want immediate results and take action to get there. I have read it so many times, to reduce the dry food consumption gradually, to prevent drastic BG drops like you saw today, or even lower into hypo numbers. Decrease dry, increase wet by increments, especially if kitty really likes that dry food.

Have you done another test?

I am tagging as many experienced members that I can think of that might be checking in on the board today. It's a weekend and members can be out running errands, getting groceries etc.
@Sue and Luci
@Bobbie And Bubba
@MrWorfMen's Mom
@Nan & Amber
@Bron and Sheba (GA)
@Chris & China (GA)

 

[Idjit's mom]

Please read this: How You Can Help Us Help You
and How to Handle Low Numbers

 

[Flash's human]

I can't advise on how much to reduce the dose, I would really like to get veteran members to advise you on that. I expect he's going to bounce into high numbers again at PM preshot..reacting to the lower BG numbers today. So, do not be surprised. It's a natural reaction because he's not used to the lower blood sugar levels.

Please don't reduce that dose that much without some input from experienced members. We want to keep Flash safe and as comfortable as possible. Sometimes these things go at a snail's pace, even though we want immediate results and take action to get there. I have read it so many times, to reduce the dry food consumption gradually, to prevent drastic BG drops like you saw today, or even lower into hypo numbers. Decrease dry, increase wet by increments, especially if kitty really likes that dry food.

Have you done another test?

I am tagging as many experienced members that I can think of that might be checking in on the board today. It's a weekend and members can be out running errands, getting groceries etc.
@Sue and Luci
@Bobbie And Bubba
@MrWorfMen's Mom
@Nan & Amber
@Bron and Sheba (GA)
@Chris & China (GA)

I appreciate all that and the guides, however the weekend is really the only time I can do a true glucose curve like this. His last test I was able to get at +7 and he appears normal again at 167, but he's definitely worn out from all the testing, hissing at me every time I pick him up, been a rough day. So, it seems logical to me if the insulin is starting to wear off then he will gradually come up again prior to the next insulin dose. I will try to get a pre shot does prior to his insulin tonight to get more info, and perhaps dropping to 3 is a bit extreme. Still, he had been at 4 for awhile so I'm think that dosage will be safe. 5 just seems too high after the events of today, better to have him too high than too low early in the morning it seems. I do believe the dry food has to go though, it makes such a HUGE difference in his blood sugar numbers and really isn't helping his situation it seems.

 

[Chris & China (GA)]

And, I'm amazed he isn't sleeping next to the water dish like usual. Could he be noticing an effect on his body to drink less water after 1 day of no dry food?

Absolutely....also, his numbers have been much better today which will decrease the drinking. Getting the dry completely out of his diet is the best thing you can do for him (and any other cats you have). Cats were designed to get their moisture from their prey. They have a very low thirst drive, so a cat that's drinking water is dehydrated.

A diabetic cat drinks lots of water because they are trying to dilute the glucose in the bloodstream. (which is also why they pee so much....all that water has to go somewhere!)

Is the dry food completely gone yet or is he still getting some?

 

[Flash's human]

Absolutely....also, his numbers have been much better today which will decrease the drinking. Getting the dry completely out of his diet is the best thing you can do for him (and any other cats you have). Cats were designed to get their moisture from their prey. They have a very low thirst drive, so a cat that's drinking water is dehydrated.

A diabetic cat drinks lots of water because they are trying to dilute the glucose in the bloodstream. (which is also why they pee so much....all that water has to go somewhere!)

Is the dry food completely gone yet or is he still getting some?

I cut out all dry food today and will do it again tomorrow as a trial run, all he has now are the few dry food treats I give him after a blood draw which seems negligible since it never caused his blood sugar to go up.

 

[Sue and Luci]

I agree completely with Chris and China about the dry food...it's loaded with starches (corn, wheat, etc.) will keep cats BG's artificially high.

How long has he been off the dry food? Which protocol are you following? TR or SLGS?

If on SLGS then he's earned a reduction...(any number below 90)...if TR, then he hasn't.

5 just seems too high after the events of today, better to have him too high than too low early in the morning it seems.

He's most likely going to bounce pretty high after seeing that new low green today - his body isn't used to a normal number...and he'll most likely keep going up. However, after the next shot of insulin he will need to be monitored - at least for long enough to see if he's going to bounce or if the next dose will help steer his numbers back down. This was a nice looking much more normal day than any he's seen before.

Even though it may be troublesome for him to endure the testing, its critical to keep him safe. Try to pick him up every now and then without testing, pet him, give him a treat and let him go on about his business. It'll help him understand that it's not 'every time' you pick him up that he's going to get poked. Are you using the warmed up rice filled sock to help warm his ears? Luci really likes the warmed rice sock - I massage her head and back with it a few times before putting it under her ear to support it - I think she finds it relaxing and soothing...

I won't be up long tonight...but hope you'll try to get as many tests as you can.

 

[Wendy&Neko]

I would reduce tonight, maybe down to 4 or 4.5 units, but first, how much will you be able to monitor in the upcoming cycles?

I am assuming with dry food still working it’s way out of the body, plus the amount of monitoring to date, that you are currently following the SLGS dosing method. That can change as the dry works it’s way out,

 

[Flash's human]

133 on his +4 for tonight, he's looking good after I gave him more wet food than I normally do. SLGS dosing method makes a lot of sense, so I'm doing that. I can monitor tomorrow a fair amount before plans take me out of the house. Then, I'll get back to monitoring him later on, but I'll check him before I leave of course. Still, I can't believe how much better he's doing today, like a different cat! Just a shame about the neuropathy, I will hope the b12 helps in time w/that.

 

[Flash's human]

I agree completely with Chris and China about the dry food...it's loaded with starches (corn, wheat, etc.) will keep cats BG's artificially high.

How long has he been off the dry food? Which protocol are you following? TR or SLGS?

If on SLGS then he's earned a reduction...(any number below 90)...if TR, then he hasn't.



He's most likely going to bounce pretty high after seeing that new low green today - his body isn't used to a normal number...and he'll most likely keep going up. However, after the next shot of insulin he will need to be monitored - at least for long enough to see if he's going to bounce or if the next dose will help steer his numbers back down. This was a nice looking much more normal day than any he's seen before.

Even though it may be troublesome for him to endure the testing, its critical to keep him safe. Try to pick him up every now and then without testing, pet him, give him a treat and let him go on about his business. It'll help him understand that it's not 'every time' you pick him up that he's going to get poked. Are you using the warmed up rice filled sock to help warm his ears? Luci really likes the warmed rice sock - I massage her head and back with it a few times before putting it under her ear to support it - I think she finds it relaxing and soothing...

I won't be up long tonight...but hope you'll try to get as many tests as you can.

Yes, the rice sock has been critical to getting blood out of his ears. Doubtful my cat will ever find it relaxing and soothing as he tries to attack it, lol.

 

[Sue and Luci]

Doubtful my cat will ever find it relaxing and soothing as he tries to attack it, lol.

Maybe two then? One for the 'attack'? and one for 'getting the job done'? He sounds like quite the rascal!

plans take me out of the house

Plans??? You have plans??? And you actually said it out loud here? I've had plans before..Luci always seems to know it too...and puts on her deepest diving suit and chases those sharks to the very depths of the lagoon...I've had more than one occasion canceled because Luci decided that was THE time to go deep... I sure hope that will be 'bounce time' and you'll be able to go. Just sharing my experiences with you...might not want to 'whispering now' ... talk about your plans around an FD cat...they have their devices for keeping you under their paw...