11/23 Phoebe Squeak PMPS number below take action number -- advice please

J.J. and Phoebe Squeak

J.J. and Phoebe Squeak

Member Since 2019
Phoebe Squeak's PMPS number was 65 on Alphatrak. I know you typically don't feed with a low PS number but I felt I had to because she was below 68. I fed her regular dinner with 1 teaspoon 15% carb mixed in. I didn't see the point of re-testing because I know it will be a food influenced number, so I reduced her dose and gave the shot.
I am able to test and feed her high carb food all night if needed.
I didn't feel I had any time to wait for advice, but I'd love some now. Either advice on how to proceed tonight -- I plan to retest in 1/2 hour -- or how to handle this if it ever happens again.
Thanks in advance for your help.
 
I'd definitely get that test in 30 min. and if she's lower or flat feed some higher carb food. I hope she surfs safely tonight.
 
The directions on what to do if you get a low PS are found in this sticky on becoming data ready and shooting lower preshots.

It is not true that you don’t feed a low PS number. It depends on what the number is (obviously the 30s on a human meter are too low and we need to take action) but if the numbers are 40s on a human meter and certainly 65 on an AT, if you want to shoot, then what you should do is not feed and retest in 20 mins to see if the BG is coming up. If it is above 68, and you have data, supplies, can monitor, then shoot. If it’s not, you feed 1 tsp of low carb food. Retest in 30 and if the BG is coming up above 68 AT or 50 human, shoot.

By feeding 15% food, you now have a very carb influenced number and we don’t want to feed MC/HC to be able to shoot. Remember that at the end of the cycle, the insulin is really starting to wane (generally) and so it shouldn’t take more than LC to bring the BG up to shoot.

Don’t forget to reduce the dose since she dropped below 68. :)
 
Marje and Gracie said:
The directions on what to do if you get a low PS are found in this sticky on becoming data ready and shooting lower preshots.

It is not true that you don’t feed a low PS number. It depends on what the number is (obviously the 30s on a human meter are too low and we need to take action) but if the numbers are 40s on a human meter and certainly 65 on an AT, if you want to shoot, then what you should do is not feed and retest in 20 mins to see if the BG is coming up. If it is above 68, and you have data, supplies, can monitor, then shoot. If it’s not, you feed 1 tsp of low carb food. Retest in 30 and if the BG is coming up above 68 AT or 50 human, shoot.

By feeding 15% food, you now have a very carb influenced number and we don’t want to feed MC/HC to be able to shoot. Remember that at the end of the cycle, the insulin is really starting to wane (generally) and so it shouldn’t take more than LC to bring the BG up to shoot.

Don’t forget to reduce the dose since she dropped below 68. :)
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Thank you very much for all your good advice. Much appreciated.
 
Marje and Gracie said:
You are very welcome!

Did you shoot a 65? That’s what the SS indicates.
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Yes, we did but we fed her first. And so far so good, but as you say, the numbers are food influenced. I will be sure to get a +2.
Phoebe has sometimes come down at the rate of 100 points an hour, so when she tested 65 for a PS number I thought it was too dangerous to do nothing and wait 15 minutes -- I was worried she could fall as low as 40. But you are saying that at the end of the cycle it's safe to wait and re-test? The fast drops have all been during the active part of her cycle. Just want to be sure I understand in case this happens again.
Thank you so much for taking the time to help.
 
J.J. and Phoebe Squeak said:
Yes, we did but we fed her first. And so far so good, but as you say, the numbers are food influenced. I will be sure to get a +2.
Phoebe has sometimes come down at the rate of 100 points an hour, so when she tested 65 for a PS number I thought it was too dangerous to do nothing and wait 15 minutes -- I was worried she could fall as low as 40. But you are saying that at the end of the cycle it's safe to wait and re-test? The fast drops have all been during the active part of her cycle. Just want to be sure I understand in case this happens again.
Thank you so much for taking the time to help.
Click to expand...
Yes, end of cycle and you test and she’s in the lower 60s (AT), wait 20 mins and retest. If she’s dropped a bit, give her a tsp of LC food and retest in 30. If she’s up above 68, shoot full dose and test at +1.

You do not want to feed MC or HC to get the numbers up to shoot. If you feed MC or HC after you test and get a number below 68 (AT), then you need to wait two hours to shoot so you aren’t shooting a food spike. The reason is because numbers could come right back down on you after the HC wears off.

The one thing I can’t tell you is how low is too low on an AT to just feed LC? The TR protocol is written for human meters and so if we tested, got a 40-something, waited 20 mins (no food), retested and got a 30-something, then it’s time for a bit of HC and waiting to shoot until the HC wears off or skip. But there are no equivalents with the AT so I can’t give you a “take action now” number like the 30s.

This is another really good scenario to show why it’s very beneficial to use a human meter instead of an AT (and I have an AT and love it but used a human meter).
 
Marje and Gracie said:
Yes, end of cycle and you test and she’s in the lower 60s (AT), wait 20 mins and retest. If she’s dropped a bit, give her a tsp of LC food and retest in 30. If she’s up above 68, shoot full dose and test at +1.

You do not want to feed MC or HC to get the numbers up to shoot. If you feed MC or HC after you test and get a number below 68 (AT), then you need to wait two hours to shoot so you aren’t shooting a food spike. The reason is because numbers could come right back down on you after the HC wears off.

The one thing I can’t tell you is how low is too low on an AT to just feed LC? The TR protocol is written for human meters and so if we tested, got a 40-something, waited 20 mins (no food), retested and got a 30-something, then it’s time for a bit of HC and waiting to shoot until the HC wears off or skip. But there are no equivalents with the AT so I can’t give you a “take action now” number like the 30s.

This is another really good scenario to show why it’s very beneficial to use a human meter instead of an AT (and I have an AT and love it but used a human meter).
Click to expand...
I understand, Marje. Thanks so much for clarifying.
 
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