12/1 Bingo - AMPS 245; +1 175; +2 121; +6 106

[Kate and Bingo]

Yesterday's thread

We did his shot 30 min early this morning to help get back on schedule after last night's stall and plan to do the same tomorrow.

The Libre went to "40" and "LOW" so many times last night but his BG was fine. I think we need to decide not to let low numbers on the Libre freak us out. It feels like we were doing really well and then I got panicky and now we need to level out all over again.

With the way the depot works, staying at this dose several days should flatten, even if it isn't ultimately his best dose, right?

 

[Allie & Gen]

I think you're right about the Libre lows, probably! Gen doesn't tolerate home BG testing (working on that is a future goal), but we had a recent night when he was hovering around the 50s for several hours and the alarm kept going off - and he seemed completely fine throughout. (At the time I was very freaked out, but we're still getting the hang of, you know, everything.)

 

[Kate and Bingo]

I’m at work but the Libre 2 was quite low for an hour, so my husband spot checked with the Alpha and got 157 at +9. Even keeping in mind the different scales, the Libre said he was low in the 50s-60s and the Alpha says he is kind of high (right?).

I am thinking we did not actually earn his last reduction. Thoughts?

(And does this trend too high for a cat with recent DKA history?)

 

[Staci & Ivy]

I’m at work but the Libre 2 was quite low for an hour, so my husband spot checked with the Alpha and got 157 at +9. Even keeping in mind the different scales, the Libre said he was low in the 50s-60s and the Alpha says he is kind of high (right?).

I am thinking we did not actually earn his last reduction. Thoughts?

(And does this trend too high for a cat with recent DKA history?)

It’s really good you can spot check the Libre lows.

I use a Libre 3 and get the alerts on my phone so I know what’s going on at all times with my kitty.

I use a human glucometer, (contour next) meter to test the Lows against my Libre.

What I have noticed is that when Ivy’s glucose drops on the Libre down to the 40s or LO that is when she will normally be under 100 on the contour next meter.
Usually, she’s somewhere between 60 and 80s when she’s LO on the Libre.

However, other people I have seen post that whatever meter they are using can be within 10 to 30 points of the Libre.
So, you have to get used to what your meter reads against the Libre and your cat. It definitely seems like ECID, every cat is different.

 

[Bandit's Mom]

How is the food transition going?

 

[Kate and Bingo]

How is the food transition going?

Thank you for checking in. Slow but I’m trying. We’ve adjusted the ratio to more wet than dry and will continue to work him toward a full transition as a first step.

He is vomiting again as of today. :-( So far just a small amount. He had dinner not long ago so we’ll see how things go.

Hope you’re having a good week so far!

 

[Wendy&Neko]

Was that 65 tonight on the Libre? That's a big drop to +2, hope you can get a later test tonight. And it means that I'd pause any increase. The larger dose can impact 4-6 cycles after a reduction. You should soon know what the 0.5 unit dose can do by itself without the larger depot.

 

[Kate and Bingo]

Was that 65 tonight on the Libre? That's a big drop to +2, hope you can get a later test tonight. And it means that I'd pause any increase. The larger dose can impact 4-6 cycles after a reduction. You should soon know what the 0.5 unit dose can do by itself without the larger depot.

It was— when would you recommend testing?

We think the new sensor is bad (or perhaps badly applied by us). Lots of gaps in data and random lows and highs. We need to go get a new sensor tomorrow and apply it after work. I suspect the 124 at 2.25 is closer to the truth but we can verify. He was just playing in my sweater.

 

[Kate and Bingo]

(In the pic above you can see a weird random cliff dropoff in the afternoon. Husband grabbed the Alphatrak and Bingo was 127, acting normally the whole time.)

 

[Wendy&Neko]

I'd test again at +3, to see if he's continuing the fast drop.

 

[Kate and Bingo]

Okay, the Libre finished calibrating itself and came back online at 113 for +3.25.

We just got 131 on the AlphaTrak at +3.75.

The new Libre 2 has been throwing these wild lows whenever he sits still for more than a minute. Not sure how to record that responsibly!

I think we’ll need to test blood tomorrow as well until the new sensor is on, since this one is not reliable. Never done that! Is pre shot, +1, +3, +6 okay?

Thanks!

 

[Staci & Ivy]

Okay, the Libre finished calibrating itself and came back online at 113 for +3.25.

We just got 131 on the AlphaTrak at +3.75.

The new Libre 2 has been throwing these wild lows whenever he sits still for more than a minute. Not sure how to record that responsibly!

I think we’ll need to test blood tomorrow as well until the new sensor is on, since this one is not reliable. Never done that! Is pre shot, +1, +3, +6 okay?

Thanks!

Is the Libre still being wonky?
Sometimes it calms down after a weird cycle.
I hope that’s the case

It’s good you can double check with a blood test.

What area do you have the Libre installed? Is it a good spot that Bingo can’t really press on the sensor?

Have you seen our document which gives lots of information about using a Libre?

Getting Started With Continuous Glucose Monitors (CGMs) for Diabetic Cats

 

[Bandit's Mom]

He is vomiting again as of today. :-( So far just a small amount. He had dinner not long ago so we’ll see how things go.

What does the vomit look like? Is there a particular time that he vomits at? Long gaps in meals can cause stomach acid build up which can lead to vomiting. Is it a scarf and barf? A hairball? At one point, my civivie would vomit all the food out a few minutes after eating and my vet prescribed an antacid and she was fine after a couple of days on it!

 

[Kate and Bingo]

What area do you have the Libre installed? Is it a good spot that Bingo can’t really press on the sensor?

Hi! It’s in the same general area the vet techs chose and shaved for the first one, slightly off center on his upper back. He doesn’t really lay ON it but reading the info you shared, it does sound a bit like a contact low, doesn’t it?

Is the Libre still being wonky?
Sometimes it calms down after a weird cycle.

It actually does look a little better this AM. Watching to see how it behaves.

Have you seen our document which gives lots of information about using a Libre?

I hadn’t! About halfway through reading and I’ve already learned some things!!

What does the vomit look like? Is there a particular time that he vomits at?

Hmm, don’t have a good pattern on the latest two barfs but they were both small, one with a hairball and a few small pieces of food. (Spouse encountered both while I was at the office.) It does seem different from when he was vomiting last week— that was full tummies of food, and it stopped after the vet had us stop his antibiotic. One barf yesterday was when we gave his Cerenia (of course).

We got a microchip feeder so he can graze a little throughout the afternoons if needed, so hopefully that will help with any chance of scarfing at the end of the day. No barfing last night after dinner!!!