258 nadir, holding on to hope

[Teresa & Cricket]

Today I'm doing a curve on Cricket and her lowest was 258- and this is the lowest she's been so far. We are at 4u Lantus and I am planning to increase to 4.5 tomorrow morning.

I will likely try and get in a vet visit after I clear rent this month, to consider the possibility of pancreatitis or IBS/IBD.

I am hoping that her BSL going down a little is hope that I am getting there with the dose. Any thoughts?

 

[Hroswitha]

I am so sorry no one has gotten back to you on this. Please be patient. One of the more experienced advisors will eventually touch base with you.

For now, I would recommend that you modify your header. Start with either the date or the name of your kitty, and put in the whole day's worth of readings. If you're doing a curve, once the line fills, drop the earlier readings into the body of the thread and just post the PM numbers.

Also, for faster responses, edit the header of your post and put a question mark in or put "Need eyes" into the header. It will get you attention faster.

You and your sugar kitty are important. Keep with the program. Test more often and keep the spread sheet up to date. If you can, check her for a couple of days every two hours - weekends are best for that obviously. Post the numbers, and set a pattern. It may be that your dose is too high, but that won't be obvious until you regularly get PS numbers morning and evening, and catch her at onset and nadir, with ideally a +11 here and there.

Also, if you can post a link to the previous day's posts, that will keep us all up to date on your progress. Look at the threads started by other users and see how they do it. More information means better advice.

Keep us up to date. And remember that the blood check in the vet's office will typically be higher than you'll see at home. My Yemala clocked in at nearly 500 when she was diagnosed again; she's almost never that high at home, except when she's on a high bounce.

Good luck.

 

[Wendy&Neko]

With nadirs in the yellows (200's) and at Cricket's size of dose, we would increase by 0.25 units, not 0.5 units, if an increase was appropriate. On this board, we strongly recommend getting a test before each and every shot, to know it's safe to give insulin. I also suggest getting more tests at night, when most cats go lower. We determine how to change the dose based on the nadirs, or low points, hence the need to try to catch the lows at night. Those extra tests will help you determine whether your insulin dose is too much or too little. And honestly, with the amount of data I see in the spreadsheet, I can't tell which way you should go with the dose. If you get a few more tests for a couple of days, then repost and we can help decide where to go next.

What makes you thing pancreatitis or IBD might be in the picture? Inflammation/pain can also increase the blood sugar.

Here is the link to your last post here, for continuity: http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/...re-bouncing-or-just-high.206336/#post-2287505

 

[Teresa & Cricket]

Thanks for the replies @Wendy&Neko and @Hroswitha ,
I got behind on messages due to a stomach bug but am back.

I took the slower route and increased her to 4.25 this week, but she's still high yet flat-ish.

I should've framed my question better: I'm hoping that the flatter curve and signs of her finally hitting the 200's is a good thing and hopeful that we are getting somewhere.

I am trying to get some night readings when I can, but I do need sleep. So I do what I can (I got a late-night nadir recently, and as I suspected, it was in the same range as the daytime)

I am suspecting IBS because of stool and food sensitivity problems that she has been having for quite a while.
I recently removed fish from her diet, about a week before we started getting more yellows.

For instance, she was doing good while I was feeding her Pure Vita chicken, but got semi loose stools today after I introduced some beef last night.
Today her curve looked like the insulin was non-existent. (350-407)

Could be fur shot, but I felt the needle go in and double checked.


I get that more testing is better, and I plan on doing more preshot tests when she finally starts to go down.
Right now, I can't quite afford to keep buying test strips and have to be more judicious with my testing. (But I have some help coming soon from DCIN and PRAISE BAST FOR THEM!)

Plus, she is not the most compliant cat and I already have to pill her once a day. Her quality of life is very important to me. Right before a meal is the hardest to get a read since she's all excited and antsy.
She is also a HCM/CHF kitty, and that is the most important piece. Too much stress can cause her respirations to go up... so it is all a balancing act I am learning.

I will pay attention to headings next time, but it is possible that this particular forum is not right for me.

Thank you bot for the replies!

 

[Wendy&Neko]

Glad you are feel8 g better.

By night readings, I mean a before bed test which can give you at least an idea what is happening that cycle. And whether you should leave some food out for her to be safe. Those AT strips are pricy, the most common reason people switch to human meters. That plus human meters are easier to come by.

Fish and beef are common food allergens for cats. I hope you find something she can eat soon. Food sensitivities are the worst!