3/23 Smokey OTJ questions

[Melanie and Smokey]

I know we haven't followed protocol completely, but I am trying to figure out these last steps. I see some saying not to go 0.25 to OTJ but step down slower, others saying a newly diagnosed steps down 0.25 at a time. We aren't really able to measure anything between our guess at a 0.25 and a fat 0 so at most we are going to get 1 step between 0.25 and OTJ. Should we be going OTJ now or should we try to hold a fat 0 for at least 7 cycles?

The last two evenings were up (but still good numbers). But I think that has to do with the fact that I have to be getting to work earlier so their snack is earlier in the day without a feeding closer to the shot. This schedule will have to continue through April 15th even getting worse as I should be getting out the door earlier. I thought starting OTJ might be better on a weekend when I can be home a little more during the day to test and see what she does. but this will be my last weekend before April 15th that will be free enough to test.

So it appears my options are:
(1) start this Sat am after 8 cycles of fat0 (did we even need to do this step?) showing a blue right at the end of the 14 cycles threw me a little
(2) hold until 14 cycles is up and start next Tues when I can only get 1 AM, 1 PM, and maybe a +2 or +3 reading.
(3) keep giving fat0s until after the 15th and go OTJ when work lets up (not the ideal since this schedule is killing me).
(4) any better ideas?

All of this is, of course, assuming she doesn't suddenly go off track with the last reduction.

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

I would keep the Fat 0.0 for a week. I think keeping Smokey on insulin for as long as possible so you are giving his pancreas support and allowing it to heal will give him the best chance of staying OTJ. You would hold the dose for 7 days (14 cycles) before an OTJ trial.

 

[Linda and Tasha]

Hi, I just went OTJ with Tasha. I would stick with the fat 0. Believe me, it makes a difference. For a while I found a .1 was too much and a fat 0 was too little so I went for a fat,fat 0. Tasha is very insulin sensitive. I went OTJ because Tasha crashed on a fat 0, so it is not giving nothing even though it feels that way. Stick with it for awhile and see how Smokey does. Looks like Smokey is on track and will going OTJ soon, but if you rush it, it may not stick.

 

[Melanie and Smokey]

So what test times should we be aiming to get on OTJ? Will AMBG & PMBG enough? With maybe a AM+1 and a PM +2 or +3 here and there. Seems like I need to get some post feeding shots in there to see if she's dropping herself.

I don't want to end her to soon, not a problem and these blues have had me more hesitant to stop. I just read today about the newly diagnosed dropping 0.25 and wondered if I was taking more steps than I should. No testing that last week of tax season sounds too good to be possible.

This has created a little fuzzy grey alarm clock. My shot alarm hasn't been working right since day light savings. No worries, 15 minutes to shot time she is beside the bed telling me to get up and she does not shut up until I am actually out of the bed. :twisted:

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

I think if it's possible to get some mid-cycle checks if and when possible (e.g., weekends or if you can set an alarm on occasion at night) that will help to know what's going on.

I'm not recalling the reference you made about the newly diagnosed dropping 0.25. Could you let me know where you saw this?

 

[Melanie and Smokey]

I am in and out of so many condos and resource threads and Health posts, I just don't know where I saw it. I know its been a couple times in the last day or two, I think one was a post in Health today talking about reductions and how newly diagnosed earn reductions of 0.25, but long terms usually shave the dose more slowly using fats and skinnys.

Is there any +X numbers that are more benficial to get on OTJ? Right now I get up workout then test, shoot and feed at about 9. Get ready for work. Test again +1, 2 or 3 depending on work situation, then feed a snack and out the door. I then work until somewhere between midnight and 3am depending on how long I last, testing and snack when I get home. Hubby handles 9pm test, shoot, feed. As we approach Apr 15th I need to squish as many more work hours in there as possible so I need to try to get leaving to work as close to that 9am shot time as possible.

If I have targetted times, I can run out of work to test, but I can't do that too much because it costs me 30-45minutes each time. Hubby gets home at various times from 2hrs preshot to sometimes just making it through the door with just enough time to test and poke.

So its not so much waking up to test, its getting someone home at the appropriate times to test when we are both in our worst work schedules of the year. My dear little kitty had to pick tax season to take a spin in Lantus Land.

 

[Linda and Tasha]

I think if it's possible to get some mid-cycle checks if and when possible (e.g., weekends or if you can set an alarm on occasion at night) that will help to know what's going on.

I'm not recalling the reference you made about the newly diagnosed dropping 0.25. Could you let me know where you saw this?

Actually Tasha was like that. I started with one shot only per day at .5 for the first few days but quickly shifted to .25 twice a day. That is where she should have started. Tasha is a tiny little girl 7 lbs. and very insulin sensitive.