3/31 Elizabeth PMPS 101, 2 tests @ +5 43 and 1 min later 100, PMPS 112, +2 121

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I did a +5 on Liz and got a reading of 43. I tested again one minute later, and it was 100. So, I think I had a bad strip with the 43 reading, which is my second possibly bad strip (first one 3/27).
Advice, please?
Thank you!
 
I don't suppose you managed to get another test around +6 on her? One of the two +5 tests wasn't right for sure, but it's tricky to know which one it would have been without another test a bit later to see where she was then. If the 100 was right and close to her nadir then that's a very, very flat cycle looking at her 101 AMPS.
 
No, I didn't test again, as I was feeling certain that the 43 was a bad strip. Maybe I'm wrong? Anyway, I just did the PMPS and it's 112, so that fits in with the other numbers, and I think she's flat. I don't like to test a lot, but I do want her to be safe. I'm giving these shots that have one drop of insulin in them. Assuming the drop actually gets into her system, does that one drop make a difference? Anyone know?
 
Yes, the drop makes a difference. Cats can be very sensitive to insulin and we've had other cats that just needed one drop for a period of time. Don't make the mistake of thinking it can't or isn't doing anything. I haven't seen it personally, but I have heard that sometime in the past, at 0.1u a cat had a hypo.

If you get any other questionable tests, I'd give it a 3rd strip to make sure what it really is. It's worth the use of the strip to have confidence - there's a huge difference between 43 and 100, but at nadir, with this dose, it could logically be either one. Either she could be saying "done with insulin!" or it could be the typical well-regulated cat's flat cycle.
 
Oh wow. I gave the drop, and will test again. Do you think a test at +3 would be good, or +2? Are these numbers good, or should they be a bit lower?
 
Everything under 120 (human meter) is considered normal and everything under 100 (human meter) is consider ideal. AT's read approximately 30-40% higher.

I think Elizabeth is doing great and I think both of you are very, very lucky! :D

oh - i'd get a +2.
 
I can also confirm the drop absolutely makes a difference. After those couple of days where I tried Rosa without the insulin, the 0.1 I gave her (with pretty much no depot left in her system at that point) took her straight down to 53 by +2 and I had to keep feeding her for hours because every time I stopped, she started dropping back down again. That's how she finished up on the 0.05.

And I agree on the extra test if the first 2 come up as 43 and 100 - I'd definitely want to know which of the two it was.

And absolutely, you and Elizabeth are doing great - she's getting some really good numbers. :D
 
Michelle,
What is .05? I have been testing the syringe with colored water, and I know there is nowhere else to go from where I am now. I am at the zero line. Tonight I tried to stay right above it without any daylight, rather than ON it, because I want to make sure she gets something. There is literally one drop.

Yes, I will for sure get a third test if that happens again. It's happened to me twice, so.....
 
What you can measure can differ depending on the width of the barrel of the syringe. The narrower the barrel is, the easier it is to measure these tiny amounts. When you have a wide barrel it becomes very difficult. I tried to help someone get a 0.1u who was using Relion syringes, if i recall correctly, and i absolutely could not get 0.1u. I had her do the "vacuum up one drop" method instead because even though I was experienced, i really couldn't draw up that small of a dose because the barrel was simply too wide. I used Terumos, which have a narrow barrel and make it fairly easy to draw up a tiny dose.
 
I get the 0.05 by pushing the plunger into the syringe as hard as I can, keeping it there while putting the needle into the insulin bottle, then releasing it, so the negative pressure draws up a tiny, tiny amount of insulin. 0.05 is the nearest I can call it - I don't know if it's actually exactly that, but it is at least a fairly consistent dose at a level that's way too small for me to even think about measuring!

Bad test strips happen occasionally - I hadn't had any at all, then I had 3 in the last bottle of strips. Including one that gave me what looked like the most massive food spike in the world - AMPS 77, +1 261!! The retest was 127 which was clearly the right one as Rosa hasn't had a reading over 200 in more than a month. I did almost have a heart attack when I looked at the meter on the first test though!
 
You do need to have the right amount of blood in a drop when you check it. If you have not enough you won't get a reading. If it's a giant blob that gets pulled in, you might get an inaccurate amount too.
 
Maybe I should try another type of syringe. But then there might be a difference in dose, correct?

+2 121. Any thoughts?

Thanks!
 
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