? 3 May 2019 Tim AMPS 103 Low Pre-shot Questions
- Thread starter Raewyn
- Start date
Copying your questions over here for easier answering.
Hello and welcome, I will tackle as many of these questions as I can. First, if you haven’t already, I would read the yellow starred sticky notes in the top of this forum. Most people here select one of the dosing methods described in the Sticky Note on dosing methods. Those methods will give you guidelines about when to increase or decrease the dose, and what to do when you get a lower preshot than you are used to. I printed off the Tight Regulation document, the method I was following, and gave it to my vet. It helped her realize there was some structure behind my dosing changes. If you are having to skip a lot, it may be a sign you need to reduce the dose by 0.25 units, so you can shoot twice a day.
Skipping was OK this morning. Over time and with data you will be able to shoot a partial dose, and even the full dose if you are around to monitor him.
To get back on schedule, you can move the shot either 15 minutes a cycle, or 1/2 an hour once per day.
Always have a backup container of strips around. I got nervous if I had less than 100 around, well actually, more like 200.
Syringes and bubbles, horrid little things those.
First, make sure you push the plunger up and down a few times to make sure the lubricant is spread around. Next, draw the insulin and about 0.5 to 1 unit more. Amount will need experimenting. Then remove the syringe from the cartridge or vial and draw up about 1 unit of air. Turn the syringe needle up. Tap the syringe to move the smaller bubbles up. Seems bubbles like to join other bubbles, and that way they will join at the top. Gently push or squeeze the plunger by twistinit, to remove the air at the top.
Hello and welcome, I will tackle as many of these questions as I can. First, if you haven’t already, I would read the yellow starred sticky notes in the top of this forum. Most people here select one of the dosing methods described in the Sticky Note on dosing methods. Those methods will give you guidelines about when to increase or decrease the dose, and what to do when you get a lower preshot than you are used to. I printed off the Tight Regulation document, the method I was following, and gave it to my vet. It helped her realize there was some structure behind my dosing changes. If you are having to skip a lot, it may be a sign you need to reduce the dose by 0.25 units, so you can shoot twice a day.
Skipping was OK this morning. Over time and with data you will be able to shoot a partial dose, and even the full dose if you are around to monitor him.
To get back on schedule, you can move the shot either 15 minutes a cycle, or 1/2 an hour once per day.
Always have a backup container of strips around. I got nervous if I had less than 100 around, well actually, more like 200.
Syringes and bubbles, horrid little things those.
First, make sure you push the plunger up and down a few times to make sure the lubricant is spread around. Next, draw the insulin and about 0.5 to 1 unit more. Amount will need experimenting. Then remove the syringe from the cartridge or vial and draw up about 1 unit of air. Turn the syringe needle up. Tap the syringe to move the smaller bubbles up. Seems bubbles like to join other bubbles, and that way they will join at the top. Gently push or squeeze the plunger by twistinit, to remove the air at the top.
Raewyn
Member Since 2019
Great, thanks for your help. I could have sworn I had another container of 50 strips, but when I went to find them they were no where to be found. I won't make that mistake again!
That's really helpful about the bubbles. I hadn't thought of drawing in air to the syringe before trying to expel them. That make much more sense and means I'm not wasting the insulin in the needle, which I was worried about.
I have been using both the dosing methods as a loose guideline for what to shoot, but have been going with my vet's recommendation for the dose. Except for the starting dose she is going pretty much with what the schedule says. She told me to just shoot as long as the preshot value is above 6 (mmol/L), which seems quite low. She didn't say what to do if it was lower than that but I'll see what she suggests next time I talk to her. She seems to be a lot less cautious about low numbers than most people here and doesn't like me to skip or reduce doses.
That's really helpful about the bubbles. I hadn't thought of drawing in air to the syringe before trying to expel them. That make much more sense and means I'm not wasting the insulin in the needle, which I was worried about.
I have been using both the dosing methods as a loose guideline for what to shoot, but have been going with my vet's recommendation for the dose. Except for the starting dose she is going pretty much with what the schedule says. She told me to just shoot as long as the preshot value is above 6 (mmol/L), which seems quite low. She didn't say what to do if it was lower than that but I'll see what she suggests next time I talk to her. She seems to be a lot less cautious about low numbers than most people here and doesn't like me to skip or reduce doses.
Julie and Honey
Member Since 2018
Experienced people with data and following SLGS shoot anything above 90 (5.0). If following TR, that numbers falls to 2.8 (50). Personally I never shot below 51. 
But that’s cause I never had the chance. Lantus is great at keeping low numbers flat, not so much at yanking down the blood sugar numbers. However, we usually council people to slowly work their way down to lower and lower preshots, when they can monitor to see what happens. We also suggest not combining or picking bits from SLGS and TR. there are safety mechanisms built into each dosing method that don’t necessarily cross over to the other method, so we pick one or the other.
@Julie and Honey Aww shucks, just one of many. It takes a village....
But that’s cause I never had the chance. Lantus is great at keeping low numbers flat, not so much at yanking down the blood sugar numbers. However, we usually council people to slowly work their way down to lower and lower preshots, when they can monitor to see what happens. We also suggest not combining or picking bits from SLGS and TR. there are safety mechanisms built into each dosing method that don’t necessarily cross over to the other method, so we pick one or the other.@Julie and Honey Aww shucks, just one of many. It takes a village....
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Raewyn
Member Since 2019
Thanks, that makes sense. I do feel like I want to try shooting at a slightly higher number before I shoot as low as 103. The lowest I've shot so far is 205, and I didn't even get a chance to do any testing after that. He is going up fast now though, 324 at +7. I wouldn't be surprised to see him in black numbers by the PM shot :-(
I'd say my vet is following the SLGS rather than the tight regulation as the curves are done about once a week. He's been so all over the place though that it's hard to see any patterns happening.
I'd say my vet is following the SLGS rather than the tight regulation as the curves are done about once a week. He's been so all over the place though that it's hard to see any patterns happening.