4/11 Merlin AMPS 508; +3/415; +4/328; +5/281; +6/298; PM 472

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Merlin

Merlin

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Merlin got a 508 this morning. Ugh, he just can't get out of these high pre-shot numbers. I looked and looked at his chart and I just don't know what to give. I am thinking a .8 today. I will be able to monitor him today. I just never know if this is a day that he is going to drop quickly or have somewhat of a nice curve.
 
Re: 4/11 Merlin AMPS 508

I would definitely watch him today. Just be thinking, data collecting, data collecting....

One of the things to consider is not only the number, but the % of the drop. Last night, he dropped more than 50% at +3. We generally like to see a 50% drop at nadir, or maybe a little lower. I think it likely that he got into lower ranges at nadir last night and the amps is a bounce, but today may tell us. If he drops at nadir or if he is flat, it will have probably have been because of a bounce from last night.

It's beginning to look like he takes several cycles to settle into a dose. The .6 kept looking better and better as you gave it in that 450 range.

And don't get discouraged. Think about how much you have learned in the past few weeks and how bad he would be if you were giving 3 units and not testing....anytime a cat is getting under 2 units, we consider that a good sign. And Merlin is under one unit! We are struggling a little to figure out just how he "works" with insulin, but he is doing great.
 
Re: 4/11 Merlin AMPS 508

You must have read my mind this morning...feeling a little helpless for Merlin. I kept looking at the spreadsheet and kept going between a .6 and .8. For so long, he has had reds and a few blacks in the mornings. I probably should have gone with a .6 but I think I kind of panicked. I kept thinking that all those high numbers have got to be taking a toll in him.

I am thankful that he doesn't need much insulin and am glad to hear that this is a good thing. Is that telling us that his pancreas is somewhat working? Jen mentioned possibly moving to another insulin, Lantus. I am wondering at what time I should consider this? I am assuming if I want to pursue that I would need to go to the vet. I would have to see if the vet supports Lantus if that is the case and I am sure they will want to do a fructosamine test. Is the fructosamine test is taken from one drawn blood sample or is it basically the vet's office taking his blood over the course of the day (just like I am doing today)?

Anyway, thank you for your positive note again. It has really helped this morning.
 
Re: 4/11 Merlin AMPS 508; +3/415

Here's another thought...

Did I dream it, or did you mention that you're going to be switching to a Relion?

The FDA allows a 20% variance on the accuracy of human meters (so one can probably presume the same about animal meters). So any given test result may actually be within 20% higher or lower than the number the meter says. Obviously, the higher the number, the greater the variance. So, for example, a 250 reading on your meter, could actually be anywhere between 200 and 300.

As a general guideline for looking at Alphatrack numbers is that they generally run about 30 points or so higher than the human meters. I found this post by Liz, Ann and Zener that actually did a side by side comparison of the Alphatrack with the Relion. http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=96833&p=1036440&hilit=alphatrack#p1036472. What a cool line graph, huh? :smile: It looks like in the lower ranges, the "add 30 points" guideline is approximately accurate, but in the higher ranges, it looks as though the Alphatrack consistently reads more than 30 points higher than the Relion. Add meter variance to the mix, and there's a lot of room for variance in the actual numbers you're looking at.

I'm wondering if part of the reason that Merlin's swings appear to be so wild is the meter variation in those higher ranges.
 
Re: 4/11 Merlin AMPS 508; +3/415

Yes I am switching but am still on the AlphaTrak2. I have about 40 test strips left and will probably pickup a Relion Micro tomorrow so I can start testing with that. I will draw a line on my SS indicating the new meter. That was a cool graph and a very interesting conversation too. I am not sure what you meant by it could be my meter. Are the colored numbers at the top of the SS in reference to a human meter? If it is, I think I understand what you meant.

4/11
AlphaTrak2
AMPS - 508; .8U
+3 - 415
+4 - 328

Looks like he is dropping 100 pts each hour. Then if that continues, then his +5 could be 228 and +6 128. Seems like if he was going to take a dive that he would have done It by now. Keeping my fingers crossed.
 
Re: 4/11 Merlin AMPS 508; +3/415; +4/328

Desertdog271 said:
I am not sure what you meant by it could be my meter. Are the colored numbers at the top of the SS in reference to a human meter? If it is, I think I understand what you meant.
Click to expand...

Basically, when I look at a spreadsheet, I'm looking for patterns and trends. Since I'm mostly looking at data that's coming from a human meter (including my guy), that's what I'm used to. Part of what Sue and I might be seeing in what appear to be rather wild swings, could be that the Alphatrack reads higher on the high side than what we'd be used to seeing coming from a human meter. Does that makes sense? Just a matter of interpreting the patterns we see. No matter the meter, Merlin's swings are pretty wild...it just may look to Sue and I "more wild" than if the data was coming off a human meter. :smile:

Hopefully, he'll come to a nice safe nadir for you and surf rather than shooting back up before the end of the cycle. Those drops of 100 points an hour can still be enough to set off a bounce. Hopefully not!
 
Re: 4/11 Merlin AMPS 508; +3/415; +4/328

Oh got it. Thanks for the explanation and the graph does show that even more so. Ok it looks like I need to get on a human meter asap so we all can be looking at all apples! That is going to drastically change my sliding scale, isn't it? Maybe I can pick one up tonight and start tomorrow. I know that I will like the numbers on a human meter better but it is what it is...Merlin is still wild! :-D

4/11
AlphaTrak2
AMPS - 508; .8U
+3 - 415
+4 - 328
+5 - 281
 
Re: 4/11 Merlin AMPS 508; +3/415; +4/328; +5/281

4/11
AlphaTrak2
AMPS - 508; .8U
+3 - 415
+4 - 328
+5 - 281
+6 - 298
 
Re: 4/11 Merlin AMPS 508; +3/415; +4/328; +5/281; +6/298

4/11
AlphaTrak2
AMPS - 508; .8U
+3 - 415
+4 - 328
+5 - 281
+6 - 298
PMPS - 472; .6U
+3 - 340

Going with .6U tonight.
 
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