4/15 Merlin AMPS 424;+3/246,+4/108,+4.5/98,+5/67.+5.5/86;125

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Merlin

Merlin

Very Active Member
4/15
Micro
AMPS - 424; 1.2U

Can you believe another 424? That is 3 out of 4 tests a 424! I think we agreed that if I got it again I would try 1.2U. I will be home today to monitor. Merlin also threw up just a little. It appeared to be stomach acid, watery stuff and this was before he ate. So maybe because he had an empty stomach??? As usual, he was hungry this am.

420+ 1.2 (pending)
400+ 1
340+ .8
250+ .6
200+ .4
175+ .2
 
Re: 4/15 Merlin AMPS 424

Let's see what that does. Were you working on a way to give Merlin a few snacks overnight? That might help with that amps number….
 
Re: 4/15 Merlin AMPS 424

Does eating help keep his BG down? He gets his insulin at 7pm and then he eats. I also give him food after I test him usually at 10pm. That is the last time he eats till 7am. He probably needs another snack at night? Is this a good time to give him something frozen? I read that some, while at work, freeze a ice tray and give a cube during the day. Is there another way? I have multiple cats. I will have to put him in another room by himself at night in order to give him food.
 
Re: 4/15 Merlin AMPS 424

It is the general consensus that small meals do support the pancreas and may keep blood sugar from spiking in some cases. It is certainly worth a try. It is more difficult with multiple cats. I have only one cat but love my automatic feeder. It is a PetSafe 5 sold on line and at PetSmart (they have been known to match the online price) It is hard to break into, easy to program and has 5 places. To feed overnight (if he is the ony one with access) you could put in small snacks and have it open every couple of hours and then open to an empty space 2 hours before amps. I put frozen food in the feeder but others just offer the frozen pucks. I use a silicone cupcake pan - a can of Fancy Feast fits in each space - and freeze. Then pop out and keep in baggies.

I think Jen ended up putting Eddie in a separate room during the times she wanted him to eat, but not the other cats.
 
Re: 4/15 Merlin AMPS 424

Great idea. I will start that tonight. The only thing is that if I freeze food, he may not eat it all so he could be eating it two hours before AMPS test? Is that a big deal if he snacks within the two hours before AMPS? If it is, I could start getting up earlier to take away the food...ugh. What kind of snacks did you put in there? I bought some Catswell chicken snacks and they were expensive. It was $3.99 for a very small bag. How much food would he need with each snack to keep him regulated? I am thinking that it is not very much maybe every 2 hours.
 
Re: 4/15 Merlin AMPS 424; +3/246

4/15
Micro
AMPS - 424; 1.2U
+3 - 246

Well a little lower than what I would like to see if he is on track for a +6 nadir however he has been low somewhere between +5 and +6. According to my calculations he should be between 274 (with 50 as target) and 306 (with 130 as target). Will test again in an hour.
 
Re: 4/15 Merlin AMPS 424

Thus far I've lucked out and haven't had to lock Eddie up to ensure he eats. My safety plan, though is to lock Eddie in the cat room/man cave/computer room with an automatic feeder (the Petsafe 5), if need be. We did end up buying three auto feeders when we went out of town for a weekend, and they appeared to work like a charm. Since we have multiple cats as well, we set the feeders in three different rooms to increase the likelihood that everyone would get a chance at a feeder (so our piggie civilian(s) can't be at all three feeders at the same time :lol: ). Eddie is assertive enough to dig in and eat when it's meal time, so we don't have to worry about the civilians pushing him out of the way. Our shot times are at 5 AM and 5 PM, so I do get a chance to feed a mini meal in the evening at +5 or +6, or later if need be. @-)

We also had some luck with the frozen popsicles. We picked up some bone-shaped silicone trays at PetSmart, which hold probably an ounce of liquid. We also mix in roughly equal parts water to the cat food before making the popsicles, so there isn't really much food in those kind of mini popsicles. Those smaller ones (or an ice cube sized one) might work well in an auto-feeder. I do know people have had luck with the muffin-tin popsicles. I've been on the look out for a silicone muffin tin, but keep forgetting to grab one. I did freeze cat food in a regular metal one....and couldn't get the pucks out. :roll: Some cats will lick at the popsicles until they melt and scarf the food or drag the popsicles all over the place and make a mess. Other cats will wait till they thaw a bit and just nibble at them. It's something you might experiment with and see how Merlin does with them.

Eddie licks at the frozen popsicles and then comes back to them once they've melted. He does drag them around, but he keeps them on the kitchen linoleum, so I can live with that. Our civilians mostly ignore the popsicles. I found I had the best luck putting out a couple popsicles into their food dishes in the kitchen shortly after a meal, so that they were full when I put them out.
 
Re: 4/15 Merlin AMPS 424; +3/246

Little lower, but since you will be around, you can start bringing it up at +4/5 or so with a little bit of regular food and see if it flattens out earlier. You can try to "steer" the cycle with small amounts of his regular food to keep him from dipping at nadir.

It is much easier with the automatic feeder as it cuts off the food when you want it. I would just do a small amount of his regular food (maybe less than you think he might eat?) when you go to bed and see if anything is left in the am. It would be really nice if he would just graze for a while and finish before the 2 hour window, but he's a cat and why should he do what might be easy for you? :mrgreen:
 
Re: 4/15 Merlin AMPS 424; +3/246, +4/108

4/15
Micro
AMPS - 424; 1.2U
+3 - 246
+4 - 108

He is dropping way too fast. I hope his nadir is around +5. I gave him some LC food and ground up chicken right after his +3 and +4 test. I will check him in about 30-40 minutes. I don't want to feed him too much because I bet I will have to get the HC food out here soon. He should be around 200-248 around this time and he is at 108. I am not used to these low numbers. At what number shall I start his HC food? I am thinking around 60 or 70.

Thanks Jen and Sue for the great tips on feeding him at night. I will definitely try them all.

Stay tuned.
 
Re: 4/15 Merlin AMPS 424; +3/246, +4/108

He has been lower than this and you have done fine bringing him up. Look at 4/1 or 4/7. You did great on those cycles and that was with the AlphaTrak numbers.

If you want, you could mix a little bit of the gravy off the high carb with the regular food if he drops to 60 and see if he comes up a little. Don't forget, 50 is a great nadir. We just don't want him dropping into the 40s without giving him some gravy.
 
Re: 4/15 Merlin AMPS 424; +3/246, +4/108

Oh ok - thanks. I want so much to have green numbers but oh it makes me soooo nervous. I am just not use to seeing green and for that matter any blue. So I think I am going to check here pretty soon.
 
Re: 4/15 Merlin AMPS 424; +3/246, +4/108

I know, green seems scary after you get used to pinks. But you are right, they are what you are aiming for. The encouraging part of this cycle for me is that he didn't crash at +3. This is shaping up to be a nice drop to a nice nadir.
 
Re: 4/15 Merlin AMPS 424;+3/246,+4/108

4/15
Micro
AMPS - 424; 1.2U
+3 - 246
+4 - 108 (LC food after +4 test)
+4.5 - 86
 
Re: 4/15 Merlin AMPS 424;+3/246,+4/108

He is slowing up a little -probably the snack helped- and still is in lovely numbers.

I have to leave for a couple hours but Jen said she'd be around to keep an eye on you. You're doing great, Cindi. He is in lovely numbers and the cycle is shaping up to be nice and smile shaped.
 
Re: 4/15 Merlin AMPS 424;+3/246,+4/108,+4.5/98

Hopefully, he'll surf in some lovely green numbers for you for the next couple hours! I think you did just right by feeding a little LC at +4 to flatten him out a bit.

It is definitely scary at first when you're seeing those green numbers (particularly with Merlin's propensity to dive), but you've done a fantastic job in the past bringing him up from much lower numbers.
 
Re: 4/15 Merlin AMPS 424;+3/246,+4/108,+4.5/98,+5/67

4/15
Micro
AMPS - 424; 1.2U
+3 - 246
+4 - 108 (LC food after +4 test)
+4.5 - 86
+5 - 67 (gave him a few Catswell treats)

I guess I will check him in 30 minutes and see where he lands. Woo hoo we are in the green!
 
Re: 4/15 Merlin AMPS 424;+3/246,+4/108,+4.5/98,+5/67

Looking good! Get up on that GREEN surfboard Merlin! :mrgreen: :mrgreen: :mrgreen:
 
Re: 4/15 Merlin AMPS 424;+3/246,+4/108,+4.5/86,+5/67

4/15
Micro
AMPS - 424; 1.2U
+3 - 246
+4 - 108 (LC food after +4 test)
+4.5 - 86
+5 - 67 (gave him a few Catswell treats)
+5.5 - 86 (gave him a few Catswell treats)

Looks like he is going up. Do you think I need to test him again? I wasn't going to unless you think I need to. This was a perfect #/dose. I will update my scale to reflect this. I think anything under 420 should be 1U as this was close (at least for me). :smile:

Oh by the way, I went back to check my +4.5 and it was 86 instead of 98. I read the meter up side down. Thanks for being here for Merlin.
 
Re: 4/15 Merlin AMPS 424;+3/246,+4/108,+4.5/86,+5/67

Looks like it's turning into a beautiful cycle! I'd suggest maybe getting a +6.5, as he may come down just a bit after the food wears off. Hopefully, Merlin can hang onto those lower numbers and stretch them out into the latter part of the cycle.
 
Re: 4/15 Merlin AMPS 424;+3/246,+4/108,+4.5/98,+5/67.+5.5/86

Will do. I will get one at +6.5.

Did you see Bama's SS? They just posted. How come one cat, Bama, has such wonderful low numbers but they give them 1-1.5 units for numbers in the blue. Then there is Merlin who has super high numbers and he gets less units of insulin? I don't get it.
 
Re: 4/15 Merlin AMPS 424;+3/246,+4/108,+4.5/98,+5/67.+5.5/86

4/15
Micro
AMPS - 424; 1.2U
+3 - 246
+4 - 108 (LC food after +4 test)
+4.5 - 86
+5 - 67 (gave him a few Catswell treats)
+5.5 - 86 (gave him a few Catswell treats)
+6.5 - 125

Wow - what a great day and w/o any intervention. I am so excited.
 
Re: 4/15 Merlin AMPS 424;+3/246,+4/108,+4.5/98,+5/67.+5.5/86

4/15
Micro
AMPS - 424; 1.2U
+3 - 246
+4 - 108 (LC food after +4 test)
+4.5 - 86
+5 - 67 (gave him a few Catswell treats)
+5.5 - 86 (gave him a few Catswell treats)
+6.5 - 125
PMPS - 370; .8U

So his PMPS is 370 and according to my scale I will give him a .8U tonight. I wish that last night was a good shot, because the numbers are pretty much the same, but I am pretty sure that I messed up with a partial fur shot. I am thinking that a 1U would probably be ok but I think I would be pushing it. Thoughts?

420+ 1.2 (pending)
400+ 1
340+ .8
250+ .6
200+ .4
175+ .2
 
Re: 4/15 Merlin AMPS 424;+3/246,+4/108,+4.5/98,+5/67.+5.5/86

Well, it's definitely a bounce, but not as high as he has bounced before. If you gave one unit,you'd want to monitor, maybe even at midcycle. If you want to sleep tonight, .8 would probably let you do that

What are you thinking.
 
Re: 4/15 Merlin AMPS 424;+3/246,+4/108,+4.5/98,+5/67.+5.5/86

In looking again at my SS, on 4/12, his PMPS was 341 and I gave him .8. His numbers were +4 - 158, +5 - 116 and +6 - 94. If I gave him 1 unit, then checking at +5 would be safe? His nadir seems to be somewhere in the +5 range. I really want to push it if possible. I can set my alarm because I know that I will fall asleep.
 
Re: 4/15 Merlin AMPS 424;+3/246,+4/108,+4.5/98,+5/67.+5.5/86

It's up to you, another go with your gut thing. Just monitor carefully. It is exciting when you start getting good cycles and I know you want to continue that.
 
Re: 4/15 Merlin AMPS 424;+3/246,+4/108,+4.5/98,+5/67.+5.5/86

Ok - you are right go with gut. My gut says to go with .8 because other than 4/12, I really don't have a good 340+/.8U history. Last night could have been one but it wasn't so I am going with the scale to test this number/unit combination out. I am still going to get up and do a +5 so I can get that history. Then after tonight, I will know if I need to adjust the scale. Sometimes, I jump too quickly, but need to be reminded to stick with the plan/scale and then adjust after a good history. So tonight, I am going with .8U.

This morning, my gut said to try the 1.2U with the 424 number because I had the 424 two times before and the 1U was good but not quite enough. So we will see what this .8U does tonight. Thanks for checking things over for me. Talk to you tomorrow.
 
Re: 4/15 Merlin AMPS 424;+3/246,+4/108,+4.5/98,+5/67.+5.5/86

4/15
Micro
AMPS - 424; 1.2U
+3 - 246
+4 - 108 (LC food after +4 test)
+4.5 - 86
+5 - 67 (gave him a few Catswell treats)
+5.5 - 86 (gave him a few Catswell treats)
+6.5 - 125
PMPS - 370; .8U
+5 - 269

So I have updated my sliding scale to make 370 - 1U. I am thinking now that maybe I didn't do a fur shot last night????
 
Re: 4/15 Merlin AMPS 424;+3/246,+4/108,+4.5/98,+5/67.+5.5/86

I think 1u might be just the ticket, but I would make sure I could monitor shooting that. Merlin's SS reminds me of my guy Eddie's - we'd have a great cycle on a particular dose for a particular pre-shot, and then the next time we shot the same dose on a similar pre-shot, the cycle would be relatively flat. I think it's possible that Merlin has higher flatter cycles when he's bouncing in response to some lower numbers, so just something to keep in the back of your mind which may explain why a dose looks good on one cycle, and then not so good on the next. Bounces can be high pre-shot numbers, but bounces can be a high flat (or relatively flat) cycle or two. My guy Eddie is the master of flat bounce cycles. When I first started doing a sliding scale on ProZinc, it was suggested that I wait till a dose "fails" a couple times before adjusting. That way you can be somewhat more certain that it's not a bounce or some other variable that's making the cycle look not so good, versus a dose that isn't quite right.

You are really getting the hang of this Cindi! Fingers crossed for another great cycle tomorrow!
 
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