9/11 Zeke AMPS=255;+5=111; PMPS=211; +2=181;+4=149;+9=296

[MrZ]

Well, let's see what today will bring.

Yesterday AM was bit of a mix. Started >300, dropped into the 200's for greater than 2 hours and was down in the greens for a minimum of 3 hours (AlphaTrak <130).
Yesterday PM was relatively flat. Blues most of the night. Never hit the greens.

Here's yesterday's condo: 9/10 Zeke

I've read the information on the MB on tips to injecting. Info on avoiding drag based on the position of the beveled side of the needle has definitely come in handy. We weren't checking that and sometimes Zeke would really react to the shot so I'm sure sometimes we didn't have the needle positioned correctly. Well this morning I made sure the beveled side was down and gave him the shot and sure enough, no reaction. I waited a second - no reaction. Well as soon as I actually hit the plunger and the insulin was injected, he reacted immediately with a violent flinch and hiss.

Here are my questions: Based on his initial no reaction, can I assume I didn't hit muscle as he had absolutely no reaction to the piercing from the needle?
Or, is it the insulin hitting muscle that can cause pain and that's probably what he reacted to?

OR

Could Zeke's discomfort/pain have been caused by the coldness of the insulin? We keep our insulin in the frig. I prepared the syringe about 10 minutes before the injection. Previously we were preparing the syringe about an hour prior to injection to allow it warm up to room temperature. We stopped doing that a few days ago when we were advised that doing so could allow the insulin to react with the lubricant in the syringe. Could it be the temperature of the insulin and if so, how do we remedy?

Thanks,
Laura

 

[PeterDevonMocha]

Re: 9/11 Zeke AMPS=255; Questions

Hi guys .. sunny yellow for zeke this morning! I wish I had the answers for you .. We always had to fight with mocha at shot times .. No matter what technique we tried, she was constantly hissing or biting at us .. but the second it was over, she'd be all purrs and headbutts .. Have a great day guys!

 

[Amy & Papaya (GA)]

Re: 9/11 Zeke AMPS=255; Questions

I think I've heard others (especially ones with high-dose cats) say the insulin apparently can sting a bit. Sometimes when she gets the shot my Papaya will just twitch a bit or ripple her fur, and occasionally she says very rude things and snaps at me :lol: but a lot of the time she doesn't bat an eye. I guess we should ask a diabetic human how it feels to know for sure, but it seems that they will feel it a bit. Like Devon said though, it must be just for an instant because once the shot is over the kitties aren't bothered at all.

 

[rhiannon and shadow (GA)]

Re: 9/11 Zeke AMPS=255; Questions

Mine hated the shots no matter what.

It is cold... and it does sting. And some kitties are more sensitive to being poked than others.
Some brands of syringes aren't as sharp as we wish they were... They have little spurs of metal that also drag a bit.

So you do what you can, by making sure the bevel is the right way... as you said.
And if you can find a way to distract a little.... with a great treat on the food at shot times....
I always had raw shrimp to keep mine happy. (her favorite)

I also changed to scruff shooting after the first couple of months doing flanks.... the scruff is less sensitive.

 

[Angela & Blackie & 3 Others]

Re: 9/11 Zeke AMPS=255; Questions

I've seen Blackie twitch a time or 2 with her shots, and most often than not, it doesn't phase her at all. I usually don't watch which way the bevel is when I shoot, as I'm normally trying to get her taken care of and fed, and then feed the rest of the cats, and my horse in the a.m.

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

Re: 9/11 Zeke AMPS=255; Questions

If you're finding this to be a consistent issue, it may be that Zeke is sensitive to Lantus. It is slightly acidic. Most cats that are on small doses don't react. Even most cats on large doses don't seem to react but, ECID. The option is to switch to Levemir which is not acidic.