akane - dose change?
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Sheila & Beau GA & Jeddie GA
Member Since 2009
Mami, he needs to go up to at least .25u or .3u. He has been in the 300s too long.
Melissa&Paul-Kyle
Member Since 2009
When you do your dose increase, please be sure to watch carefully as I know you will. Since we are kind of thinking the higher numbers are b/c of illness and now you are treating illness, my concern is that the illness will subside and the dose increase will prove too much.
Not a realy "problem" exactly, as Lev is known as a gentle insulin and even if Akane goes very low, chances are you will catch it in time.
Also, I know we have talked about illness and teeth in regards to these "unexplained" sudden higher numbers, but also wanted to see that your Lev is still good...stored correctly, not shaken or rolled, kept in the dark....most of us refrigerate for good measure.
If there is any doubt about the Lev you have, do you have another cart or pen or vial you can start to check?
Just trying to cover all the bases!
Not a realy "problem" exactly, as Lev is known as a gentle insulin and even if Akane goes very low, chances are you will catch it in time.
Also, I know we have talked about illness and teeth in regards to these "unexplained" sudden higher numbers, but also wanted to see that your Lev is still good...stored correctly, not shaken or rolled, kept in the dark....most of us refrigerate for good measure.
If there is any doubt about the Lev you have, do you have another cart or pen or vial you can start to check?
Just trying to cover all the bases!
dosgatos
Member Since 2010
Thanks so much, Melissa! I think he is not ill anymore now... He was but not anymore.. I bought this cartridge not very long ago so I think it is still good but I can go to the vet and get a new one any time. I have read an interesting thread about cartridge here in this ISG and Lev does not seem fragile so I did not think it was losing potency. But I can buy one and try..
I was beginning to suspect dose inconsistency again. I am practicing a lot but found that even though (if?) how much I pay attention and how careful I am when measuring, the amount cannot be completely consistent. I found a drop or two difference many times when I was practicing with the same syringe.. And each syringe can vary, too. If a drop or two means a lot to his BGs, I do not know what to do..
Or Lev does not suit him..?
I know I was doing wrong before I came here but I also tried consistency and kept the dose for several days. And I sometimes (only sometimes) saw (or I think I saw) the sign that he could do well.. I saw that when he was at somewhere between .3 skinny to .3 fat. Maybe I go back to that dose and keep it longer..?
I am so worried about him and I am just disappointed with the result and with myself..
I was beginning to suspect dose inconsistency again. I am practicing a lot but found that even though (if?) how much I pay attention and how careful I am when measuring, the amount cannot be completely consistent. I found a drop or two difference many times when I was practicing with the same syringe.. And each syringe can vary, too. If a drop or two means a lot to his BGs, I do not know what to do..
Or Lev does not suit him..?
I know I was doing wrong before I came here but I also tried consistency and kept the dose for several days. And I sometimes (only sometimes) saw (or I think I saw) the sign that he could do well.. I saw that when he was at somewhere between .3 skinny to .3 fat. Maybe I go back to that dose and keep it longer..?
I am so worried about him and I am just disappointed with the result and with myself..
Melissa&Paul-Kyle
Member Since 2009
I think it is too soon to decide if Lev is not the right isulin for him. Besides, you were getting pretty decent results on what you labled .03-.04 awhile back.
Then the illness came and numbers went high....maybe you reduced dose to check for rebound?
Now as you say, illness is cleared, so maybe we need to get back to the .3 consistently, hold it for several days and see what happens. See what others say about that.
I know it is hard to measure consistently between line variance from syringe to syringe. Have you tried to find something the width of the dose you want to hold against the syringe, using the bottom of syringe lip as a starting point and pull the proper dose to the width of the object?
I know with my Paul, our syringes are never the same from one to another and I accept the daily BG differences that come from that. But my Paul doesn't swing so high and low as he used to, so it is not as troublesome to me as it is to you.
I am sorry you are disappointed with the results and yourself. There is a mindset to this dance called feline diabetes where you have to allow yourself to be flexible and forgiving to mistakes and discrepencies.
It is a marathon- an endurance battle, not a sprint with swift certain answers.
Please know you are not alone in this marathon and that many of us have been right where you are right now and come out sucessful. Some of us have been here for years and still find ourselves from time to time where you are now, but we have this board and the lovely people here to help, so that makes the battle easier.
Hang in there!!!
Then the illness came and numbers went high....maybe you reduced dose to check for rebound?
Now as you say, illness is cleared, so maybe we need to get back to the .3 consistently, hold it for several days and see what happens. See what others say about that.
I know it is hard to measure consistently between line variance from syringe to syringe. Have you tried to find something the width of the dose you want to hold against the syringe, using the bottom of syringe lip as a starting point and pull the proper dose to the width of the object?
I know with my Paul, our syringes are never the same from one to another and I accept the daily BG differences that come from that. But my Paul doesn't swing so high and low as he used to, so it is not as troublesome to me as it is to you.
I am sorry you are disappointed with the results and yourself. There is a mindset to this dance called feline diabetes where you have to allow yourself to be flexible and forgiving to mistakes and discrepencies.
It is a marathon- an endurance battle, not a sprint with swift certain answers.
Please know you are not alone in this marathon and that many of us have been right where you are right now and come out sucessful. Some of us have been here for years and still find ourselves from time to time where you are now, but we have this board and the lovely people here to help, so that makes the battle easier.
Hang in there!!!
Sheila & Beau GA & Jeddie GA
Member Since 2009
Mami, do not be hard on yourself. You are learning a lot more than most people who have diabetic cats. Very few of them learn to home test and manage the dosing other than the folks here.
As for the .3u dose - we said that was too much based on the drop to 25 that one cycle and the high numbers afterward, but what if that shot was actually more than .3u because the syringe was not printed correctly?
Always - when a dose decrease leads to higher numbers - you should go back to the last dose that had better numbers. In Akane's case, that would be the .3u. So, please try that dose again. Let it settle. Let's see what happens.
I like Melissa suggestion of either finding an object that is the width of your dose, or making your own "ruler" and marking off that dose, so you can hold that against the syringe to check your dose. Or get a pair of reading glasses from the drugstore and use them to see the lines better. That's what I used to do (now I have to take off my glasses to see). Vicky used a micrometer, but I can't begin to tell you how to use it. http://www.manufacturer.com/cimages...m/1120/t/Caliper_Indicator_and_Micrometer.jpg
As for the .3u dose - we said that was too much based on the drop to 25 that one cycle and the high numbers afterward, but what if that shot was actually more than .3u because the syringe was not printed correctly?
Always - when a dose decrease leads to higher numbers - you should go back to the last dose that had better numbers. In Akane's case, that would be the .3u. So, please try that dose again. Let it settle. Let's see what happens.
I like Melissa suggestion of either finding an object that is the width of your dose, or making your own "ruler" and marking off that dose, so you can hold that against the syringe to check your dose. Or get a pair of reading glasses from the drugstore and use them to see the lines better. That's what I used to do (now I have to take off my glasses to see). Vicky used a micrometer, but I can't begin to tell you how to use it. http://www.manufacturer.com/cimages...m/1120/t/Caliper_Indicator_and_Micrometer.jpg
dosgatos
Member Since 2010
Thank you so much, Melissa and Sheila! Seeing your replies when I woke up made me feel supported and that I am not alone.
I tested him at +11.5 and it was 259 but this is something he usually does at the end of cycle and he will go up back very soon so I did not pay much attention. But it was certainly, surely, absolutely better and happy to see that than too see above 350!!
I had to change my syringes from Monoject to BD this morning as my order from US has been stopped at the customs. Yesterday I practiced a lot to know how many drops are in .15 syringe (monoject) and draw some water to BD until I find a point where I can push out the same drops to determine the same amount. But as I wrote, I failed that approach and found several times a drop or two differences.
Today I decided to increase a bit but slowly since I change syringe brand. I drew to somewhere it looks like .25. Let me call it .25. BD has thicker and shaky lines so it is more difficult, or almost impossible just to see. I often take photos of syringes I had drawn a certain amount as my support tool for the next shot but today I drew a picture with a pencil how it looks like in relation to the lines :roll: Photos cannot work with BD syringes. The lines are so thick and you cannot tell what it is. I do not know if it works but I will do my best for my best consistency. Realized that nothing I can do with inconsistency beyond my ability. (I have bought a pair of glasses earlier for drawing insulin use only, too.)
Thanks again for your help. I will stick to this increased amount for a while and see..
I tested him at +11.5 and it was 259 but this is something he usually does at the end of cycle and he will go up back very soon so I did not pay much attention. But it was certainly, surely, absolutely better and happy to see that than too see above 350!!
I had to change my syringes from Monoject to BD this morning as my order from US has been stopped at the customs. Yesterday I practiced a lot to know how many drops are in .15 syringe (monoject) and draw some water to BD until I find a point where I can push out the same drops to determine the same amount. But as I wrote, I failed that approach and found several times a drop or two differences.
Today I decided to increase a bit but slowly since I change syringe brand. I drew to somewhere it looks like .25. Let me call it .25. BD has thicker and shaky lines so it is more difficult, or almost impossible just to see. I often take photos of syringes I had drawn a certain amount as my support tool for the next shot but today I drew a picture with a pencil how it looks like in relation to the lines :roll: Photos cannot work with BD syringes. The lines are so thick and you cannot tell what it is. I do not know if it works but I will do my best for my best consistency. Realized that nothing I can do with inconsistency beyond my ability. (I have bought a pair of glasses earlier for drawing insulin use only, too.)
Thanks again for your help. I will stick to this increased amount for a while and see..
Vicky & Gandalf (GA) & Murrlin
Member Since 2009
Mami, please don't be discouraged.
I don't know if you have looked at Gandalf's spreadsheet, if not, take a look. He is not a well-regulated diabetic, he gets 300s, my schedule is not normal so I cannot give shots consistently and he suffers. But he is not "sick." He has been diabetic for 6 years on January 30th!! He's doing pretty well.
I firmly believe that even though I cannot control Gandalf's BGs as well as I would like he has benefited greatly because of Levemir. I remember how he was after 2 1/2 years on PZI, he was tired. He has arthritis now and is not very active, but I can tell he feels better than he did even back then on PZI when he was only 15 years old. He is 17 now, will be 18 in May.
Even if you don't have Akane BGs in the 100s all the time, he is doing well. Try not to get too wrapped up in the numbers - look at his overall health and attitude. That will tell you better how well he is doing than a BG number.
And if you think he did better on the fat .3U, there is nothing wrong with trying that dose for several days. But stick with it, so you can get a reliable curve on him after at least 5 days.
I don't know if you have looked at Gandalf's spreadsheet, if not, take a look. He is not a well-regulated diabetic, he gets 300s, my schedule is not normal so I cannot give shots consistently and he suffers. But he is not "sick." He has been diabetic for 6 years on January 30th!! He's doing pretty well.
I firmly believe that even though I cannot control Gandalf's BGs as well as I would like he has benefited greatly because of Levemir. I remember how he was after 2 1/2 years on PZI, he was tired. He has arthritis now and is not very active, but I can tell he feels better than he did even back then on PZI when he was only 15 years old. He is 17 now, will be 18 in May.
Even if you don't have Akane BGs in the 100s all the time, he is doing well. Try not to get too wrapped up in the numbers - look at his overall health and attitude. That will tell you better how well he is doing than a BG number.
And if you think he did better on the fat .3U, there is nothing wrong with trying that dose for several days. But stick with it, so you can get a reliable curve on him after at least 5 days.
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