Bounce? Dose advice

[Erin Lewis and Boops]

After starting a new pen, Boops' numbers are soooooooo much better! We have been giving .6, but have been getting some numbers that are in the 40s, and I'm pretty sure we bounced last night or this morning. Reduce to .5?

 

[Chris/China (GA)/Garfield]

Looks like you got into the 40's yesterday morning, so other than a 1 time "shoot through the bounce" dose yesterday night, you should have taken the reduction this morning

Any time you get a test under 50 (if less than a year from diagnosis) you should reduce

I'm still not sure how you're getting your doses (if you're using calipers?) but we usually want them taking the full .25 unit reduction if they earn it

 

[Wendy&Neko]

I agree with Chris - reduce by .25U. Calipers make a huge difference. For the first time in it seems like forever, I used a syringe where the zero line actually lined up with the bottom of the syringe!

I can't remember whether you have a problem testing at night, but when Boops is giving you 40's during the day, there's a good chance he's doing that or lower at night. A before bed test would be good.

 

[julie & punkin (ga)]

Glad to see those black amps disappearing! I wonder if it was the new insulin pen or just that you increased his dose a tiny bit. The old pen got him into the 20's, so it was definitely working. In any case, he does look better!

I'd also try reducing by 0.25u.

 

[Erin Lewis and Boops]

We noticed that it had air bubbles in it after my bro-in-law played nurse one night. I'm also really frustrated with the vet because they have so many different doctors and a new one suggested that he may never get regulated and he may even have pancreatic cancer, which is causing that to be the case. I don't understand when he doesn't have ANY other symptoms!

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

Well, my first question to that vet would have been how many diabetic cats has he treated? I'd also be very curious what symptoms he's observed that would lead to that diagnosis. My guess is that the vet is thinking of an insulinoma. Boops' numbers are not indicative of this form of pancreatic cancer -- you would see low numbers and episodes of symptomatic hypoglycemia (collapse, loss of consciousness, seizures, etc.) There is a saying in medicine, "If you hear the sound of hooves, think horses not zebras." Horses are a lot more common than zebras. In other words, don't jump to a conclusion that is a rare occurrence. Go with what's the most prevalent condition and until that's ruled out, don't go to extremes. In the absence of knowing what led the vet to this conclusion, it seems like this vet is going to extremes or is inexperienced in dealing with feline diabetes.

You might try picking a doctor you like and at least for routine visits, only ask to be scheduled with that vet.