Christian's numbers are all over the place

Status
Not open for further replies.
TheresaJ860

TheresaJ860

Member
Hello dear FDMB friends,

I finally got his SS up and published, thank Heaven! So if you would please take a look, I'd really appreciate it!

I did increase his Pro Zinc a teeny tiny bit, instead of being on the top part of the line, I now let a little bit of insulin show below the line, and I mean a teeny tiny bit. It does seem to have helped.

In his spreadsheet I failed to note when he found the crack, will have to go back through my posts and find that date. I also don't understand why after being outside for 2 hrs, he will come in with a really significant increase in BG. Could this be from grass? I suspect that maybe it is from some fool in the area that has dry food out, *growls* he is acting like the old crack addict he is now, demanding to go outside. There are new neighbors. (They will learn quickly we are in skunkville USA!) But without actually knowiing, I have no explaination for his odd numbers.

My DH accidently didn't check that the fridge wasn't completely closed on day, and not sure if the insulin got warm, but if that is the problem, how is it he has had great numbers?

Anyway, If someone would look at his numbers, we've been doing this dance a while, I know not a real long time, but I am really on top of this. In his SS, where there is no AMPS, my DH gave him his insulin, but he is not yet willing to do the testing.

We have been under a great deal of stress, not the animals, just us humans, so in the hopes that my DH will return to work, and my health will be a little better, that won't happen to often, especially since there are awesome numbers at times.

I really don't want to go to the Vet's unless I have to, our drooler has cost us big bucks in the last 3 weeks, but I need to know, should I schedule that test that begins with F? Should I find out if he needs a different insulin? Will you wonderful people help me?

The PZI forum felt really intimidating when I took a look, like I said, I'm really stressed, there is big time things going on in my life right now, so I don't really know if I have it in me to jump over there. I have felt so safe in this forum, and you all have been fantastic!

Thank you all, so very much! (((((((((((hugs)))))))))))))))))) all around!

Theresa and Christian!
 
Hi Theresa,

Sounds like you have had a lot of variables that confuse things. And this sugar dance is confusing enough! I wonder if he is getting into some dry high carb when he goes outside. If that is the case, it makes it so hard for you to control his diabetes. If he must go outside, you might go around to your neighbors and tell them he is diabetic and explain why it is dangerous for them to feed him.

You have been giving one unit for a long time. I think you could increase to 1.25 and see if your numbers go down.
 
Hi Theresa!
The test you are probably talking about is the fructosomine test I think it's called. That gives an average BG number over the course of 2 weeks or so. The benefit over normal BG testing at the vet would be that the vet stress is taken out of the picture, so it's better than a curve or single test at the vet. BUT, since you are doing all the testing at home, there really isn't any benefit to having that test done at the vet. You can figure out averages using the numbers you've collected. Again, as long as you are testing regularly, there isn't a big benefit to knowing the average anyway.

I am surprised you had that impression of the PZI group, really. I post there daily, and it is a really great group of people who hang out there. Some are new, others have been doing PZI/Prozinc for years. We routinely have small group discussions about a specific sugarcat, and everyone fits well together. I really think you'd feel comfortable there if you want to give it a shot.

I'm looking at your SS, and the numbers are sort of all over the place, but if I look long enough, something will click...but the numbers are not really that bad.

Oh, the way you describe where you are drawing the insulin up to? I think you would call that a "fat 1u", or f1 vs. if it were on the other side of the line, it would be a s1 (skinny 1u).
You have done a really good job collecting data, and also with holding a dose for a long time. My immediate observation would be that you could probably increase just a bit, but I am not sure how much. Many people go up 1/4 unit at a time, while others increase by as little as .1 at a time. I am assuming since you are using PZI that you are using u40 syringes? It's kind of hard to increase by micro amounts with those, but you can use u100 syringes instead, where the markings are easier to read when making really small adjustments to doses. If you want to switch, you would need to use a conversion chart that converts "u40" amounts to u100 syringes, and there is a chart you can print out that would allow you to do that.

I'll let someone else chime in regarding dosing, and I'll also let the other PZI members know there's a thread out in Health that they might be able to help on. The good thing about the insulin group forums is that you are more likely to get advice specific to your insulin from people who use the same one. Give some thought to posting there as well.

Good job on the SS, and we'll figure this kitty out!
Carl in SC
 
Hi!

I post in PZI daily and I can assure you we would love for you to join us! We are a very friendly small group and we love helping others who are using Prozinc. Please come over and post in our forum. I promise you will be glad you did!


Welcome!
Kim and Kitty
 
Thank you Sue and Carl,

Oh my trusty Carl, you have gotten me through this entire ordeal. I tend not to want to tell to much of what is going on here, not because I don't want the support, but because, well, it is so much, it freaks me out, never mind others! haha

Love the fat 1u, vs skinny 1u, fantastic way to describe it. I want to switch to the 100 needles, and hope to, I have to order needles very soon, and will be doing it online. Oh my stars the mark up at the vets is outrageous! I can't believe the profit margin, makes me sick, especially when we are such frequent flyers, amazing!

About the other board, it wasn't so much the board, I am sure the people there are awesome, I've met so many incredible people on these boards. It is that my mind is so overwhelmed, and I've learned this board, and most of the lingo, maybe if all goes well with the difficulty we are dealing with this week, my mind wlll be better able to deal with it next week. I'll PM you.

If others at that board would be kind enough to come over and look at this thread, that would be awesome, and I would really appreciate it.

Sue, because I don't have the right syringes, I've been eye balling the dose, I've learned enough here to know consistency is crucial, so since I need to order syringes, I'm hoping to do the increase when I get the new ones.

Carl, Sue, anyone, do you know if I have to have the script for the 100's? I have a script for the 40's. The needle is much to long, and I'm hoping to get a shorter needle, I have been trying to change locations a tad, but am sure the fur shots are more the needle coming through, not the needle not making the mark.

Any and all info is greatly appreciated!!!!!

Sue, I was keeping him in, as I already spent over a grand on him being attacked by a wild animal, (the day before my hubby had open heart surgery!) I can tell by his lil attitude that he has a stash somewhere, but our neighborhood is HUGE, during the day he just hangs out in the yard, the problem comes when darkness sets in, for some reason, (crack) he travels, and I've been trying to avoid darkness. He was so depressed initially with my insistence that he stay inside, but fall is almost here, and well, we aren't doing vet bills for attacks, so yeah, like it or not, he is pretty much inside. It's the craziness here that has caused the occassional escape. Just this evening he escaped when DH took out the drooler, he's a quick one my Christian!

The other reason I want him in, is a well beloved cat, Thomas, who EVERYONE knew, and loved, has vanished, he was a great cat! I believe he was stolen, as since he was lost, several other posters have shown up. I'd rather listen to the begging than the terror I feel when I can't find him.

Thank you, all so much, will PM you Carl.

Theresa
 
Here is a thread about what u100 syringes to use for Pro Zinc and where to get them:

http://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?p=445331

And the conversion chart


http://felinediabetes.com/insulin-conversions.htm

Until you get them, you could mark one syringe with the dose you want (with a magic marker or polish) and then compare each dose to your marked one. That might make consistency easier?

It's great that you are keeping him inside. It makes it so much easier to be on top of the food situation. (Oliver's numbers were 100 points lower when we went to wet with no dry.)
 
You shouldn't need a prescription for syringes. You will have to ask at the pharmacy because they're behind the counter. You can get a shorter needle.
 
bookw0rm said:
You shouldn't need a prescription for syringes. You will have to ask at the pharmacy because they're behind the counter. You can get a shorter needle.
Click to expand...

It depends on the state. Some states do not require a prescription for insulin syringes .Others do. Check with your local pharmacy.

Most people here buy their insulin syringes online at places like Hocks.com and AmericanDiabeteswholesale.com

Any brand of U100 insulin syringe will work. BD, Monoject, and Relion (a Wal Mart brand) are popular big name brands used by FDMB members.The most ideal ones to use are 3/10 cc (max 30 unit capacity) with half unit markings. Here's a picture of what it looks like (one on the left):

resource.aspx


Needle lenght and gauge is your preference.

Be sure to use the conversion chart to use the U100 insulin syringes with ProZinc (or any other U40 insulin). Someone above has already posted the link to the chart.
 
Sue, thank you for the link, I've looked at it, and was trying to figure out if this site http://www.americandiabeteswholesale.com/catalog/pet-insulin-syringes_179.htm
has the syringes, I do need a script here in CT, am not sure if they will switch to the 100, with a u40 script.

KSE, I'll be popping over, maybe even later today, thank you.

Also thank you to bookworm, and squeem3 for your links and great illustrations. I'm hoping Walmart will have what I need, I'll be going there today for other supplies. Sue I think it was your link that gave me the exact info I need to find out from Walmart.

Thank you all so very much!

Theresa, and Christian
 
TheresaJ860 said:
Sue, thank you for the link, I've looked at it, and was trying to figure out if this site http://www.americandiabeteswholesale.com/catalog/pet-insulin-syringes_179.htm
has the syringes
Click to expand...

That link shows the pet insulin syringes which are only U40.

Many people here who have cats on U40 insulin use the U100 insulin syringes (with conversion chart) for easier micro dosing.

AmericanDiabetesWholesale.com does sell U100 insulin syringes. Human diabetics only use U100 insulin and insulin syringes. http://www.americandiabeteswholesale.com/catalog/insulin-syringes_178.htm

I've used these: http://www.americandiabeteswholesal...t-ultra-comfort-insulin-syringes_1289_178.htm

Here's another one in a smaller needle length and thinner gauge: http://www.americandiabeteswholesal...t-ultra-comfort-insulin-syringes_1291_178.htm

I do need a script here in CT, am not sure if they will switch to the 100, with a u40 script.
Click to expand...


You do need a new prescription to get the U100 insulin syringes. Your vet can easily write you a new one or call the prescription in to the pharmacy.
 
Thank you Squeem,

The problem is, my Vet won't write another script, :YMSIGH: I brought her the converstion chart and everything when I first found this board. Everyone was wonderful teaching me everything. The first thing that was suggested was to go to the u100's.

Hmmmm, my DH is an engineer, he has those super accurate thingys that measure super close (tolerances I think), maybe I will ask him to just see if he can measure out with the syringes I have now. Then maybe I will try to schedule an appointment with a different Vet. I'm still wondering if the PZI is the right insulin.

Thank you!!!
 
TheresaJ860 said:
Thank you Squeem,

The problem is, my Vet won't write another script, :YMSIGH: I brought her the converstion chart and everything when I first found this board. Everyone was wonderful teaching me everything. The first thing that was suggested was to go to the u100's.

Hmmmm, my DH is an engineer, he has those super accurate thingys that measure super close (tolerances I think), maybe I will ask him to just see if he can measure out with the syringes I have now. Then maybe I will try to schedule an appointment with a different Vet. I'm still wondering if the PZI is the right insulin.

Thank you!!!
Click to expand...


Why won't your vet write the script? If your vet isn't working with you, can you switch vets? I understand when vets may not be completely up to date with every aspect of feline diabetes, but the breaking point for me is when the vet is not being supportive of your proactive treatment.

Bandit goes out on a leash, and he loves it! Sometimes I just let him roam the backyard supervised on a 20ft leash, and sometimes we go for walks. However, his only experience with being outside is on a leash only, he's never been allowed to roam by himself, so it'll all depend if Christian takes to the leash or not. It might take some training, just like with blood testing, treats help with that! If you are going to leave him out on a leash unsupervised, though, make sure you use a harness and not a collar.
 
Hi Julia,

Christian was rescued by my husband and I when we moved into an home with apartments, he had been abondoned there maybe 2 or 3 years earlier, and was rather skiddish of contact. He became friends with my awesome cat, and gradually let us get to know him. He became ours when he was dying, and we rushed him to the vet, had surgery, and well, he's ours now. That was in 2006. We bought our house, which is three homes away from where we lived and found him. So, he has been more an outdoor cat.... Until last December, when he was severely injured in an animal attack, then he became an indoor kitty!

However, he likes to hang out in the back ramp and lay in the sun. I do not let him out for very long, am rather a fuss budget, lol helicopter fur mom. Now, that's not to say, the lil rascal hasn't crafted some pretty ingenious ways to escape lately, which is why I suspect dry food access. He may think I'm just a foolish human being, lol, but I'm not stupid! (I wrote a thread about how it really is crack!) Quite the crafty one this boy.

(I'm actually cracking up right now, because he has taken to jumping on the stove, the island, the counter, hunting for some possible not yet found crack food, but he just jumped right into the dish water, and looks like a drowned rat! He is not pleased with looking so foolish right now. cat(2)_steam )

I really like the Vet office we go to, and there are many vets, so I do plan on asking to see the vet that usually cares for our drooler, she seems like she might be more receptive, which is one of the reasons I wanted feedback, am still wondering if he is on the right insulin.

Is there an insulin that uses the u100? As opposed to the vet u40? I've read many posters suggesting a more long acting insulin, like Levimer or Lantus.

Thank you so much!
Theresa, very distracted today
 
Lantus and Levemir are both u-100 insulins. If you like the practice, I would definitely try another vet there first. Some are more receptive than others, even at the same place.

If you want to switch to a u-100 insulin like Lantus (which is an excellent insulin, Bandit is in remission because of it), I've attached a paper that you can print out and give to your vet. In my experience, most vets are very cooperative once you show them the research supporting your decision! Vets simply don't have the time to keep up with research on every little aspect of every disease for every animal, and the changes in recommended insulins is relatively new.
 

Attachments

I had two cats raised as leash cats. One, Squeak, developed issues with not being allowed off leash...ended up with him peeing on our bed. So we made the difficult decision to let our cats off leash more frequently. One day in July, our girl Cleo was taken by a coyte. We'd still make the same decision if we had to do it over again, because in the end, we could not have continued with Squeak peeing. It was Cleo who paid the price but she lived an amazing life and was happy. I do not advocate having cats roam free, but sometimes it is the only way. So please, do not feel judged about decisions you must make.
 
Thank you Julia and Jen!
Yes I will print it out and bring to my vet, Chris is acting more like himself, he has all 5 P's, but really needs to gain more weight!

Jen, I am so sorry about Cleo, and you are right, sometimes you have to do what is best. Both Christian, and my beloved Hummer were rescued outdoor only cats, it is hard on them tomake the transition at times. Hummer took over 7 months to GO outside, he seemed afraid he wouldn't be let back in. He was my heart, Christian is getting more loveable towards me specifically since the diabetes dx. He is rather fickle, used to cuddle only when he was trying to get what he wanted. Thank you for your support!

Thank you!
Theresa and Christian
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top