Chuck's bouncy Journey part 2

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I think he Nadirs around +8 but it changes. But I gave him that snack of 1oz baked chicken and he went from 217 to 273 in one hour. :banghead: could be worse... I wish he didn't go up from it though. Would be a great way get him extra protein and calories because he loves it! I portioned out more 1 ounce snacks of chicken for other days.
 
StephG said:
I think he Nadirs around +8 but it changes. But I gave him that snack of 1oz baked chicken and he went from 217 to 273 in one hour. :banghead: could be worse... I wish he didn't go up from it though. Would be a great way get him extra protein and calories because he loves it! I portioned out more 1 ounce snacks of chicken for other days.
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Given Chuck's BG volatility around food, that's actually not too bad an increase over an hour. I think it's more important that he gets the calories right now. If he'd gone from 217 to 400, you'd really be up against it!
 
He was higher than I expected this morning but under 500! His +2 was lower than his AMPS. DH gave him 3 units sticking with the new doses. He will get a snack at +3.5/+4. 1oz of his normal food. I won't be home to take a pre snack BG level. Having someone stop by to put snack out for him. I'll be home around +7.5 to test.
Sorry I can't remember the numbers, they are on the SS. I have a terrible memory, short and long term.
 
StephG said:
He was higher than I expected this morning but under 500! His +2 was lower than his AMPS. DH gave him 3 units sticking with the new doses. He will get a snack at +3.5/+4. 1oz of his normal food. I won't be home to take a pre snack BG level. Having someone stop by to put snack out for him. I'll be home around +7.5 to test.
Sorry I can't remember the numbers, they are on the SS. I have a terrible memory, short and long term.
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Hurray for non-black!! :D
 
How's his weight doing, Steph? I wonder if he needs snacks larger than 1oz? Bunny really started to improve once he started gaining weight. I really tried to focus on ensuring he had sufficient calories. Managing the BG got much easier after he gained weight.
 
AJHJ said:
How's his weight doing, Steph? I wonder if he needs snacks larger than 1oz? Bunny really started to improve once he started gaining weight. I really tried to focus on ensuring he had sufficient calories. Managing the BG got much easier after he gained weight.
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He's getting 5.5 oz instead of 4oz for each feeding so he's getting around 4 extra ounces a day now. I'm not home to give him the extra more often so I'm giving it when I feed him and at least once throughout the day if possible. I don't want to overfeed him around shot time and make him puke from overfeeding. Especially since he inhales it. I spread out out a 9 inch disposable cake pan to slow him down and reduce mess from him licking it straight off the plate.
 
Well, looking for small improvements, he had a normal nadir last night in some nice yellows and yes, he didn't bounce so high after amps. I'd give these new doses a while and see if he gradually drops.

We want a normal curve, just as Kris defines it, because it is easier to work with. It is hard to know if the lower amps you were getting at the cycle the last few mornings were late nadirs or a surf at the end, but in some way I think adding insulin to those numbers gave you the high start to those cycles.
 
Sue and Oliver (GA) said:
Well, looking for small improvements, he had a normal nadir last night in some nice yellows and yes, he didn't bounce so high after amps. I'd give these new doses a while and see if he gradually drops.

We want a normal curve, just as Kris defines it, because it is easier to work with. It is hard to know if the lower amps you were getting at the cycle the last few mornings were late nadirs or a surf at the end, but in some way I think adding insulin to those numbers gave you the high start to those cycles.
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Ok so he was at 230 +9... If he's still in yellow we are doing 1.5 units? what if he's in pink?
 
First, nice to see a yellow later in the cycle! (don't forget to celebrate the small victories, Steph:p). I'd stick with the doses we are trying out - 1.5/2 for a yellow depending on whether it's lower or higher and 3 if it's black/red. And hoping it isn't! 2.25 for a pink? My idea is no big gradients in dose.
 
Gave him 2.25 and at +1.15 he's at 352! Not a huge increase! I'll monitor to make sure he doesn't dip too low.
 
I worry that he will drop too fast or too much if I don't see that increase after eating. I'm so use to seeing it. I'll keep a close eye on him. Probably test every hour. I'm having an awful Chiari headache today so hopefully chicken treats will get him to be a good boy and not give me a hard time. Which isn't that often but I get stressed when he does. I found a sweet spot on his ear so I've been poking there. Put neosporin with pain relief on after and he doesn't mind. He just gets full of p*ss and vinegar every now and then. Which I should welcome since it's been a while since he's been "normal".
 
What a crazy morning. DH did AMPS. Fed. Attempted to give insulin. Some was fur shot because Chuck flinched and tried running off. He stayed and checked again to see if and how much he was increasing. After 2.15 hours we decided to give him another 0.5units because he was going to the vet and I didn't want him to get over 500/600. Looks like it was a good idea since he's only down to the 300's which I will take over 500+. So his shot tonight will be back around 530-6 which is where I want it.
He has GAINED 0.5 pounds! I'm soooo relieved to know that he is gaining! He's up to 9.5 pounds. New vet is AMAZING so far. She is very down to earth and seemed like I was talking with a friend. She was very impressed with the spreadsheet. I told her the name of the forum and said it was a life saver and pretty much the only thing that kept me sane so far. haha. And our whole visit (including 10ml bottle of prozinc) was as much as I paid for 1 bottle of insulin and starter pack at the other vet! She didn't have u40 syringes with the half units marked but said she would have the woman who orders them look for them. She was curious to know how I measured the .25 and .5 units. I told her I eyeballed it and that if she couldn't get the u40 with half marks that I would get some online or use the u100 with the conversion chart. I still have A LOT of the u40 whole unit marked ones left. I think I'm going to start using a new needle every day. That way DH's shot in the morning will be a fresh needle and maybe he won't feel it as much. Vet was happy that he still had an appetite. Said it's a very good sign and tight control was a good way to reach remission quicker but to keep in mind not all reach remission.
I'm happy and relieved that he's gaining and that I have a vet that is knowledgeable and ok with home testing and care.
 
But generally wonderful! I am so glad you like your new vet. She sounds great. So glad to hear about his weight gain.

I would definitely use a new needle each time - especially since you have lots anyway. Maybe when you give a full unit or half unit, use the U40s?
 
Very good idea. When they call about the syringes I was going to ask her if I could "trade" my unopened bags for the new ones.
I have a question about the spread sheet. Is there a way to have the date auto-fill in that column? (Honestly just being a lazy bum- but I see other's have dates filled out pretty far or for the whole month) If they did that all themselves- they have more patience than me! (not shocking-- I think we all know by now, patience is not overflowing in my brain) haha
 
Steph, if you highlight a few of the date cells and then hover over the bottom right corner of the last cell you should get a solid crosshairs cursor. Then you can drag that down to the empty cells and it should fill in as many days as you choose. You just have to select a few first so it can figure out the pattern.
 
Kelly Howard said:
Steph, if you highlight a few of the date cells and then hover over the bottom right corner of the last cell you should get a solid crosshairs cursor. Then you can drag that down to the empty cells and it should fill in as many days as you choose. You just have to select a few first so it can figure out the pattern.
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Well, what do you know!? I know very little about the tricks of spreadsheets. This is very handy! :)
 
Kelly Howard said:
Steph, if you highlight a few of the date cells and then hover over the bottom right corner of the last cell you should get a solid crosshairs cursor. Then you can drag that down to the empty cells and it should fill in as many days as you choose. You just have to select a few first so it can figure out the pattern.
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Ahh! Fantastic!! Thank you!
 
Ok so I'm not sure if 3 units is enough... I know my shot wasn't a fur shot and it's not working like it should. I gave him another 0.5 units at +2.15 again. Hopefully he will get below 400 at least. I know stress can spike his BG but this spike should be from food. And the 3 units should be dropping it.
I'm not happy with today's numbers.
 
I'm tempted to shave a spot on his scruff so we can see the needle go in... Just don't want to make him look silly.
 
I think that's okay, Steph. But because you shot twice, be sure the pre shot is rising.

Lots of people shave a little - think of it as a "cool" haircut.
 
I will make sure he's rising in the morning. He might end up with a not so "cool" haircut if I try it alone! haha Backwards mowhawk! I'll have DH help me.
 
Ok so his +2.15 was 521 then 510 (tested twice bc I thought it should be lower) and now his +3 is 548. 30 mintues after his second insulin shot of 0.5 units. He has no access to any food. I'm dumbfounded.
 
I'm so glad to hear the new vet is working out. I know having the support of your vet can be hugely helpful!
 
AMPS was 450ish around 5:15am, I can't remember exact number. DH gave 3 units around 5:30am. I tested at +0.5 and he was 528. He got a snack around 9. Which is +3.5. no one is home to test but I think he will be fine. Hopefully out of the red tonight.
 
Not happy with results of the new insulin routine. Not patient enough maybe? Hoping to see better numbers tonight. Not that big of a spike at +1 so maybe we will get back to yellows? This red and black is not going to work.
 
Sue and Oliver (GA) said:
So maybe up the scale by 0.25 each step?
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I can try that this weekend to see if he gets better numbers since I'll be home to monitor. I thought it was going to be good for him in the beginning. But he just isn't getting down much... He's sleeping more, drinking more, peeing more... all the usual symptoms. Appetite is still there and he is so offended that I bother him in the litter box that he will wait til the lights are off if he can. Haven't gotten a ketone test since the last one. I will wait to see what his numbers are tonight before deciding to make a change.
 
Is this acceptable for increases?
200-250--- 1.5u (or 1.75u?)
250-300--- 2.0u
301-350--- 2.25u
351-400--- 2.5u
401-450--- 2.75u
451-500--- 3.0u
501-600--- 3.25u

It keeps doses hopefully within 1.75 units difference in range. Maybe it will help level him out? Please let me know what you think. I was happy to see yellows tonight! I think maybe that tiny bit extra would get him there longer...
He's been eating slower and I noticed he was burping (?) more than usual after eating or more than I have noticed before. So I'm going to go back to 4oz each feeding with the other 1.3 snack in-between. (Thinking maybe I should wait to adjust the dose of I'm cutting back 1.3 oz on his am/pm meals?) He will get that 1.3oz just later the cycle. I need to bake more chicken. I think in half ounce servings it barely touches his BG so I'm going to try a few smaller snacks.
 
StephG said:
Is this acceptable for increases?
200-250--- 1.5u (or 1.75u?)
250-300--- 2.0u
301-350--- 2.25u
351-400--- 2.5u
401-450--- 2.75u
451-500--- 3.0u
501-600--- 3.25u

It keeps doses hopefully within 1.75 units difference in range. Maybe it will help level him out? Please let me know what you think. I was happy to see yellows tonight! I think maybe that tiny bit extra would get him there longer...
He's been eating slower and I noticed he was burping (?) more than usual after eating or more than I have noticed before. So I'm going to go back to 4oz each feeding with the other 1.3 snack in-between. (Thinking maybe I should wait to adjust the dose of I'm cutting back 1.3 oz on his am/pm meals?) He will get that 1.3oz just later the cycle. I need to bake more chicken. I think in half ounce servings it barely touches his BG so I'm going to try a few smaller snacks.
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Hi Steph,

I'm sure one of the dosing experts will be looking in soon. I'm not there yet myself. I'm glad that you're finding a feeding regimen that works and will help him gain weight. You have a complicated set of factors you're trying to balance - food, snacks, insulin doses, bouncy cat, etc. It might be hard to find a dose to address both amount of food and BG at the same time. Maybe try adjusting his food and then play with dosing. I say food first because you don't want him eating so much he vomits, then you're up a tree when it comes to shooting or not. The BG numbers are what they are for now and you can fine tune once you have him eating enough but not too much. It's great that the baked chicken snacks don't affect his BG.

Just my thoughts ... :cat:
 
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I liked your yellow also. I agree with Kris that balancing food and insulin is a delicate dance. Where is he in terms of his ideal weight? He is getting a lot of calories and total food daily, which will impact the levels. As soon as he reaches a place you feel is a good weight for him, I'd cut back on the canned food. You could still add the chicken for protein.

Your scale looks good. The increases are in small gradients but represent an increase. Let's see what happens.

The other alternative is to pick a dose and hold it, as some people advocate. I just can't see it working with him, as he needs more insulin for the blacks and less for the yellows. If he were in some sort of a flatter curve, moving between pinks and yellows, that would be a choice.
 
He did better today. I don't have the data entered yet. But I tested when I got home and he's back into mid 400s. Only got half of his snack. I didn't plan on not being home for the end of his cycle.
 
Didn't get very many readings this evening. Went out of town for a while. Will see how tomorrow turns out. The 3.25 got him under 200 but I think maybe he had a bounce because he went up so quick at the end of his cycle last night. I might get rid of the 3.25 dose and try to do a little past 3U mark. He had friskies this morning because I didn't realize we were out of his 9Lives! He only got 4.5 oz of that and tonight he was back on his 9Lives.
 
Lots of bouncing but you are slowly getting somewhere - nice values overnight on 10/15! :) The focus on feeding will pay off.
 
Like those yellow and blues. Looks like he had some dog food this am so today's numbers will be off. If there any way to be sure that doesn't happen? (stand over the dog until he is finished eating or feed him in the garage or ?) I wonder if Chuck is finding some higher carb every so often and that is part of his higher numbers? (Although I do think he is a bouncy kitty)
 
Last night he found some pieces my dog played with... She likes to toss pieces every now and then... I think I'm going to move her dishes into the living room where I can sit and watch her eat. I have a bad back so I can't stand there too long. I'm thinking about switching her to half wet food. She will eat it all up in one sitting if I do that.
I don't think he's got any access to any other food during the day. He does go outside if it's nice out but He only eats grass, sometimes. My yard is fenced in and he spends most of him time looking for an escape route. Which is silly because if he gets on the other side of the fence (only happened once), he freezes in fear. He thinks he's a lion. Haha. We moved furniture around this weekend so I'm pretty positive there's nothing in the kitchen, dining room, or living room to eat. The "game room" hasn't been tackled yet but there shouldn't be any contraband in there.
This morning I gave him 0.6 oz of his food mixed with 0.4 oz of water to make it seem like a bigger snack. Baking chicken for him today. Should have the auto feeder in a week.
I was thinking 4oz for his meal, +2 .5oz chicken, +4 .5oz food, +6 .5oz chicken +8 .5oz food. So he would be getting 5oz food plus 1oz chicken in 12 hours.
 
He is definitely one of those cats! Looking into a chip feeder for my dog. There's one I can set up with her microchip that she has. That way only she can open it...
 
I have a microchip feeder for each of my cats. I love them! I think it's a great idea to use one for your dog.
 
It's been a long day. Happy to see some yellow tonight. Even if only a couple hours. I gave a bit more to see if it would offset the snacks. Those snacks really turn him around but he needs them. I won't be home tomorrow morning to monitor so I'm going to have a friend stop by to give a snack. Unfortunately she won't test his BG... which I guess is better than having her try and pass out from the sight of blood. haha.
 
AMPS 335! 404 +2, 321 +3. Snack given at +3 (0.5oz plus water) and another should be around +4.5 (0.5oz plus water) best we could do today. I'm going to give chicken as a snack tonight. I'm happy to see a pre shot out of the blacks!!
 
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