Confused.. blood machine not working properly?!

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Good time to readjust your schedule. So your new shot time this PM will be 6:30 AST?

Yes, you did the link correctly to your old post.

If you want the link to say something different, more descriptive, you Type In Some Descriptive Text
Highlight that text with your mouse/touchpad/ whatever your device uses to highlight text.
Click on the little 'chain' icon at the top of the reply box, where the editing icons are.
New small window pops up.
Put in the URL from your old post (cut and paste)
Try some of the other editing tools.
(B is for bold, I is for italics, etc......)

Maybe something like 'Link to Nicole & Diesel first post, for reference'
 
Hi,

Diesel is 9.5. I am going to stall for 30 mins and see if his sugars are going up. If they are would I give the 0.25 or the 0.50 if he’s not quite reached his ok to shoot number?
 
Hi,

I actually gave 0.50 because in 30 mins it went up to 13.8... hoping that’s okay :/ but I did give him some food with a slightly higher carb content just in case. And I left a little bit of extra food on the counter.
 
Deb & Wink said:
Good time to readjust your schedule. So your new shot time this PM will be 6:30 AST?

Yes, you did the link correctly to your old post.

If you want the link to say something different, more descriptive, you Type In Some Descriptive Text
Highlight that text with your mouse/touchpad/ whatever your device uses to highlight text.
Click on the little 'chain' icon at the top of the reply box, where the editing icons are.
New small window pops up.
Put in the URL from your old post (cut and paste)
Try some of the other editing tools.
(B is for bold, I is for italics, etc......)

Maybe something like 'Link to Nicole & Diesel first post, for reference'
Click to expand...


Hi!! I think I did it for changing the descriptive words to what you suggested with the link to my first post!
 
Hi,

this stalling is getting lame. Lol

I checked at 615pm and it was 6.0. Stalled till 7:20 and it is 7.0.... it looks like it is going up but not sure what to give or if I should skip. I can’t stall any more cause I won’t be able to give any later than 730 tomorrow morning.
 
I would not feel comfortable giving 0.5 U insulin at BG of 7 (128).

How do you feel about reducing to 0.25 U again?
Or maybe 'some insulin', barely at the 0 line on your syringe.
 
I'd like to get you more help over on the Lantus forum. Diesel has been a low dose kitty from the get go. My thinking is that there may be some more ideas from people there than you are getting here in the Health Forum.

Not saying you need to move over there. But maybe post a thread in Lantus ISG with question mark prefix to get some ideas? You may need to learn to shoot low numbers soon too.

I've been waiting for that 1st curve on Diesel. But with your work schedule and having to drop the dose and back up again and not being able to test, it's been hard. Maybe this weekend for a curve?
 
Deb & Wink said:
I'd like to get you more help over on the Lantus forum. Diesel has been a low dose kitty from the get go. My thinking is that there may be some more ideas from people there than you are getting here in the Health Forum.

Not saying you need to move over there. But maybe post a thread in Lantus ISG with question mark prefix to get some ideas? You may need to learn to shoot low numbers soon too.

I've been waiting for that 1st curve on Diesel. But with your work schedule and having to drop the dose and back up again and not being able to test, it's been hard. Maybe this weekend for a curve?
Click to expand...
Yes, plan on doing the curve Saturday.

How do I find that forum? Can you post me a link somehow?
 
Down to 60 (3.33) is the 'take action' number or ' be more aware' that action is needed.

TREATMENT

During treatment for hypoglycemia, try to test every 15 - 20 minutes until you see the bgs begin to rise. Then continue to test until you are satisfied that the cat is out of danger.

VERY LOW NUMBERS – WITHOUT SYMPTOMS
Retest glucose using a large blood sample to make certain you have enough blood, and if you still get a very low number (under 40 mg/dL or 1.9 – 2.2 mmol/L) administer a teaspoon of corn syrup, liquid glucose, pancake syrup or honey, or INSTA-GLUCOSE and follow with food until the blood glucose numbers rise to acceptable levels. The syrup can be mixed with wet food or poured over dry if the cat will eat the mixture. If using liquid glucose, dilute with water for a thinner consistency.

LOW NUMBERS – WITHOUT SYMPTOMS
Retest glucose using a large blood sample to make certain you have enough blood, and if you still get a low number (40 – 60mg/dL or 2.2 – 3.3mmol/L) give food or treats until the blood glucose numbers rise to an acceptable level. If the cat refuses to eat even his/her favorite foods, you can syringe feed or administer a small amount of syrup.

LOW NUMBERS – MILD SYMPTOMS
Try feeding first or give a little syrup or honey followed by food until the blood glucose numbers rise to an acceptable level and the symptoms disappear. The syrup can be mixed with wet food or poured over dry if the cat will eat the mixture. If the cat will not eat, syringe feed. If your cat will eat dry food. the high carbs will help to increase his/her bgs quickly, but remember the effects of dry food usually takes longer to clear kitty's system once the crisis has passed. Feeding a high carb canned food is preferable to feeding a high carb dry food because the effects will clear kitty's system faster. You can then follow with his/her favorite canned food. Keep in mind that giving syrup (Karo, etc.) or honey is not enough because the effects wear off quickly. You need to follow with food.
IF IN ANY DOUBT, TELEPHONE YOUR VETERINARIAN.

LOW NUMBERS – MODERATE SYMPTOMS
Give a tablespoon of syrup, a teaspoon of liquid glucose, a tablespoon of honey or a tablespoon of sugar syrup followed by food and continue doing so until you see the blood glucose numbers rise to an acceptable level and all symptoms disappear. The syrup, honey, or glucose can be rubbed against the inside of the cat’s cheeks or on the gums for quick absorption. You can also mix the syrup with wet food or pour over dry if the cat will eat it. Continue to give syrup and food as needed and observe your cat for signs of recurring hypoglycemia. Keep in mind that giving syrup (Karo, etc.) or honey is not enough because the effects wear off quickly. You need to follow with food.
IF IN ANY DOUBT, TELEPHONE YOUR VETERINARIAN.

LOW NUMBERS – SEVERE SYMPTOMS
Rub syrup, honey, or glucose on the gums and cheeks if your cat will allow it. Another option for administering syrup, diluted liquid glucose, honey or sugar syrup to a cat who is seizing is to fill a needleless syringe with the mixture and insert via the rectum.
NEVER TRY TO SQUIRT SYRUP, HONEY, OR GLUCOSE TO A CAT WHO IS SEIZING AS THE CAT COULD CHOKE ON IT! RUSH TO EMERGENCY.

AGAIN! ANYTIME YOU CAT IS SEIZING OR LIMP, RUB KARO, GLUCOSE OR HONEY ONLY ON GUMS OR ADMINISTER RECTALLY AND GET TO EMERGENCY OR YOUR NEAREST CLINIC IMMEDIATELY!!!

Remember that syrup or any other sugared syrup/preparation will spike the blood glucose ONLY for a short period of time, so food is really important with mild and moderate symptoms. Dry food (high carbohydrates) will keep the blood glucose numbers elevated longer.

After a hypoglycemic episode cats may be more sensitive to insulin, so a reduction in dosage is generally required, especially considering too much insulin – whether due to dosage, inadequate food intake, or the cat’s changing insulin requirements – caused the hypoglycemic event in the first place. With moderate to severe episodes, your Vet may have you skip the next injection altogether.
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU DISCUSS YOUR CAT’S HYPOGLYCEMIC EVENT WITH YOUR VET, SO TOGETHER YOU CAN DECIDE UPON THE NEXT COURSE OF ACTION.

Always keep in mind that with low blood glucose and no symptoms, the BG you get is not as important as where it is headed. In other words, if you get a BG of 100 mg/dL or 5.6 mmol/L or less and there are still several hours or more before the insulin peaks, your need to watch your cat (and the numbers) carefully and take appropriate steps. With very low numbers and NO SYMPTOMS, a cat can be fine one moment and seizing the next.

BE PREPARED! KNOW THE SYMPTOMS AND KNOW THE TREATMENT!


Copyright © 1998-2010
 
Just got my first low ish number. Diesel was acting weird by trying to be aggressive so I decided to check his blood. I checked it but I didn’t have enough blood.. my meter waits to add more so I got more and it said 3.4. I decided to check again and it was 4.8

I gave some higher carb food with gravy. He’s enjoying that!
 
Good steering with the food last night. See you lowered the dose this morning. Please, still do a curve this weekend. Want to see how Diesel is doing. Either Sat or Sun is fine, whichever fits better into your "life with toddler and full time job" schedule.

Aggressiveness could very well have been Diesel telling you he felt his BG going low. "MOM, my BG is LOW. Need some food STAT." If only they could talk. Good thing you are learning to interpret Diesel's body language.

"Know Thy Cat". Another member here says her cat meows for food every time her cat goes lower with the blood glucose.

That first low number can be scary. Don't know if you have a printer, but printing out these 3 documents could help you next time. The old boy scout motto "Be Prepared".

How to treat HYPOS - THEY CAN KILL! Print this Out!!
jojo and bunny's HYPO TOOL BOX
New? Seeing Low Numbers? How You Can Help Us Help You

Just in case the power goes out, or your cell phone doesn't have a charge, or you get those lows and ask yourself "Now what was I supposed to do if I get low numbers?" Or you can't sign on to the message board for some reason.

Remember, you can always change the title on your post if you would like some guidance when you get those first low numbers. I'm not up that late at night, but there is often someone on the board later. Not always, but often enough. And people do scan the boards for people in more immediate need. You could also post over in the Lantus forum, since there are often more people hanging out over there later at night (and during the day too). Simply a fact of more people using lantus.

Write something like… “BG level xxx, 1st low number <100 (5.5), please HELP” to alert people to your situation. If you don't get a response, reply to your own post with the word 'BUMP', to move your post to the top of the list. Posts are all in order by the most recent timestamp on the post, so your post may have fallen farther down in the list but needs more attention sooner than others.

If you get a BG under 30 mg/dL (1.6 mmol/L) on a human meter, change the prefix icon on your post to 911. That really gets people's attention. "Using the 911 prefix. The 911 prefix in the subject line should only be used for encies such as symptomatic hypos, very low numbers (below 30 on a human meter), and /or a very sick cat potentially needing ER care."

It's like calling your police, fire, medical emergency number for help for humans. It will get our hearts racing and coming to you and your cats rescue.

People will stay up all night with you if they need to, hand off to someone else if they have to go to work or can't stay with you to guide you. We call it a "pajama party", because we are all up late wearing our PJ's.
 
Deb & Wink said:
Good steering with the food last night. See you lowered the dose this morning. Please, still do a curve this weekend. Want to see how Diesel is doing. Either Sat or Sun is fine, whichever fits better into your "life with toddler and full time job" schedule.

Aggressiveness could very well have been Diesel telling you he felt his BG going low. "MOM, my BG is LOW. Need some food STAT." If only they could talk. Good thing you are learning to interpret Diesel's body language.

"Know Thy Cat". Another member here says her cat meows for food every time her cat goes lower with the blood glucose.

That first low number can be scary. Don't know if you have a printer, but printing out these 3 documents could help you next time. The old boy scout motto "Be Prepared".

How to treat HYPOS - THEY CAN KILL! Print this Out!!
jojo and bunny's HYPO TOOL BOX
New? Seeing Low Numbers? How You Can Help Us Help You

Just in case the power goes out, or your cell phone doesn't have a charge, or you get those lows and ask yourself "Now what was I supposed to do if I get low numbers?" Or you can't sign on to the message board for some reason.

Remember, you can always change the title on your post if you would like some guidance when you get those first low numbers. I'm not up that late at night, but there is often someone on the board later. Not always, but often enough. And people do scan the boards for people in more immediate need. You could also post over in the Lantus forum, since there are often more people hanging out over there later at night (and during the day too). Simply a fact of more people using lantus.

Write something like… “BG level xxx, 1st low number <100 (5.5), please HELP” to alert people to your situation. If you don't get a response, reply to your own post with the word 'BUMP', to move your post to the top of the list. Posts are all in order by the most recent timestamp on the post, so your post may have fallen farther down in the list but needs more attention sooner than others.

If you get a BG under 30 mg/dL (1.6 mmol/L) on a human meter, change the prefix icon on your post to 911. That really gets people's attention. "Using the 911 prefix. The 911 prefix in the subject line should only be used for encies such as symptomatic hypos, very low numbers (below 30 on a human meter), and /or a very sick cat potentially needing ER care."

It's like calling your police, fire, medical emergency number for help for humans. It will get our hearts racing and coming to you and your cats rescue.

People will stay up all night with you if they need to, hand off to someone else if they have to go to work or can't stay with you to guide you. We call it a "pajama party", because we are all up late wearing our PJ's.
Click to expand...
Hi, I am doing a curve today. Taking his sugars every 2 hours. He’s been pretty cooperative so far.

sometimes he can be aggressive but it’s normally if you bug him or something is happening that he doesn’t like. This was just cause my foot touched his head on the end of the couch haha

I was nervous that I panicked and gave him high carb food when it wasn’t actually that low but based on the numbers I seen this morning, it was all good. I would have posted or changed my post if I thought I needed a response right away.

His sugars have not moved at all in 2 hours and not much at all since the AMPS shot. I’m curious to see when it actually starts to head upwards.

Thank you for all the great information :)
 
Diesel was good! Nice flat cycle, on the curve testing. All mid-blues.

I say we let him settle at this dose for a few days, 3 at least.


p.s. What did he do, after each test? Get a treat and say thank you?
 
Sounds like a plan!

He was great all day and didn’t put up a fight once. Definitely thinking, she’ll give me treats if I just do it haha Thankfully he loves his treats!
 
Yes, it's kind of freaky when a coincidence like that happens.

Need to clear the snow we got last night. Eventually. I did a quick pass last night before going to bed really late, but a couple more inches fell overnight. Although, I'll wait until my plow guy comes to clear my 300'(91 meter) driveway to go outside again. We got about 6" (15 cm). At least it wasn't heavy and rain soaked like all the storms back in December.
 
Deb & Wink said:
Yes, it's kind of freaky when a coincidence like that happens.

Need to clear the snow we got last night. Eventually. I did a quick pass last night before going to bed really late, but a couple more inches fell overnight. Although, I'll wait until my plow guy comes to clear my 300'(91 meter) driveway to go outside again. We got about 6" (15 cm). At least it wasn't heavy and rain soaked like all the storms back in December.
Click to expand...
Definitely freaky!

we’re getting the snow now
 
I am skipping Diesel’s insulin tonight because his sugar isn’t going up any higher as I stall.

checked Diesel’s PMPS and it was 6.4 (115)
Checked 20 ish minutes later and it was 6.5 (117)
Checked 30 minutes later and it’s at 6.2 (112)


Gave him lower carb food then normal and some chicken.
 
First thought that popped into my head was "Diesel! Not again" on his BG being too low to give him a shot this PM.

Which lower carb food? Would you note what it was on the SS please? If you could add remarks for each cycle, of what food was given, that may help us see a pattern.

Back to the same place. 0.5U seems to be too much, 0.25U seems to be too little. It's already hard enough to 'eyeball' those tiny doses. Not sure how to get him a bit more than 0.25U but less than 0.5U. Consistently. Some people dose with calipers. Never done that myself.

I think you need to start posting over in the Lantus forum. Looking to me like he needs some micro-dosing. Something that might give you 2 shoot-able preshots a day.

You've got the stalling technique down pretty well. And you know when you need to skip to keep him safe with your work schedule. By the way, those 3 BG readings are all basically the same. Within meter variance, only a little bit apart.

Maybe his pancreas is healing, and producing some insulin on it's own. Good sign if that is happening. Sometimes you might see it referred to as a 'sputtering' pancreas.
 
Looking at the spreadsheet, it looks like you skipped the shot this AM. When you have a chance, put 0 (zero) in the Units column on the SS whenever you skipped a shot. That way we know you skipped. And didn't just forget to update the SS.

What food did Diesel eat? Last night? That could be making a difference.

Maybe Diesel has said, "Enough of this! I'm don't need no stinkin' insulin". Continue to test and see if he can hold below 100 (5.5 mmol) or even just a tiny bit higher (<120/<6.6), in those good BG ranges without any insulin. Lantus does form a little storage area underneath the skin (the "depot), so there will be some residual insulin there for 6 cycles with no more insulin.

We'll reassess tonight. I'll be around.

p.s. Just seeing this late this afternoon. Had to take my own kitty to the vet. Annual checkup/wellness visit. She's vigorously washing herself to get that "vetty smell" off her.
 
Hi,

Yes I skipped this am. I went home for lunch because I was worried and took his sugar and it was 4.3. I gave him some some Fancy Feast Chicken Feast flavour.

Last night I gave him some Fancy Feast Tender Liver & Chicken Feast Flavour mixed with some Ocean Whitefish and Tuna Feast flavour. Maybe that is not enough carbs?

Hope all is well with your kitty! Mine hates the vet with a passion lol
 
He's safe at that BG number without insulin.

Put the foods, specific brand and flavor on the SS please.

Maybe Diesel has said he's had enough of the insulin, and want's to try an OTJ trial. We'll need to wait 6 cycles from the last shot before we start the countdown.......
 
Deb & Wink said:
He's safe at that BG number without insulin.

Put the foods, specific brand and flavor on the SS please.

Maybe Diesel has said he's had enough of the insulin, and want's to try an OTJ trial. We'll need to wait 6 cycles from the last shot before we start the countdown.......
Click to expand...
Ok I will start doing that. I only feed Fancy Feast.

so does that mean it has already been 2 cycles because he didn’t get insulin last night or this am?
 
That counts as 2 cycles, skip last night 1/19 PM and this morning 1/20 AM.
We need to wait at least 6 cycles for the Lantus insulin depot to drain.
If numbers still look good after Wed 1/22 AMPS, we could start the 14 day countdown with 1/22 PMPS.
Too early to tell if Diesel is ready for that.
Wait and see.
You know the old saying "Don't count your chickens before they have hatched."
 
Deb & Wink said:
That counts as 2 cycles, skip last night 1/19 PM and this morning 1/20 AM.
We need to wait at least 6 cycles for the Lantus insulin depot to drain.
If numbers still look good after Wed 1/22 AMPS, we could start the 14 day countdown with 1/22 PMPS.
Too early to tell if Diesel is ready for that.
Wait and see.
You know the old saying "Don't count your chickens before they have hatched."
Click to expand...
I know that saying too well. Hahah
 
Last good dose that did not bring him down too far was the 0.25U
025unit-1.jpg
 

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Added picture to my last post.

You might want to draw up a 'reference syringe' with some colored water in it. Insulin syringes can vary in the markings from syringe to syringe and batch to batch. So compare your dose of actual insulin to the 'reference syringe'.

The goal is to be consistent.
 
I try to give him as best and as close as I can to that.

I just drew up the coloured water to 0.0, 0.25 and 0.50 to see the difference in each and squirted all on a plate. At the 0.0 there was residue water that came out slightly and I could see the difference between 0.25 and 0.50. Hopefully what I am giving him is right
 
I know you are a teacher, so would you do something for me? When you have time between work, toddler and everything else.

Summarize what you have learned over the last 2 weeks. Take your time. Pretend you are a student. As a teacher, think of this as a quiz. Or developing a lesson plan, or an outline for a novel or short story if you are a writer. Flesh out the original outline. Think of this as a review before a test, or mid-term exam.

Include what you don't know, or don't think you know. What you do know. What you are a little unsteady with, lack confidence with things, need to learn more about an area.

Include what works for you and what does not. Like how it's harder to get those AM mid-cycle tests since you only get 1 hour for lunch, barely enough time to get home and back to school.

p.s. Keep that reference syringe with the 0.25u. Make one for the 0.5U and the 0.1U too. Label them somehow, or put a piece of blue painters tape on the cap so you know they don't contain insulin.
 
Deb & Wink said:
I know you are a teacher, so would you do something for me? When you have time between work, toddler and everything else.

Summarize what you have learned over the last 2 weeks. Take your time. Pretend you are a student. As a teacher, think of this as a quiz. Or developing a lesson plan, or an outline for a novel or short story if you are a writer. Flesh out the original outline. Think of this as a review before a test, or mid-term exam.

Include what you don't know, or don't think you know. What you do know. What you are a little unsteady with, lack confidence with things, need to learn more about an area.

Include what works for you and what does not. Like how it's harder to get those AM mid-cycle tests since you only get 1 hour for lunch, barely enough time to get home and back to school.

p.s. Keep that reference syringe with the 0.25u. Make one for the 0.5U and the 0.1U too. Label them somehow, or put a piece of blue painters tape on the cap so you know they don't contain insulin.
Click to expand...
Hi,

I hit like on your post to let you know I seen it but apparently that didn’t work cause I just had to like it.

I really suck at writing anything. I’ll try to write something up when I get a chance.


Skipped Diesel’s shot this am and his PMPS was only 5.9. Stalling now to check after an hour (20 minutes left)
 
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