i don't know the extent of a cat metabolizing insulin differently based on eating & sleeping habits or just body chemistry.Linda and Tasha said:
In people (and I found out in cats too from another member) there is something called dawn phenomenon. A rise in BG in the early morning hours. Doesn't happen for everybody. Natures way to get you going with a little extra energy. Of course for a diabetic it isn't a great idea. In people who are non diabetic and I would assume animals too, normal insulin needs varies throughout the day and night. In a non diabetic, islet cells just makes insulin when needed, more at different times of the day then others. Different each day too depending on activity and food eaten. It is hard for me to believe that a truly flat line level of bg is really achievable with lantus using the same insulin am and pm for every cat. Some, maybe so. Cats are different and have different days too.jan and sara said:
Larry and Kitties said:
might the above statement have something to do with the following statement?Larry and Kitties said:
for purposes of this discussion and given the cumulative nature of lantus, the 12/12 schedule would have to be consistent.Larry and Kitties said:
I think you have to do what ever works for you. One size does not fit all. Even what may work for most does not mean it will work that way for everyone. Just look at the differences of spreadsheets with the same insulin doses in different cats. Replacing insulin is only part of diabetes. There is no accounting for how a cat's pancreas will react differently at different times.There are also other hormones involved too. That is why we don't change for a single high number. Sometimes it just happens. Of course it is a great idea to start out with what works best for everyone and then if it doesn't work for you you have to make it work.Sienne and Gabby said:
I did not mean to imply that I was there yet. I was talking in the broader sense. I have very little control over how Tasha eats. I am lucky if I can get her to eat at all. That is the most challenging part for us. She always seems to want to eat about an hour before her AMPS. That seems to be the only time of day she is interested in food. It is very frustrating. I currently am giving her what I call a 0++ (which is between a fat 0 and a .1) at a 12 hour interval. I see no reason to change it at the moment. She does trend a bit higher in the evening, but not enough so to make any kind of change. I have learned through my daughter's diabetes that it takes time to establish any real patterns. One or 2 bg test means little. I put this question up for discussion to see what others are doing and to find out the kind of patterns they are getting. I have only been doing this for a month, but I can see a lot of parallels to human diabetes. I am learning what I can use and what I must discard from what I have learned over the past 19 years. Asking about this helps me make a more informed choice for Tasha when the time comes if a choice must be made.Sienne and Gabby said:
It is not enormously higher that is true. That is why I didn't change anything. I just see a trend. Also there were different amounts of food intake. She eats much less (often nothing) after the second shot. You will also note their were some dose changes and that plays into it too. Also some rebounds from lows at the AMPS +3 . You are not looking at the entire picture.jojo and bunny said:
That is good to know. I have been dealing with diabetes for 19 years. Of course not in a cat. I ask these things to become better educated and to make better choices for Tasha. One thing I have learned with my daughter is that one size does not fit all. From looking at other spread sheets, it is easy to see that this holds true here too. When it comes to diabetes in humans I consider myself an expert. Better then many of the diabetes educators I have come across.I became one by questioning everything I was told and finding out how things worked on my own. I certainly don't think I'm an expert when it comes to kitties. I do intend to learn as much as I possibly can, but as you said, no one is infallible, my self included. If I don't question, I will never learn.Sienne and Gabby said: