First Time Doing a Curve-advice appreciated!

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scissorchik

scissorchik

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Hi guys. I am finally doing the home testing, and since i am home all day today decided it was best to do my first curve.

This morning Basil was at 115. He ate 3/4 of a can of ckn fancy feast and got his .25 of Lantus.

I just re-checked and at 11:13 he dropped to 58. I was worried, since thats not even 6+ into it, so I gave him a few spoonfuls of FF to tide him over til the next test. I was worried that that was too low, and thought it would help ward off a hypo.

Was this the right decision?

I feel horrible-he HATES the ear pricking, even with gentle coaxing and treats. His ears must hurt by now, poor little guy. Please tell me this gets easier!
 
First, congratulations on hometesting! It's precisely for reasons like this (picking up a 58) that it's such a powerful tool in the diabetes battle.

Second, can you start keeping the curve for us on your first post? You did say the 58 was not even at +6, but you didn't say when it was ... Don't use "real" times, since we span the globe and about 20 time zones. Instead, use "AM PS" (morning preshot) for the first number, and then each BG number when you test. So your curve would look like :

AM PS 115; fed and gave 0.25u Lantus
+ ? 58; gave 2 Tbsp FF (or however much)
... etc, etc. until you get to the 12 hour mark and end the curve with:
PM PS

Try not to change what happens on a "regular" day too much, or you will have a skewed curve. But those are truly fabulous numbers!

Oh- and yes, this gets easier! Remember to warm the ear first (bleeds much easier) and apply a little pressure after to minimize bruising.
Congrats and good luck!
 
Thanks Karen.

Here's where we are so far:
Tuesday Apr 4
AMPS 115 Fed 2.75oz Gave 0.25 Lantus
+ 4 - 58 Fed 2Tbsp
+ 6 - 74
+ 8 - 85
+ 10 - 106
+12 - 104 Fed 2.75 oz Gave 0.25u Lantus

I read somewhere that the goal is to keep the BG above 100 all the time, but below 200 most of the time. Does that sound right to you? It kind of freaked me out, because 58 seems really low.

If in fact Basil tends to drop during the day like that, does that mean I should plan for a small feeding to be available around the +4-+6 mark?

I feel like I have been fused to the computer the past 2 days. Time flies when you are trying to understand all there is to know about this!
 
Hi Leanne, and, of course, you too, sweet Basil (who's name just makes me smile!),

Curve kudos! I still remember Gizzie's first curve. It was like clues unfolding in a mystery novel, every two hours... She was on Humulin N then, and it was fascinating... But, N is definitely not Lantus.

I should probably tell you that I never really understood Lantus when Nikki was on it. I could never find a nadir (low point). She's on Levemir now, and I'm not all that sure I understand it either... I do know, it likes Nikki. The best guess that I could make, and has now been confirmed by reading some posts here on Lantus recently, is that it, like Levemir, can actually peak (nadir) shortly after the next pre-shot. In other words, it has that long of an onset and duration -- depending on the cat, of course...

How long after Basil's 115 PS was the 58 reading? Was it +2 or +4? Does he normally free feed? If he does, I'd let him do so. You want the curve to include his normal eating habits, if possible...

Always trust your gut, Leanne. You know Basil better than anyone on the planet. Bas could hover in the 50s for hours... Then again, it's good you're home testing, isn't it?

And, yes, it does get easier. Remember to gently massage his ear while warming it. That helps to stimulate blood flow... With Nikki, I use the rice sock, massage a little, use the rice sock, massage a little bit more, and so on. Properly warmed and stimulated, she gives good blood quickly. I need quickly as she's a nipper... Starts her version of growling the second the Vaseline goes on because she knows the ear poke is coming... Afterward, she smacks me. Then we're buddies again! This probably doesn't sound like it gets easier, does it, Leanne? The thing is, Nikki assumes the position shortly before test time...

Cats... Sheesh...

Will be looking for your next reading and answers to those questions...

Love and encouraging hugs for you both,
Deb and Nikki -- and, Giz, forever dancing in my heart...
 
The true goal is to keep the BGs as close to "normal" as possible - anywhere from 50 to 110. (Non-diabetic cats can run as low as 30 or 40, but that's a bit low when on insulin.) A BG of 58 is lovely, although perhaps a bit early in the curve.

Just click "edit" on your first post, and start adding the numbers. By the way, if you are just starting out, what were his numbers when diagnosed? Because these are really lovely for so early in the game - I predict a diet controlled sugarcat in your future!
 
For the sore ear, an antibiotic cream with anesthetic in it may reduce the discomfort of the pricking. Apply a small dab along the outer edge and wait a 5-10 minutes to let it take effect, then proceed with the testing.
 
ok-I've updated my +6 and my +8 to my previous post above.. Basil seems to be adjusting to me poking him. It makes me less nervous which I hope rubs off on him
 
You are doing great! Those are really pretty darn good numbers. I hope that the Lantus experts are watching. It looks like you and your kitty may be in the fortunate group that only needs insulin for a short time.
 
Wowsa! May all your curves be this beautiful!

Go scissorchik! Go Basil!

Love and great job kind of hugs!
Deb and Nikki -- and, Giz...

PS: Less nervous is always good, dear Leanne... You're furry boy is very lucky!
 
Great #'s...go Basil! As others have mentioned, you're on a pretty low dose and already getting good #'s. Maybe Basil will only need insulin for a little while to help support him while his pancreas heals. Paws crossed!
 
OMG! I know people who would sell their grandmothers for curves like that! Brilliant!

So what were his BGs at diagnosis?
 
Hi guys!

Thanks for all the suppoet and encouragement. I think Basil finally clued in that I was trying to help him, and gave in when I told him it was time to test.(waking him up usually ) It sure made me lessed stressed, even when I had to do a second poke a couple of times.

I am not too sure about what his numbers were at the vets when he was diagnosed. When the call came I was so upset and scared that I didn't really ask too many questions.

I am however, going to call the vet's in the morning and ask to speak to the vet who diagnosed him. She was very nice and easy to talk to. I want to ask her for his numbers at diagnosis and what the results of the curve they took last Friday were. I am going to tell her I have begun home testing, and that Basil is doing very good, both with his eating and his insulin/bg testing. They have him scheduled for another curve on Friday, but I'd rather them not do it there-I'll do another one next Monday when I am home all day. Its about what is best for Basil, and I don't want to stress him out anymore than I already have. My only uncertainty is his dose. The vet dropped it to half (from 1u a day to .5u a day) after only 4 days. Should he stay on this dose for another week?? When do you know when to change it?

I trust all of you more than the vet right now. I am sure the vet sees alot of animals but doesn't have time to become an expert at each animal's conditions. You all have gone through what Bas and I are doing, and have all offered amazing advice. I guess I gre up in a family where we were taught 'the dr knows best' and not to question his expertise, so I find it kind of scary to take a stand for Basil and let it be known that I know enough about what I need to do at this time, and am not going to blindly follow what they tell me to do. (and I'll be returning my $48 case of the food they sold me)

The funny thing is, Monkey my other little furball is jealous of all the attention Bas has been getting, and so when we sit down to test him, Monkey comes and sits with us, as if he wants to get tested too! lol (I actually practiced on Monkey before I tried Basil, because Monky is, well, a monkey and is fearless and crazy, and I knew he wouldn't make a stink. (he didn't even turn his head when I pricked his ear)

I made up my own spreadsheet on a word table, because no matter how hard I try I can't get either of the spreadsheet templates to work. I've tried multiple times to 'use this template' but then nothing happens-white screen is all I get.

Time to call it a day. My head aches, my back aches, and I have two sleepy kitties snuggled up in my bed.

:)

Leanne & Basil (featuring Monkey the crazy kitten)
 
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