Gem's SS

[jkbank]

Hi there

I'm wondering if anyone would like to take a look at Gem's spread sheet. I know there's not a whole lot of data on there but I'm trying to see what I can take away from the data I do have. I've been doing lots of reading here and other places, trying to educate myself, but it's a slow learning curve In particular, I'm reading about the shed and having a hard time understanding it, and applying it to Gem's numbers.

As background, Gem was first diagnosed back in August but her numbers went normal and so we took her off the insulin. She was diagnosed again in March, starting at 1u lantus twice a day, but have since gone up to 3u twice a day. She also was recently diagnosed with restrictive cardiomyopathy and some kidney problems and is being medicated for those as well Back in August I transitioned her off all dry food to fancy feast classic. Since March she's been getting Purina DM canned, though I am trying to move her to more high quality grain-free canned foods.

Any input, thoughts etc would be most appreciated!

 

[BJM]

Imagine you are walking up a downward escalator.

If you go to fast, you reach the top and can get off.

If you go too slow, you wind up right back at the bottom.

If you carefully pace yourself, you can get partway up and then keep steeping to stay at that position.

That is what you are doing with depot (shed) insulins like Lantus and Levemir. You are constantly putting in some insulin to keep the amount at a somewhat consistent level so it is always available to balance out the glucose. It takes roughly 5 to 7 days, for a dose to stabilize in the cat's body.

Another 2 days of data, including mid-cycle checks somewhere around 5 to 7 hours after the insulin shots, will help you determine how to adjust the dose. It is looking like you may need to increase 0.25 to 0.5 units at that time. You have to eyeball the 0.25 units between the lines on a syringe with half unit markings.

 

[jkbank]

Imagine you are walking up a downward escalator.

If you go to fast, you reach the top and can get off.

If you go too slow, you wind up right back at the bottom.

If you carefully pace yourself, you can get partway up and then keep steeping to stay at that position.

That is what you are doing with depot (shed) insulins like Lantus and Levemir. You are constantly putting in some insulin to keep the amount at a somewhat consistent level so it is always available to balance out the glucose. It takes roughly 5 to 7 days, for a dose to stabilize in the cat's body.

Another 2 days of data, including mid-cycle checks somewhere around 5 to 7 hours after the insulin shots, will help you determine how to adjust the dose. It is looking like you may need to increase 0.25 to 0.5 unitsat that time. You have to eyeball the 0.25 units between the lines on a syringe with half unit markings.

Thanks for your reply. I understand that it takes 5-7 days for a dose to settle in. Despite the fact that I don't have data for so long (just started with the home testing!) Gem has been at 3u for longer than that. Does it make any sense that her numbers would be getting lower now? I was worried that I was seeing the effects of an overdose there. Or maybe they're just settling down after her stay at the vet? I feel so confused!

 

[BJM]

Those are not hypoglycemic values.

Staying at the vet raises many (but not all) cats glucose values. Calming down after the stress could be part or all of the reduction.

They may be getting into the blues because the pancreas is getting a break from doing so much work and getting to heal.

 

[jkbank]

Those are not hypoglycemic values.

Staying at the vet raises many (but not all) cats glucose values. Calming down after the stress could be part or all of the reduction.

They may be getting into the blues because the pancreas is getting a break from doing so much work and getting to heal.

Thanks BJM, knowing me, I'm sure I'm using the wrong terminology! I know her numbers aren't hypo, I guess I was thinking more in terms of this…

When you get impatient and overfill the storage shed by upping the dose too fast, you get into a situation where at first it looks like nothing is happening because the shed is still filling up. Then you reach the point where it is totally full and yet you are still giving a dose that's too high. Now suddenly none is going into shed, because that is full. It is all working on the cat... and the numbers drop out on you.

Worse case scenario is when you over fill the shed/insulin depot... get very low numbers... then empty out shed by dropping dose too much... or having to skip the shot. Then you'll see high numbers from the combo of the effects of rebound and an empty storage shed/insulin depot. Most react by bumping the dose back up which overfills the shed/depot again resulting in a roller coaster ride to nowhere. Not the way to work this insulin.

~ written by jojo and bunny(GA) and Y
…and worrying whether because her dose is too high and I'm "overfilling the shed".

So, optimistically, we may just be seeing the insulin finally starting to do it's job?? That would be fantastic! I will keep testing and see where things go.

 

[BJM]

You might insert a line or two at the top of your spreadsheet to note the Lantus use prior to data collection, as well as any other notes about other illness. This will help others give you feedback.

 

[jkbank]

You might insert a line or two at the top of your spreadsheet to note the Lantus use prior to data collection, as well as any other notes about other illness. This will help others give you feedback.

Good idea, thanks!