Help w/microdosing plz

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Sharyn & Fiona

Member Since 2009
Greetings all! We haven't posted in LL in a loooong time, but we need some advice please. We're in a bit of a quandary. Fiona is an IAA kitty on large doses of Lantus. Currently, 22 units is too much but 21.50u is too little :roll: In the past, when we got to a dose that was too much, Fiona's insulin needs would start reducing steadily. For some reason, it's not happening this time.

Granted 22 units is not a microdose, but I'm having difficulty finding the magic "in between" dose. I've tried 22u w/one or two drops removed. I know I'm having problems w/consistency on where I start unit wise and how big a drop. I try to start with the plunger on the top of the 22u line. Getting the drops the same size every time is tough even when twisting the plunger, there's no defined reference except eyeballing the drop. I sure wish the plunger and the numbers on the syringe were different colors.

It's ridiculous that a cat on 22 units is being so particular over A DROP of insulin, but here we are. Any tips or advice will be greatly appreciated.

ETA: I should also say we are splitting the dose so that Fiona gets the 22u split in two different locations somewhere in her vast expanse of tummy.

ss is up-to-date (and one of these days I'll get it in my sig)
https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key ... lQXc&hl=en
 
What type of syringes are you using? If they're the ones that have unit markings on them only, I recommend getting the 31 gauge, 3/10cc 5/16" long (short needle) with the 1/2 unit markings. You can buy them at Hocks.com and they work very well for microdosing to the 0.25 unit.

Also, are you feeding your cat HC or LC food on a regular basis? I don't see it in your remarks on your SS.
 
Hey good to see you again! And then my very next thought was... OMG! I have no idea on this one! Wow, tough question. Getting a consistent drop... I used the twisting method, but I see you've attempted that already. Ehhh... maybe practice, practice, practice with water and let the drops land on a paper towel to see how far each one spreads and try to get them to be similar. That makes my head hurt to even think about. ohmygod_smile

So all I can do is wish you well and lots of good luck!
 
I'm going to brainstorm since you're already doing what's obvious.

I like CD's suggestion about practicing but I like practicing on wax paper so I can actually see what a drop looks like.

Any chance that bubbles are effecting your consistency? Not a big bubble, but those little, tiny ones that sometime stick to the plunger.

Could shot location make a difference? For some cats, absorption is different based on the location of the shot.

Any chance it's a syringe factor? Someone recently mentioned that they were finding that the plunger on their syringes weren't level.
 
Angela & Blackie & 8 Others said:
What type of syringes are you using? If they're the ones that have unit markings on them only, I recommend getting the 31 gauge, 3/10cc 5/16" long (short needle) with the 1/2 unit markings. You can buy them at Hocks.com and they work very well for microdosing to the 0.25 unit.

Also, are you feeding your cat HC or LC food on a regular basis? I don't see it in your remarks on your SS.
Click to expand...

Yea, sorry for people who don't know us. We've been doing this for a while, going on 3 yrs this Thanksgiving. We are using the 1/2 unit needles (cheaper at Walmart than Hocks btw) and only feeding low carb wet w/freeze dried chicken treats at shot/test time. All the we're-doing-what-we-should-be-doing bases are covered, just gotta figure out how to microdose.

Some may not know that IAA (insulin auto-antibodies) keeps Fiona from using insulin correctly. She's built up antibodies to the insulin so her body "fights" the insulin instead of using it. Just like getting a flu shot, your body creates antibodies to the flu virus so when you get exposed to the flu you can fight it off w/out getting sick. IAA is a PITA and this microdose crap is just the icing on top.

CD - :lol: I certainly will have to practice more.
Sienne - thanks for the storming. I'll check syringes. We've been shooting in the tummy for a long time now, I hope that's not it. Fiona has major pblms w/scruff (and anywhere near) shots.
 
Have you tried the various magnifying glasses? We used them to help us judge the smaller doses. Of course, that doesn't help much when the dang markings on the barrel aren't consistent from syringe to syringe.

Here's one:
http://www.activeforever.com/p-2475-bec ... QodU3TTIw&

Becton Dickinson Consumer B-D Magni-Guide is a scale magnifier and needle guide for insulin syringes. Designed to help patients with vision or dexterity difficulties to guide needle into vial, the Becton Dickinson Consumer B-D Magni-Guide features a magnification scale of 1.7X for easier reading. Convenient to hold and easy to use. Becton Dickinson Consumer B-D Magni-Guide Works with B-D syringe sizes 1ml, 1/2ml and 3/10ml.
 
Sharyn!!! Balloonie!!!

I have some of those binocular magnifyers that go on your head and you can pull the magnifyers down in front of your eyes. You can pick some up at a hobby store if you want to try them. Leaves both hands free for twisting the plunger and holding the syringe :smile:

You're probably trying for right between the 22U and 21.5U marks I'd bet and yeah, those are a pain to measure. ohmygod_smile

Hope to see you around more often :smile:
 
wow Sharyn, cats are amazing, aren't they? I was amazed even when Jazzy was around 9 units and 0.25 was too much difference.

Counting drops is probably the most accurate once you have practiced. I don't know if you have seen these pages before:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/29764149@N ... otostream/

Depending on your syringe, there might be something else you can line up to, for example on that picture the back edge of the plunger is lined up with the bottom of the line on the syringe. As long as you can be reasonably consistent and the dose works for Fiona, then it doesn't matter what you call it.

I hate the in between doses too. I always feel like the numbers aren't as good on them, and I'm sure it's because I'm not as accurate with measuring. Good luck!

Good to see you guys!
 
Linda and Crash said:
Hi Sharyn - glad to see you and Fiona are still doing well. Amazing how many things we need to get those microdoses. I had my bifocals, the magnifying glass, and a digital caliper when I got to drops on Crash. http://www.harborfreight.com/6-inch-dig ... 47257.html It seemed to stay consistent with that thing. Good to 'see' you both! :) - L
Click to expand...

Are you serious about the caliper? How'd you use it?

Libby thanks for the link, it's been years since I've seen. Never thought I'd need it.

Nice to see my old friends too!
 
Sharyn! Miss Fiona Balloonie! Great to see you both :smile:

When Karre was on his something-a-bit-less-than-0.1u microdose, we also had to squeeze out droplets to get to the dose as consistently as possible. For us, it helped to hold the syringe in our hand for a few moments, which seemed to make the glide a bit more smooth (maybe something to do with slightly warm plastic being a little softer than slightly cool plastic?), and we had a tiny sewing pin with a round head stuck into a piece of cardboard that we'd hold the tip of the syringe needle up to, to get the same size droplet each time, which seemed to keep it quite consistent. Hope this helps a bit :smile:

Best of luck to find the magic dose!

Jane
 
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