Help with insulin numbers

Status
Not open for further replies.
M

Maggie R

New Member
Hi! My cat was recently diagnosed with diabetes with blood sugar over 400. He was also having a pancreatic flare which is now resolved and he gained 12oz back which is what he lost. We switched him back to his raw diet and started glargine insulin. 2 units twice a day. He got a Libre monitor after his curve at the vet yesterday - it seems what’s happening is there’s a big drop from 400 to 150-200 rather quickly after his 8pm dose and then by 6am it’s back into the 400 and it doesn’t budge all day - this has happened two days in a row now.

is this because his dose is too high so he’s having a rebound? I’m thinking we should lower his dose but his vet is suggesting it needs to increase possibly? He has an appointment with an internist at the end of February. He’s eating good but def less during the day - he eats and eats overnight so I’m thinking he’s trying to raise his blood sugar? It’s not dropping crazy low but it drops fastttt and then spikes back up quickly

any help is appreciated.
 
Maggie R said:
Hi! My cat was recently diagnosed with diabetes with blood sugar over 400. He was also having a pancreatic flare which is now resolved and he gained 12oz back which is what he lost. We switched him back to his raw diet and started glargine insulin. 2 units twice a day. He got a Libre monitor after his curve at the vet yesterday - it seems what’s happening is there’s a big drop from 400 to 150-200 rather quickly after his 8pm dose and then by 6am it’s back into the 400 and it doesn’t budge all day - this has happened two days in a row now.

is this because his dose is too high so he’s having a rebound? I’m thinking we should lower his dose but his vet is suggesting it needs to increase possibly? He has an appointment with an internist at the end of February. He’s eating good but def less during the day - he eats and eats overnight so I’m thinking he’s trying to raise his blood sugar? It’s not dropping crazy low but it drops fastttt and then spikes back up quickly

any help is appreciated.
Click to expand...
@Bron and Sheba (GA)
 
Maggie R said:
Hi! My cat was recently diagnosed with diabetes with blood sugar over 400. He was also having a pancreatic flare which is now resolved and he gained 12oz back which is what he lost. We switched him back to his raw diet and started glargine insulin. 2 units twice a day. He got a Libre monitor after his curve at the vet yesterday - it seems what’s happening is there’s a big drop from 400 to 150-200 rather quickly after his 8pm dose and then by 6am it’s back into the 400 and it doesn’t budge all day - this has happened two days in a row now.

is this because his dose is too high so he’s having a rebound? I’m thinking we should lower his dose but his vet is suggesting it needs to increase possibly? He has an appointment with an internist at the end of February. He’s eating good but def less during the day - he eats and eats overnight so I’m thinking he’s trying to raise his blood sugar? It’s not dropping crazy low but it drops fastttt and then spikes back up quickly

any help is appreciated.
Click to expand...
@Wendy&Neko
@Sienne and Gabby (GA)
 
@Maggie R
I tagged a few experienced members for you , until they respond
Here is a link for new members New? How You Can Help Us Help You
It will tell you what information we need about your cat which is called your signature, it's at the end of everyone's post in gray letters.
It will also tell you how to set up our spreadsheet where we enter our cats BG numbers so we can see what's going on with the numbers
The link will also tell you how to use the spreadsheet

In your title I would put NEW MEMBER in front of Help with insulin numbers.
To do that look to the right and tap on Thread Tools, then tap on Edit Title and add that then tap save

I would also read all the yellow stickys here about Glargine
https://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/forums/lantus-levemir-biosimilars.9/

Do you have the syringes with the half unit markings? Only asking because when we do increase or decrease we do it by 0.25 units at a time
U100, 3/10 ml, 30 or 31 gauge, 6 or 8 mm insulin syringes with 1/2 unit markings
 
Last edited:
Hi and welcome to the forum. It sounds de as if your kitty is bouncing.
Here is an explanation on bouncing
  • Bouncing - Bouncing is simply a natural reaction to what the cat's system perceives as a BG value that is "too low". "Too low" is relative. If a cat is used to BGs in the 200's, 300's, or higher for a long time, then even a BG that drops to 150 can trigger a "bounce". Bouncing can also be triggered if the blood glucose drops too low and/or too fast.The pancreas, then the liver, release glucogon, glycogen and counter-regulatory hormones. The end result is a dumping of "sugar" into the bloodstream to save the cat from going hypoglycemic from a perceived low. The action is often referred to as "liver panic" or "panicky liver". *Usually*, a bounce will clear kitty's system within 3 days (6 cycles).
If you could set up a spreadsheet and signature as suggested by Diane, we will be able to help you a lot more. I would like to see a few days of blood glucose data before commenting on if you should increase or decrease the dose or stay the same.
Try giving a snack. Low carb food 2 hours after the dose to see if that slows the drop.
Are you only feeding the two main meals or offering snacks.
What type of food are you feeding?
 
Bron beat me to the suggestion that you get a spreadsheet set up. We tend to be rather numbers driven and I'm reticent to give any input without knowing how your cat is responding to insulin.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top