How to dose newbie with low pre-shots?

[Nancy & Huey]

Hello Lantus Land!

I just started shooting my cat Huey a couple weeks ago and I can't test often enough to follow a strict tight regulation protocol, but I've been getting fairly low numbers and am not sure how to handle them. Deb suggested posting here since you guys are the pros at shooting low. The next couple days are going to be extra wonky because of 4th of July plans anyhow but I'm going to start putting up a daily condo for Huey. My main goal for now is to learn how to dose him so that I don't have to skip every third shot. If someone could take a look at Huey's spreadsheet, ANY advice would be welcome.

Thanks!

Background reading:
Tuesday's "WTF CAT???" thread
Intro post on Feline health

 

[Chris & China (GA)]

Hi Nancy and extra sweet Huey! Welcome to TR!

As you've already learned, it's important to find a dose you can give every 12 hours without having to skip. Since you're so new to the sugardance, you're still learning how Huey responds to both food and insulin, but there are some options other than skipping too

If you get a pre-shot you're concerned about (under 150 to start with), you can "Stall", DON'T feed, and retest in 20 minutes. If the number starts to come up on it's own (without the influence of food), then it's usually fine to go ahead and shoot.

I think I'd stay with the .25 for now, and if you get a low number, stall, and post here and ask for help. Make sure your subject line is edited to say something like "Stalling, help please!" so the people who scan the forums looking for people who need help will see it.

Most of us will shoot anything above 50, but only after we've been collecting data long enough to know how our cats respond. Numbers above 50 are safe (they're GREAT!) and the more time he spends in those green numbers, the more healing time his pancreas is getting!

There's no reason you have to only feed twice a day either. Several small meals is easier on a healing pancreas than 2 big ones anyway, so you can always leave food down for him, either using an auto feeder, making "food-cicles" or just leaving some food down with a little water mixed in to keep it fresher. Most cats will go looking for food if their numbers drop, just like human diabetics go looking for a Coke and a candy bar!

Food-cicles are made by mixing wet food with water and putting it into something like ice cube trays or muffin tins and freezing. Since most cats won't eat what they can't smell, when you first put them out, they don't pay a lot of attention (although there are always exceptions!) As they thaw out, they begin to smell again, and are once again "food"

There's just no easy answer to shooting lower numbers though. I know it's scary, and the way we think, it's like "well, he went from 350 to 150, so if I shoot a 200, he'll drop to 0"...but it just doesn't work that way. Shooting low numbers usually ends up keeping them nice and flat and they spend a lot of time in those wonderful healing numbers!

One thing to remember about Stalling though...if you "stall" for an hour, you have to remember that your next cycle is 12 hours from when you shot, so your schedule has to be a little flexible. You can "work your way back" to your normal shot schedule 15 minutes per cycle (or 30 minutes per day) until you're back where you want to be.

Keep asking questions! We'll do all we can to help!

 

[julie & punkin (ga)]

Your little Huey looks like he's trying to work himself off of insulin!

shooting low is awesome - but you absolutely can't start doing that when you're not available to monitor him. it's just not safe. i'd keep on doing what you are doing and skipping when you aren't going to be able to monitor, but when you're home and able to test, like you've done some evenings, post here and let us guide you to shoot low.