I am doing a curve tonight

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Elizabeth A

Elizabeth A

Member Since 2013
Because I thought the results I am getting are so different than just a week ago for Leia. She's been in the 400s and at just a half unit increase for a week now an hour before insulin she was 163, than an hour after insulin was 117. How often would you test tonight? I was thinking every hour until I see an increase of 50 points. She's had an abnormally high unit month, with some test results (the vet kind, not the meter kind) that indicated her diabetes or pancreas or liver was out of whack. My thinking is it's passed and now we have to back her down on the dose again. I'll get help with that based on her numbers. Is every hour until she goes back up good? I have my Karo syrup ready, what's the dose you give that at? I thought 60 or so, I've never had to do that before. She's on Lantis, long acting you know. Don't feel sorry for me, I had a nap until 3 and I can go the distance, haha!
 
Elizabeth, it would help to know the dose kitty is on and amount you gave tonight. Not a Lantus user but I posted for eyes to watch out and help you. If and when you do need to use Karo, mix it either in the food if kitty will eat or rub it on the gums. Quick spike up so you would have to test more often. Please do not syringe Karo or any syrup....could aspirate kitty.
 
She's on 4 and a half right now, we've been moving it up once a week for a month. Maybe we finally found her current sweet spot. Twice a day, like most Lantis users I think. No kidding, she's been nowhere near these numbers for at least a month.
 
Hello there and good luck with the curve tonight. Given where you are now, a test each hour until rising 50 points is good, EXCEPT if she goes below 60, in which case I'd test every half hour. According to the protocol a number of Lantus users follow here, dose reductions are earned when kitty goes below 50. If Leia goes below 50, then you want to give a couple of drops of karo mixed in with a tsp of her regular low carb food, then test again 1/2 hour after she's eaten. If she's still low, karo with regular food again and keep repeating. We call it lather, rinse, repeat. So it's test, feed, wait 1/2 hour, start all over again. Once the cat is over 50 again, give her a couple tsp regular food without karo. But don't go to sleep until you see a couple of rising numbers.

Here's a post on Handling Low Numbers with more details. Given the drop from her test before insulin to one hour after, you might have a late night. Might want to put the coffee on. ~O)
 
Thanks Wendy, that's just what I needed. I am just now getting to where I even get blood consistently when I poke her (although I have had to ignore the three poke limit sometimes), and am very glad I have the ability to do so at home. Even if I'm not very good at it yet it's so important to do here with little miss unpredictable. Off to do test three.
 
Test three is 121, four points higher than an hour ago. I want to be sure to catch the low point, so I guess I'll be doing every hour for a bit. Feeling pretty proud of myself, I've actually done three tests in a row successfully. And didn't prick myself once. This is a record, you know :) The vet had told me something interesting, she said they've seen cats on Lantis have low numbers with no side effects, and they were surprised. I think it might be different than some of the other insulins. Maybe they bump up faster or something. Leia's been down to 60 or 70 at the vets once, and we did lower her dose that time.
 
Those are nice numbers. I was worried that your first test after the shot was so much lower. That usually indicates an active (ie. busy for humans) cycle. I hope the rest of the cycle goes calmly for you. I'm heading off to sleep soon. Folks on the east coast might be up in a few.

Good job on the testing. Pricking yourself is just a matter of time. :lol: I was a wreck for the first couple of weeks. Neko's gone into the 30's. The only sign was that she seemed especially quiet. No obvious physical signs. But we don't know what's happening in the brain, so we want to get them out of low numbers as fast as possible. On the other hand, we've seen some cats go into remission and continue to be tested show numbers in the 40's.

Cats will often show higher numbers at the vet - the stress of the visit can raise them. So a 60's or 70's there is definitely worth lowering the dose.
 
Just checking in but looks like things are ok for now. Glad Wendy gave you the post on handling low numbers. If you can't find anyone here and need help, look under "Insulin Support Groups" on the main FDMB page and then under "Lantus TR ISG". If you look at the bottom of the page, you will see who is online and then ask for help.

Good luck.
 
I'm the only crazy cat person up and online, but her numbers at 3am are up another 4 points. I want to make it until 6 because usually her low point is between 5 and 6 hours after insulin. I just want a good curve showing enough. I think I'll do an hour and a half this time since this last time she got pretty vocal. I can't blame her, I was having trouble finding the right spot. She's got such little ears, I swear! And yes, pricked myself the tiniest bit. I've learned something, though, if I get scratched or cut myself on a package I get out the meter and check myself. I think a real life test like that now and then is probably a good thing. I was 88, lol.
 
Okay, we're up to 156 which is close to before insulin tonight so I think we are done. Okay, I'm done. I think this new dose is looking about right for now, but I'll call the numbers in tomorrow and they chart it. I can't believe I got five samples on time, this is a first. Thanks for your advice and I do read the articles here as well, I appreciate it very much, good night!
 
Are you using anything behind the ear to protect your finger from the lancet? I ask because I saw that you said you poked yourself - twice.

A piece of paper towel or facial tissue or a square of toilet paper folded up small work well. A piece of a cotton ball or a makeup pad work too. It gives you something to poke against and give you something to stem the blood flow if you hit the vein by accident and get a really big drop of blood.

If you put the question mark icon, on the first post of the day, people will know you are looking for help.

Go back to your very first post.
Click on the little EDIT icon over towards the right hand side of your post.
Change the icon in the row abouve the editing commands from NONE to ? and that will alert people that you are looking for help.

I read 911's and then the ? posts first, then the other new posts in Feline Health. Trying to get the people most in need help first, like a triage system.
 
@ Deb, yes, sadly I am using a cotton ball. Can you imagine if I was using nothing, lol! Actually, that time Leia turned her head quickly and I pulled the stuff back but my finger was in the way. By the last two readings she was sick of me poking her. She forgets the insult very quickly, as long as I tell her how great she did and pet her. She'll have none of the bribing her into a better mood with reward snackies, though! I'll look at the chart this week sometime. My vet was really happy with her numbers, but we suspect she'll be on her way down as soon as her wonky pancreas gets a rest. She'd had bouts with that long before she was diabetic. He told me I was the first of his clients ever to do a nocturnal curve. I told him, well, I am original!
 
Maybe try something hard behind the ear to press against? It means you get something to press against and will save your finger. I use small rechargeable USB flashlight I got from ebay.

Maybe you can teach your vet something??!

if you need help with the spreadsheet setup let us know. Once you get it set up its easy to update.
 
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