Inconsistent BG readings

[Tinker's Mom]

I checked Tinker's BG this morning before giving him his shot. (This is my 2nd day). The reading was 167. I figured I would recheck it from the same blood stick. I got readings of 178 and 145. I am using Freestyle Light strips (not expired) and a relatively old Freestyle Light meter. Is this normal? I am going to feed him breakfast and try again in a bit.

 

[Sarah&Soph]

That’s normal. There can be up to 20% variance in the readings from the same meter. A little frustrating but normal

 

[Idjit's mom]

@Tinker's Mom, would you add some info to Tinker's signature please? I see on the SS that you injected 0.5 dose of insulin in the morning on 9/19/19 then one full unit in the evening. But we don't know what insulin etc. Did you give Tinker insulin today? If you didn't you could enter NS for no shot in the appropriate cell.

This is info that is helpful in the signature:
kitty's name/age/date of diabetes diagnosis/insulin you're using and dosage amount /glucose meter you're using/what (s)he eats/any other meds or health issues (s)he has. You can add your name, and a geographic location (sometimes the country/time zone matters) Be sure to SAVE when you are finished.

 

[Tinker's Mom]

Thank you, I am sorry I am just trying to get into the habit of updating the SS. I think I fixed my signature.

Is there a way to put in the sheet if I test him early in the morning and his BG is not very high so I feed him and then retest before the shot? Should I add a column?

Thank you!

 

[Jerry dutchboy]

You should test/feed and shoot in that order. Feeding your cat and then testing again (unless it is immediately) is going to elevate his BG numbers and will give you a false read. You should remove food two hours before AM and PM shoot times so that you are getting a true number. If your cat gets squirmy and you find it difficult to test because he just want food, then by all means give him a little food to take the edge off but then test right away with no delay. Test/feed and shoot should be done within 15 minutes so you know where you are. You can always add comments in the column on the right. Tinker is a cutie.

 

[Idjit's mom]

Thank you, I am sorry I am just trying to get into the habit of updating the SS. I think I fixed my signature.

Is there a way to put in the sheet if I test him early in the morning and his BG is not very high so I feed him and then retest before the shot? Should I add a column?

Thank you!

Thanks very much for updating the SS Laura. If you are testing very early before the regular AMPS test, you could put that reading in the PM cycle section, say at +11. Then if you test again, at the regular AMPS time, record the number, and you don't shoot, put NS, for no shot. If you do shoot, then record the dose. As Jerry Dutchboy Dierdre said you can enter comments to the very right side of the spreadsheet when you tested first, then the second time after feeding at whatever +hour.

I hope that doesn't confuse you, and if it does I will try to rephrase it.

 

[Tinker's Mom]

So not to be difficult... I wake up way before my wife (I get up at 5:30 or 6 and she gets up at maybe 7:30). As soon as I am up, Hysterical Kitty starts meowing for breakfast. I like ideally to have my wife help me test him. So maybe could I feed him at 5:30 or 6, test about 2 hours later and then shoot? So I would be dosing him at maybe 8 and 8.

Thanks for all the advice.

 

[Jerry dutchboy]

So not to be difficult... I wake up way before my wife (I get up at 5:30 or 6 and she gets up at maybe 7:30). As soon as I am up, Hysterical Kitty starts meowing for breakfast. I like ideally to have my wife help me test him. So maybe could I feed him at 5:30 or 6, test about 2 hours later and then shoot? So I would be dosing him at maybe 8 and 8.

Thanks for all the advice.

You could give him a snack when you get up, once he's eaten remove any leftovers. Then let him have his full breakfast test and shoot at eight two hours later.

 

[Idjit's mom]

you are not being difficult at all. It's hard to know what everybody is doing in the mornings, and with a feline in charge that's an entirely different story, isn't it?

That scenario is workable: feed him at 5:30 or 6, test about 2 hours later and then shoot? So I would be dosing him at maybe 8 and 8. I have just read that when you are doing this new or anew in your case, it's good to have the AM test not food influenced, hence remove food 2 hours before.

I know that Idjit is very demanding for breffis first thing in the morning, and when we were testing first thing in AM when he was on insulin, it was a hurried affair to get the test, fix the syringe, then feed and shoot at the same time. You work with what you can do, and keep peace of mind in the process.