Insulin question for sick kitty

[skinky44]

Skinky's sugars have been on a roller coaster. Went down to 37 last night. I skipped the next 12 hour dose and gave her one unit 24 hours after last unit.

I'm leaving for 3 days...have vet tech coming in twice tomorrow (at different times) and another person coming in two of the next three nights to try to feed her. I'm going to abstain from giving her the steroid shot for this period.

Her current BG for today has been high, two mid to high 500 numbers and just now about 487.

Is it better to have vet tech give her .5 dosage one a day for the next 3 days (might not be exactly 24 hours apart) or no insulin at all?

 

[BJM]

C A U T I O N.
You never stop a steroid abruptly when you've been using it for a sustained period.
This is because it suppresses the adrenal glands. Suppressed for long enough, they may not turn back on when you stop the steroid abruptly.
This results in adrenal crisis which may be fatal.

 

[skinky44]

wasn't stopped abruptly. discussed w/ vet and she was started getting steroid every other day.

she received steroid sunday, none today, but not comfortable w/ steroid being adminsitered w/o her BG being checked while i'm away

 

[BJM]

Glad you checked with the vet. So much has been going on with Skinky, I wanted to be sure she was safe.


Have you been keeping a spreadsheet or list of her tests?
Have you read over the Lantus stickies in the Lantus/Levemir forum on the 2 protocols for optimal use?

With Lantus, going below 50 mg/dL on a human glucometer earns a decrease of 0.25 units. Stopping the steroid may further drop her glucose.

 

[skinky44]

anyhow, from previous discussions w/ vet, she had recommended not administering insulin w/ the steroid or doing it at a very low dose, given that skinky barely eats. maybe it's best to skip the insulin all together for the next three days?

 

[skinky44]

because she has so much going on, it's been nearly impossible to balance everything....vet's main concern has been to get ANY food into her (and some of the food hasn't been great for her BG...) and for her to NOT go hypoglycemic...

but vet never pointed out how dangerous abruptly stopping could be. so i can have the vet tech, who is going to come in a couple times a day to watch her, continue to give steroid on every other day schedule. i'm just concerned about her BG coz they've been so high and no one will be here to do too much "home testing". i wondered if a small amount once a day would help at all...

 

[skinky44]

No more responses are necessary - about to get on a plane. I'll just sit tight w/ my original plan for the vet tech. BJM - thanks for your response!