Lower number today has me concerned

[Shantismom]

For a while I was testing Shanti each day at a different time, I had a spreadsheet but had not posted it, then my son brought me a new computer and the spreadsheet was gone. I started only testing him every few days and always at +6 hours. His numbers were always between 100 and 160. Yesterday at +6 he had a 356, I remember seeing on this site about rebound and was concerned that is what had happened. I tried to do a test before his shot last night but couldn't get any blood after three tries so I gave up. I lowered his insulin dose which was 3 units before to 2.5. Same dose this morning. At +3 today his reading was 94, since this is not usually the lowest point I immediately brought him some food. He nibbled for an hour and went to take a nap, he is and was alert but did seem to be drinking a little more than usual. I called the vet but my normal vet was not there today, the vet who I spoke with told me to do a blood curve tomorrow and let them know the results Saturday. He gave me no advice for today and even said don't test again today! I tested him +6 and his number was 124, that was an hour ago. . After +6 test he ate a little more. The vet also said lower the insulin to 2 units tonight and tomorrow.
So now I am turning to the experts as to what is your advice for the rest of today and what to dose this evening and tomorrow.

 

[BJM]

Do you have a hypo kit prepared in case you need it?
- Karo or other syrup
- high carb gravied food
- oral syringe
- coffee - for you if you need to stay up all night monitoring

Lantus has carry over between shots - what we call the depot.

By skipping or reducing a dose, you let that build up drain out a bit. Stick with the 2 units unless he goes lower than 50 mg/dL on human glucometer, 80 on an AlphaTrak.

 

[Shantismom]

I don't have Karo syrup but I do have honey. Only food I have is his normal food because of his IBD but I know to save his life It is worth some bowel distress. I do have some Blue Buffalo Wilderness grain free dry food which the other cat eats as a treat, although that also causes some bowel problems I can break a little up and put it on his regular food if necessary. His normal food Natures Balance Venison is a little higher in carbs to begin with. I will test Shanti again before he gets his next shot, am I correct that if at +12 he is under 200 to skip the shot? or should I still give 2 units or maybe just 1? I should have been more diligent to begin with but with two pills a day and two shots a day and a test I was trying to give Shanti a break.
In all the years of dealing with my babys problems I have never been so stressed out.

 

[BJM]

You've dropped his dose by 1/3, so hang in and see how he does.

IF he goes below 50 mg/dL, then you intervene as follows:
Give 1-2 teaspoons of canned high carb he can tolerate, OR low carb plus few drops of syrup
Wait 20 minutes
Re-test
Evaluate
- if still < 50 mg/dL or dropping, repeat (FYI - gravy/syrup wear off FAST)
- if rising, feed 1-2 teaspoons of medium or low carb
Continue testing and feeding until rising 3 times in a row and over 100
Then monitor hourly for dropping again.
Once past the probable nadir, you may be able to relax a bit.

 

[Wendy&Tiggy(GA)]

Deep breaths.

Since you don't have a SS any more I would go with the "don't shoot under 200" rule. But in theory that is only until you have the data to know how he will behave. As the manta becomes " shoot low to stay low" and in theory you reduce the no shoot number over time

Lets see where he is a pre shot. If under 200 skip. If over 200 shoot the new dose and get a test before bed (2-3 hours after). If this before bed test is more than 20% lower than pre shot, I would set the alarm for a+6 as it implies an active cycle.

Also you seem to be having testing issues - maybe we can help with that - let me know:

- what you use to warm the ear
- if you freehand the lancets or use a tool
- what you put behind the ear to press against
- what size lancets you use

Wendy