Meet Lucy. She's a bit decrepit.

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Hi

Thanks for the update

Could you upload your spreadsheet as an attachment?

With regards the low numbers. When she does that if you follow the two protocols BJM listed above you will see that she has earnt herself a dose reeducation. So for example using the UK numbers on a human meter if she went below 3.2 she would have earned herself a 0.25 reduction from 1 unit to 0.75. She would have stayed on that dose until she headed below 3.2 (human meter) again. That way you slowly decrease the dose until she has no where else to go but an OTJ trial. Ofcourse you need to just the numbers for your alpha trak meter. So maybe that is the 4 ? Have at look at my remi's spreadsheet when he started on lantus and you will see what I mean.

Do you know the calories from carb content of the Sheba ? It is recommended that you don't give anything over 10% . It is interesting about the encore. It sounds like if you gave her that she may be off the insulin quite quickly. Could you not swap the food slowly and reduce her insulin as her numbers lower. So drop it down to 0.5 until she goes low and then 0.25 until the same happens followed by 0.1.

Have a look at those protocols. It sounds like you are able to monitor her during her cycles and have the equipment to keep her safe. You could alway post over on the main lantus forum. Those guys are great at helping with dosing.
 
Hi David,

Glad to hear that Lucy's doing better.

As Sarah says above, going to a low value is the way you will most often read here about Lantus dose reductions being given. However, there is also another criterion for dose reduction. If Lucy's numbers stay completely in the healing TR range for seven days (4.4 to 7.2 on an Alphatrak) that too merits a dose reduction.

(Very entertaining thread, BTW. Definitely the work of a wordsmith. :) )
 
I didn't see any one mention that you can create a barrier to keep her from getting too far under the bed with shoeboxes.... or just use cardboard and cut it and tape it the right size to fill the space.
I had to do that to keep mine from getting out of my reach.
I left the edges so she would feel like she was hiding..... but I didn't give her any space where I couldn't reach her when I wanted.
 
It has been a long time since I posted and I apologise once again, having taken all your very valuable and very welcome advice and gone quiet.

I am updating this now as it seems right to let you know that Lucy was put to sleep this morning; not because of the diabetes but because she developed an adenocarcinoma - aggressive cancer - in her bowel a few weeks ago.

In an instant her diabetes became, unbelievably, the least of her problems hence my radio silence here.

There was nothing the vet could do about the cancer, it got worse very swiftly and ultimately she was getting by on two types of painkiller which, thank goodness, she was quite perky on but when it wore off the horror was all too apparent. She was clearly getting worse and getting fed up with me injecting her and sticking pills and potions down her neck every few hours. In the end she just wanted to be left alone.

I'm incredibly sad, of course. I looked after Lucy for just seven months and I can only hope she enjoyed that time to some degree, insulin notwithstanding. She's at peace now and no longer in pain and for that I am relieved.

Thank you all once again for your kind advice which gave me the strength and belief to persist with the Lantus.

Best wishes to you and your cat companions.

Regards
David
 
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David

I am very sorry for your loss. Lucy found a great friend in you and you couldn't have done more to help here.

Fly free Lucy and land softly
 
Oh, David, I am so sorry to hear that Lucy has passed....

I think she was really blessed in having you care for her these past 7 months. You gave her the love and affection that she hadn't known in a long while, and that was a tremendous gift. At the end of her life she knew she was loved; that is a very special and precious thing.

Huge hugs to you, (((David))),

Eliz
 
Oh, David...

I am so sorry to hear that Lucy is no longer with you. Blessings to you for taking her in and for filling her last months with so much love and caring.

((((David & Spirit Lucy))))

:bighug:
 
I'm so sorry to hear this, David. I'm sure Lucy truly appreciated all you did for her, even with the pokes. Isn't it amazing how fast they get under your skin?
 
I'm so sorry to hear about your loss of Lucy. At least she had a nice "mug" like you to take such good care of her in her last few months.
 
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