Nava still not regulated number all over the place

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nava075

Member Since 2014
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I am hoping someone has some info for me. Or has been through the same thing.
My cat Nava is not regulating. His numbers are all over the place. The Vet is stumped himself. I have to call the vet back but due to my recent schedule change it has been hard. I am hoping to get some insight on what is going on with Nava before I call him back. I have been tracking him a few times each day. I hope there is enough info for someone to help. I am starting to lose hope. Does this mean his body is producing insulin sometimes? Why are his numbers all over the place?
 
Just off the top of my head, without knowing Nava's background...I wonder if you have enough skipped shots in there to at least contribute to Nava's wonky numbers.

I would suspect he probably needs more insulin, but there are still a few too many holes in your spreadsheet to say that for sure -especially since you have caught a mid-cycle green or two in there. Maybe he's hitting those nice lower numbers more frequently, and then bouncing. It's hard to say whether those higher pre-shot numbers are bounces, or if he is spending most of his time up that high.

A couple other things that will help people help you:

What is Nava eating?
Are you consistently shooting 12 hours apart?

One of our favorite sayings here is that this is a marathon, not a sprint. It can take some cats a while to become regulated. Some stay bouncy forever. Over time, it does get easier....but it is definitely a process that requires patience!

Have a great evening, guys!
 
Thank you for replying.
he has been up to 3 units before and he dropped really low. We then went to 1 unit for a week then up to 1.5. It seems when we up his insulin he crashes quicker.
Nava has been eating DM canned.
Nava gets insulin at 630 am and 630 pm may be a few minutes off some days but not more than 15 minutes.
I understand it can take a while but i just feel we should be making some progress. It just makes me sad. I have to say we do bond while testing.
Thank you
 
Hi Becky,

Amy's got some good thoughts - skipped doses contribute to erratic numbers. Some cats are also bouncy. those things combine to make a head-scratching spreadsheet in the beginning.

i can see that the 1.0u can bring Nava down into the 50's, so i wouldn't increase the dose. You don't want him lower than that. Lantus dosing is decided by the nadir (low point) that a dose will bring a cat. I think you've got a good dose going right now and I would stay with it.

There's nothing mysterious about his spreadsheet, though. he's not a high dose kitty, he is responding to the insulin. I think what will help you is holding the dose and getting at least one mid-cycle test in each cycle. So many cats go lower at night and the evening cycle test is really helpful for us to see. Vary the times of the tests and it will help fill in the larger white areas of the spreadsheet.

When you're confronted with a preshot that is lower than you've shot before, if you're able to be home and monitor, Nava is handing you an opportunity to help his numbers settle down. The saying here is "shoot low to stay low." If you were to shoot a 140, you very likely would find that her entire range of blood sugar numbers would lower and might flatten out. If you're able to monitor next time that happens, post here and ask for help.

Usually the first time we suggest someone not feed their cat and stall a few minutes and retest to see what's happening. If the number is fairly flat and you're going to be home, shooting low is an awesome technique that can be very, very helpful. Take a look at the "Handling Low Numbers" sticky at the top of this forum and read the parts about becoming data-ready and shooting low numbers. I think of these lower preshot numbers as a gift - as strange as that seems - because they really can make a big difference in reducing the bouncing and flattening out a cat's blood sugar.

Take a look at Davidson's or Boots (on an OTJ trial) spreadsheets. Scroll down each one and see what happens when they begin shooting lower numbers. The whole range drops and flattens, and the "curve" of lantus becomes a line. THAT is fantastic for a cat. That is also the path for a cat's pancreas to heal.

I know it's counter-intuitive to shoot a low number. i know i thought if a dose could drop my cat 200 points when i shot a 300, if i shot a 100, my poor cat would drop to -100 and die - but it doesn't work that way. I think you'll see what does happen when you look at their spreadsheets.

How does all of this sound to you?
 
Honestly it sounds scary. But I understand what you are saying. I will take a look at that. I just get really nervous. I feel better having someone tell me he is on the correct dose. If his numbers were not low and he didn't get insulin because I forgot. Only once was because I was not home. I will monitor him at different times and see what I can get. Thank you very much.
 
Hi Becky,

I just wanted to chime in and say that I think Amy and Julie are giving you some great advice. I completely understand how scary it is; I was scared,too, and still sometimes get a little nervous. However, I've tried to follow their advice just as much as I can, and Jersey has finally gotten into great numbers. She may actually be going into remission right now. It took her a little while, though. Her numbers bounced all over the place in the beginning, too, which was so frustrating for me. Just try to be consistent with dosing and follow the great advice you'll receive here. I truly believe the wonderful people here are the reason why Jersey is trying to go into remission now. I could not have done it without them.

Hang in there!
Shelly
 
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