New member 5/5/23 Do you Curve the day before you start Insulin?

[Angie & Celia (Cruz)]

Trying to compile all the scattered, overwhelming info I received from my very first thread this week (although extremely grateful) plus located on this website into a sensical, easily accessible physical format in case of emergency while trying to learn to navigate this very intricate website (at least it is for certain newbies), but can't even get past the first step because I can't locate how often/when to Curve once starting the Insulin. Is it Curve every 2h for 8-12h just the day before, then on your first day of starting Insulin: Test BG before the AM shot, then test BG again (if not at home/working) before the PM shot, then repeat this daily? Then how soon do you Curve again & how often? And in case of a hypo emergency: is a vet ER visit always required once they drop to 50 or less BG or only with certain symptoms?

 

[Bron and Sheba (GA)]

I would get the spreadsheet set up so you can start to add any data.
There is no need to do a curve before starting insulin.
On the day you start, you test before the dose to see it is safe to give the dose. The you feed, then give the dose.
That is the routine for all doses. Test/feed/shoot
Then it is a good idea to try and get a couple of tests in during the cycles to see how low the dose is taking your kitty.
Give two or three snacks during the cycles, preferably in the first half of the cycles, and don’t feed for the 2 hours before the next shot
With SLGS you do a curve each 7 days to see if you need to increase the dose.
So test every 2 hours during that cycle.

If the BG drops under 90, you reduce the dose. Make sure you have a hypo kit set up with some high carb foods (mark the top with the number of carbs so you know what they are in an emergency.) and make sure you have some honey or Karo as well.

HERE ARE SOME LINKS FOR YOU TO READ.

DOSING METHODS look for the SLGS method. If you are using SLGS please put that into signature please.

FOOD CHART look for some higher carb food to put in the hypo kit

HELP US HELP YOU this has information about the spreadsheet, signature, hypo kit and other information

with SLGS you don’t let the BG drop under 90, but if it does drop under 50, you can give some high carb food and / or honey or Karo and test again in 20 minutes and keep doing that until the BG comes back up to normal. And post and ask for help. There is no need to go to the vet u less you can’t get the BG to rise, or the cat has hypo symptoms.

Keep asking questions.

 

[Angie & Celia (Cruz)]

I would get the spreadsheet set up so you can start to add any data.
There is no need to do a curve before starting insulin.
On the day you start, you test before the dose to see it is safe to give the dose. The you feed, then give the dose.
That is the routine for all doses. Test/feed/shoot
Then it is a good idea to try and get a couple of tests in during the cycles to see how low the dose is taking your kitty.
Give two or three snacks during the cycles, preferably in the first half of the cycles, and don’t feed for the 2 hours before the next shot
With SLGS you do a curve each 7 days to see if you need to increase the dose.
So test every 2 hours during that cycle.

If the BG drops under 90, you reduce the dose. Make sure you have a hypo kit set up with some high carb foods (mark the top with the number of carbs so you know what they are in an emergency.) and make sure you have some honey or Karo as well.

HERE ARE SOME LINKS FOR YOU TO READ.

DOSING METHODS look for the SLGS method. If you are using SLGS please put that into signature please.

FOOD CHART look for some higher carb food to put in the hypo kit

HELP US HELP YOU this has information about the spreadsheet, signature, hypo kit and other information

with SLGS you don’t let the BG drop under 90, but if it does drop under 50, you can give some high carb food and / or honey or Karo and test again in 20 minutes and keep doing that until the BG comes back up to normal. And post and ask for help. There is no need to go to the vet u less you can’t get the BG to rise, or the cat has hypo symptoms.

Keep asking questions.

Thank you so much. I'm just so overwhelmed with information I can't memorize, some of which I can't even understand, or access easily for an emergency that I don't know when I'll be able to start her on this while having to work and do other obligations simultaneously. Have printed this out and added to my 2,000 other sheets for reference & emergencies, sigh. Sorry, just panicking. Thanks again.

 

[Bron and Sheba (GA)]

Please keep asking questions. It is overwhelming in the beginning. Baby steps and you will get there.
Would you like me to get @Bandit's Mom to set up the spreadsheet for you?
Got the hypo kit set up asap. That is a priority.
We are here to help you

 

[Bandit's Mom]

Hi @Anjee it will take me less than a minute to set up a spreadsheet for you. So let me know

 

[Angie & Celia (Cruz)]

Hi @Anjee it will take me less than a minute to set up a spreadsheet for you. So let me know

Omg, please, because I can't even decipher them just by looking at them so anything would help, plus am juggling food shopping for my 7 cats plus TNVR colony today while fighting fatigue & focus symptoms from A D.D. & Depression symptoms so I am at my wit's end here. THANKS!

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

We all have been in your shoes!! It's absolutely overwhelming at the start of the journey.

Please let us know how we can help. Don't be concerned if you ask the same questions repeatedly. We are truly here to help. The good news is that this will become routine within a couple of weeks!!

 

[Diane Tyler's Mom GA]

I just wanted to let members know that Anjee private messaged me and I moved it to the Feline Health board, moved it before I saw that she made another post here
Here is the link where I moved it to
https://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/newbie-curve-bg-test-inquiry.277268/
And also gave some advice