New member - Keiko

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Keiko and Sara

Keiko and Sara

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Hello, I just started Keiko on insulin (Prozinc) yesterday. I was wondering if they can eat 2 hours before I test the BG for the pm test.
 
Hi Keiko and Sara and welcome to the forum. This looks like it is your first post?
I see you have set up the SS and the signature…well done thanks!
Yes you can feed 2 hours before you give the dose of insulin but then it is a good idea to not feed then until you get the blood glucose test before giving the dose of insulin. So the routine is test the BG, feed a meal, then give the dose of insulin in that order. You can feed through out the cycle, although it is better to feed during the first 6 or 7 hours of the cycle than later in the cycles.
Try and get another test in around +4 if you can to see how low the dose is taking your kitty. You can also vary that test to anywhere from +4 to around +7.
I am going to tag @Suzanne & Darcy as she uses Prozinc.
 
I tried to do a +4 but he hid all night. I'm going to try again tonight. I want to know because I feel like I need to bump the dose but trying to be patient since his numbers jumped around even without insulin.
 
Hello and welcome! I am glad you have joined us (but sorry that your boy is diabetic.) How is he feeling? I am just wondering why he was hiding? Maybe he’s not used to the shots and ear testing? I’m hoping that is all it is. Is he eating well? You are doing well with having started him on wet low carb food. That will help. Try to get some mid-cycle tests so we can get an idea of his nadir. I will be happy to help you.
 
Thank you for helping. I was wondering if I should be increasing his dose? He's getting as high as before the diet change. He's eating really well. His symptoms don't seem to be as bad as before he was diagnosed (urination has decrease and so has water intake). But on higher days he seems almost shaky and stumbles.
 
I took some mid cycle readings today. He's very tired. I feel so bad for him and might have caused some pain with the ear testing. Sometimes, I get it with one try... Other times it takes a bunch of tries. He's extra docile when his number is higher so I'm able to get a reading with less resistance.
 
Can you get even one test tonight? It looks like he should be increased to .75 because he’s staying mostly in the pink, which is not good. I think his starting dose was too low.

What is your shot time?

I’m sorry Keiko doesn’t seem to be feeling well and that the testing is hard. It does get easier. Do you have good lighting? Have you seen the photos of here you are trying to prick with the Lancet? What size lancet are you using? Are you warming his ear?
upload_2024-10-30_22-40-33.jpeg
 

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Great job getting those tests today. That is extremely helpful. I feel confident that, with everything being in the pink we can go ahead and safely increase to .75 units now, but I would like to see a test from tonight. Normally we would hold the dose for 7 days, but it will be 8 cycles after tonight and I don’t see a lot of movement in his BG. Do you have ketone strips to make sure he isn’t producing ketones (or you can get a blood ketone meter — I have a Nova Max Plus blood ketone meter.) Is he eating well?
 
I don’t see any tests last night. I am hoping that you just didn’t have the chance to put in a number. Even if he drops a bit lower at night, as many cats do, he is so high right now that he will be safe with an increase.

Given the tests that you had yesterday, I recommend moving him up to .75 units this morning and trying to test a bit so we can see the effect. Okay? Hopefully you have the U-40 syringes with the half unit markings. Just do your best to draw the plunger back to halfway in between the .5 mark and the 1 mark. Good luck today. I will be checking the spreadsheet and hoping to see an improvement.
 
Thank you. I wasn't able to get extra readings last night. I will increase today's dose but I won't be able to do a mid cycle. I will pick up ketones strips and test for them asap. I'll do more tests tonight (I'll be home). I have the 0.5 marked syringes.
 
Okay. Have a good day! Since your schedule will not allow you to do tests on (I assume) work days, it will be important to get some night time tests and to run a “curve” at home on a day that you are off/home (testing every 2 hours for one 12 hour cycle.) This is how we will have enough information to safely adjust the dose.

Don’t forget that Keiko needs to have low carb food in small amounts during the first half of the cycle.
 
Thank you! He's my sweet angel baby. My mental health took a dive when he started looking like he was dying before diagnosis. He definitely looks rough now. I had to shave him down due to not grooming and hair loss/mats.

I was able to stick around for an almost +2 (not quite on the hr mark but close). He dropped to 16.5. I work 6 days a week so I'm really stressed about testing. Sundays will be the days I can do it more accurately. I was sick yesterday so was able to do some readings.
 
Keiko and Sara said:
Oops 16.9mmol/l (I realized that number looks bad in mg/dL) so wanted to clarify. Plus apparently typo on the number
Click to expand...
That’s okay. I will look at the U.S. spreadsheet tab anyway most times so I don’t have to do the math all the time (multiplying by18) to get the numbers.
 
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Did we talk about an automatic feeder to dispense low carb mini-meals (1-2 tsp) — since you work 6 days a week. He is in pink now but it will become even more important as his BG gets into a more healthy range.
 
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