Newbie - Injected When 5.0 Reading HELP

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Miss Sandra D

Miss Sandra D

Member Since 2015
I don't know what I was thinking. I blood checked and it was 5.0. Then I injected 1 unit! When she rejected her food, I freaked out and realized this is not good. So I gave her some of the old dry stuff. I checked her blood again a half hour later and she is 5.6. I hope she will be fine. Watching her. Should I have not injected?? Had a hard time getting blood. Poked her a few times. :(
 
Hi!

Can you check her blood sugar in another hour after your last test, so 1.5 hrs after the shot? We can guide you through it if you end up in low numbers. The dry food will probably bring her up, but let's monitor to be on the safe side.

julie
 
In the meantime, take a deep breath - it'll probably be fine. Can you give us a little of your kitty's story? How long has it been since she was diagnosed? Are you using Lantus or Levemir?
 
Julie- we met Sandy on FB last night, gave her links to join FDMB, Dr. Lisas site, etc.. before she got a chance to sign up even, she posted on FB for help so we got her over here. She ended up in LL instead of main but that is fine. We wanted to help her, but wanted her to get a thread here so she'd have eyes on her. She was using the pen but did not realize not to use the needles. Sandy, i am assuming you did not get syringes yet? SO that 1U she shot if it is from the pen, who knows exactly how close to 1U it was. She also mentioned on FB kitty had not eaten much at all today. The dry was given at only +30 so a long way to go til nadir.
Sandy how long now since you shot? You are in great hands so no worries. It all may be a non-issue but since you are already doing such a GREAT job of testing you can keep an eye on her....when you get your numbers, just post them for guidance. You will want to monitor her til she gets past the peak. Maybe test again at 2 hours past the shot time. Just stay in close touch here and we will help make sure she stays safe. You were smart to post for help. Any updates?
 
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And she has no HC or Karo but we told her we are inventive if it turns out we need some sugar ;) I am so glad your found your way here...i feel better
Let us know what you need
 
If you have Karo, molasses, honey, table sugar, or flour, we can finagle a high carb option as needed.
 
Thanks so much for your help! She is running around happy now and licking us! Like old self so thank goodness for that! Newly diagnosed and only started insulin two days ago. First day was a fail as she pulled away and almost broke needle off! So stressful. I only ever blood checked her last night 30.6 and tonight 5.0. What a huge difference! I wasn't thinking and injected her. She doesn't love the wet food so she ate little today. I guess that is why numbers so low. Should I not have injected??
 
I gave her a tad more dry food again. I kinda panicked. Almost two hours now and she seems fine. I will try to blood check her again. Having a hard time getting blood. And I have to hot dog roll her. Feel sooooo bad for her
 
It'll be OK. The dry food will provide a sustained increase in glucose and we say better too high for a day, than too low for a moment.
The peak action of Lantus is about +5 to +7 hours post shot, so that is the most critical time to monitor her.
 
Happy to see you make it over here Sandy!!

At the top of this forum are several "Stickies" that are full of information on Lantus...Most of us here use the Tight Regulation Protocol because it gives our cats the best chance of remission

There's LOTS of info, so don't let it overwhelm you. The people here are great about sharing their knowledge and experience to help another sugarcat mom!
 
When a kitty is diabetic, they have to have insulin. But, we usually encourage people to ask for advice if they have a number under 150 before they shoot.

which, by the way, we use US numbers as our "common language" on FDMB - you'll find most people don't know what a 5 means and they won't post with help because they don't "read" mmol numbers.

In any case, I did want to comment about you having trouble getting a blood test. As you poke her ears, (what's her name) it will stimulate the growth of capillaries and in about 2 weeks you'll get blood most every time. In the meantime, give her a treat every time you let her go after testing, whether you were able to get blood or not. I had to wrap punkin in a beach towel really tightly for the first week or so - then he gave up fighting and accepted the testing.

Cats that are newly diagnosed have the ability to have their pancreas heal and many (but not all) will go off of insulin and be able to be diet-controlled.

It's ok that you gave her more dry food, but i think i'd hold off for now if you can get a test.

I don't think we can assume her low point will be at +5-+7 yet - she's only on the second day of insulin and a regular Lantus cycle doesn't usually appear this early. It could be anytime.

Can you get another test at +1.5 or so (1.5 hours after her shot) and repost the results?
 
Another fyi - when you're in this situation, often the posts will come fast and furious with help. It helps if you refresh your browser and scan back up so you don't miss critical advice.
 
Hello and welcome. A couple of questions first. Did you confirm she's on Lantus? Shooting at 5 on Levemir means something different than if it's Lantus. Also, what time of blood glucose meter are you using?
 
Welcome, Sandy! You're in the right place. This is a lot when your cat is newly diagnosed, but the experienced members will talk you through it. I saw that you don't have any karo or honey. Do you have maple syrup or molasses? If not, do you have table sugar or flour? If he does go low, it will help those with a clue (ie not me!) to know that ahead of time. You're going to do great! Take a few deep breaths and keep posting.
 
Welcome aboard you are in the best place for you and kitty (what's her name?). Getting blood will get easier after her ears get used to bleeding, just make sure you give her a low carb treat after each test (or attempted test) so that you both learn to love them :)

Lesson learned for you today the order is test, feed and then shoot for just this reason :) Being a newbie and seeing that she hadn't eaten I wouldn't have shot on this occasion - that's not to say that you won't in future though once you have more data on her and that's also not to say that she won't be fine. How much does kitty weigh?
 
Hi Sandy,

As soon as you have the time, would you go here to create a spreadsheet using the world template. Look down just a couple of short paragraphs to where it says to click for a world template. That way you'll be able to enter your mmol tests in on the world page and it will convert to US numbers on the linked page. I just want to make sure you can get the help you need.

You're being given a lot of advice at the moment, but i'm thinking this is probably the first thing you should do at this point, as long as your kitty is acting ok.
 
Its all gonna be ok. You barely got to get the hang of things before you ended up with your first low shot numbers. I can help with some testing tips if you like. This is all stuff we would help you figure out.

Ok some questions, remind me and clarify for those just 'meeting' ya'll. How long has she been on insulin?
Was the 1U you shot tonight done with the dial a dose on the pen? (dont imagine you had time to get syringes since last night?)

We use rice socks (baby socks filled with couple tablespoons rice) to help warm kitties ears before testing. You warm in microwave maybe 20 seconds or so. For now you can pinch hit with a pill bottle filled with warm water, or something along that line. If you put kitty up on a spot on the counter, being at that level allows you to sort of hunch over her and have some control (plus usually she is then blocked on 2 sides from jumping) Put a towel or blanket down and her on that. Then rub her ears between your thumb and finger for 30 seconds or so, this gets the blood flow going, and then intermittently use the rice sock or something to warm, also to help blood flow. Sometimes you need to 'milk' the blood bead a little to get it to bead up.
you want to ALWAYS give her a treat after each test, whether successful or not. I will help you with low carbs treat options in a bit. For tonight it wont matter, use what you have....do you have any chicken, lunch meat?
I forget which meter you had, hopefully one that takes smallest amounts. Their ears learn to bleed and it gets increasingly easier.

So if you will test at +2 (2 hours after the shot) and report back the number, we can help you figure next steps if there is anything to do. Or decide when to do the next test after that.
I agree she is probably going to be fine...someday you will look back and be wishing for these numbers. But it is scary the first time you shoot into one. We are here with ya!!!!
 
I am using Lantus. Thanks for the info on the US vs CAN levels. I do have table sugar but nothing of the other sugary things. We are a sugar free home mostly but now I will have to get something. I will try to get another reading shortly. Kitty's name is Stella!
 
If you need it, and you may not, take a teaspoon of sugar and dissolve it in some water. A few drops of that added to low carb food can substitute for high carb gravy.

It doesn't take much high carb liquid to temporarily bring the glucose up, however, liquids wear off fast.

The dry food will raise the glucose for a somewhat sustained period once it starts kicking in.
 
Pretty picture of Stella! There can also get high carb cat food and use that. In Canada, any of the Fancy Feast with Gravy, especially the gravy lovers works. I'm currently using Merck Cowboy Cookout which is also high carb. Sometimes it's easier to get kitties to eat cat food than sugar.

Which blood glucose meter are you using? There are different scales for pet meters vs. human ones so we need to know which.
 
Vyktors Mum said:
Welcome aboard you are in the best place for you and kitty (what's her name?). Getting blood will get easier after her ears get used to bleeding, just make sure you give her a low carb treat after each test (or attempted test) so that you both learn to love them :)

Lesson learned for you today the order is test, feed and then shoot for just this reason :) Being a newbie and seeing that she hadn't eaten I wouldn't have shot on this occasion - that's not to say that you won't in future though once you have more data on her and that's also not to say that she won't be fine. How much does kitty weigh?
Click to expand...
Big lesson learned. Ugh. Scary. Stella is a chunky monkey 16 lbs
 
Sandy- getting a spreadsheet is a good next thing to do, but we can worry about that after we make sure she is safe in this cycle and getting you help you need with testing tonight, if we need to feed anything, etc..I know it is all so new.

GIVE HER TREATS! she will learn to LOVE testing :)

So you have a +2 number yet?

once we get that, depending on the number, will determine what to do next, when to test again, etc..

and for YOU, a glass of wine may be in order! :bighug:
 
She's SO pretty. BTW, my boy was over 20lbs at diagnosis, though he lost weight when he was unregulated, then kept it off due to the low carb canned food he was switched to. That helps them in so many ways, you have no idea. He formally had chronic urinary issues that never again recurred, his fur became lustrous like a bunny rabbit. It really helps their overall health in so many way.

Did you get a successful test- do we have a number?
 
Sending big hugs. It's so hard to wrap your mind around it all at first. Hard and terrifying. It won't always be this way. You will gain confidence before you know it. Meanwhile, I recommend some chocolate to go with that wine.
 
That 15.1 (272 in US) is just the dry food talking. You are doing fine. She is safe and that is not an over the top number.

Don't be sad...it is just scary and a lot to absorb. We have all been there. You will have the hang of this in no time, It is really quite manageable. There will just be some 'firsts' you gotta get through. This board will save your life, I promise. There are not smarter, more helpful, supportive wise folks anywhere as far as kitties and diabetes goes. Take a deep breath...and maybe another sip of wine (i think I may join you):bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug::bighug:
 
Hey Sandy, right click on the Lantus forum in the bar at top so it opens in a new window. See the starred stickies at the top of the page? that is the BEST most informative place to start. Start reading those and will help you learn everything about how lantus works, how to store, how we decide when to raise and lower doses, etc.. Do not worry to get it all in down in a day. We will always be here for you, just come around with any questions you have any time. We LOVE questions. It is like anything else that is unfamiliar, but will only get easier and easier, I promise. But you will not need to go it alone, and we are here to step you through as you are figuring it out. Do you see the stickies? Once we get Stella to safe cruising tonight, we can help you with a spreadsheet. We all use them here, they color code when you enter the numbers, and others can then see what her numbers are doing which allows them to help guide you. There is a world template that will automatically convert the canadian to US numbers, so won't have to worry about that part.
You should be feeling better, its ok to exhale now.
 
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Go ahead and have a good cry, it's good to get the stress (and also toxins) out of your system, then you can roll up your sleeves again and get on with it - it's not good to bottle it up :bighug: We've all been there, it is all hugely overwhelming to start off with but you'll be amazed how much and how fast you learn :). Because we don't know much about Stella's reaction to food etc yet I'd still be getting a mid-cycle test if I were you. I think you're at about +2 now so maybe around +5 (+x is how many hours after the shot).
 
You will want to get a hypo kit for future. Remember the link we gave you to Dr. Lisa Pierson's site catinfo.org? There are food charts there (protein/fat/carb) You want to mainly feed Stella foods under 10% calories from carbs for her regular feedings. But for times like these you want to keep a couple cans on hand of both MC (medium carb) and HC (high carb). So check on the chart and purchase some cans ranging from 12%- 20+% and keep those on hand. Mark them with a marker so you know. The fancy feast gravy ones are great for HC, and kitties go gaga over them. It takes only a teas or two of the gravy to bump their numbers up. that way they don't get overfilled in case you need to keep them eating. It really is no different than a human diabetic who gets low blood sugar, they eat some carbs or candy. Buy a small bottle of karo, good to have on hand, but numbers have to be really really low to ever warrnt this, and then it is just a drop or two. Then you have a kit and are prepared if you need it.
 
Most important, thank GOODNESS you were willing and learned to home test. That is THE most important thing, along with diet. Do you now see why we say in-office curves just don't work. A number is not a stagnant thing, they go up and down all day and day to day. You had a 30.6/55 last night and a 5.0/90 tonight at shot time (so who knows how low she went in between) What if you weren't testing? You will be able to pass this story on to others in the future and help them see why we stress testing like we do. You are already learning so much!!
 
Want to check in to see how ya'll are. Hoping you saw in the comments you still want to check her again....maybe closer to +4 or +5...and depending on the number you get possibly once more at nadir (every kitty is a little different, but the peak is usually between 5-7 hrs after the shot) If you check her at then and her number is still quite high then you can probably call it a night. It's just the high carb food will wear off and you want to be sure she is not dropping. With it being dry food she was fed which stays longer in their system, i suspect it may be a non-issue. Once past nadir she will be on the rise anyway. I'll be checking back in case you post and there are plenty others around also. Let us know how you are doing and if you need anything.
 
Whoa everyone :):)

We're throwing way too much info at Sandy after a really scary event.

Sandy...good job with Stella and getting her numbers up. Take a breath and have that glass of wine.

if you would like help with the spreadsheet, please send me a private message by clicking on "Conversation (PM)" at the top left of the forum and then put "Marje and Gracie" in the "to" line. I can set it up for you really quick since you've had such a crazy day.

hang in there....it does get easier. :bighug:
 
Betty is quite correct in that you want to end up with Stella on foods under 10% carbs BUT you don't want to switch her food cold turkey for a few reasons:
  1. Her tastebuds need to adjust
  2. Her tummy needs to adjust
  3. She is already on insulin and a change from dry food or to low carb (LC) can have a dramatic effect in lowering the blood glucose numbers
We usually recommend subtracting the high carb and adding the LC over 4-5 days while closely monitoring the numbers.

I agree with Marje that you're probably getting more info than you can absorb at the moment but I thought this bit was a bit important as it sounds like you've swapped her straight from dry to wet and she's not happy :) Don't worry you'll be a pro in no time :cat:
 
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