Although they never have real dependable patterns, he has, in the past, had a crummy day after a good day. If you look back on your ss, one day he will be in the blues and the next day will be blah. I would chalk it up to a crummy day and see what tomorrow looks like.
Are you holding his ear after each poke and using neosporin to help his ears?
Lori, I know this dance is hard, but you put a lot of worry and frustration into every number. Is he generally happy? Does his neuropathy seem to be getting better instead of worse? Is he eating, pooping, peeing and playing? Remember, he doesn't know he has diabetes. He is just okay being a cat, getting good food, and extra treats and attention when being poked. As long as he is not in the 400-500 range consistently, he is okay. If there is a way you can think of the numbers and doses as gathering data, it can feel more than a process. A process that takes time.
And honey, breathe. Breathe alot. He does!