What do we call you other than Max's mom (or dad)?
First, I would suggest you read this information on
how to do a curve. A curve involves BG readings every 2 or 3 hours. It will give you a baseline for how Max's numbers typically go and when his nadir/peak falls. Understand that this will not be the same every day. Any number of factors can influence how the curve looks on any given day. An ideal day's worth of BG tests should look like the following:
+0 - PreShot number.
+1 - Usually higher than PreShot number because of the last shot wearing off. May see a food spike in this number.
+2 - Often similar to the PreShot number.
+3 - Lower than the PreShot number, onset has started.
+4 - Lower.
+5 - Lower.
+6 - Nadir/Peak (the lowest number of cycle).
+7 - Surf (hang around the nadir number).
+8 - Slight rise.
+9 - Slight rise.
+10 - Rising.
+11 - Rising (may dip around +10 or +11).
+12 - PreShot number.
All of this information, including the links, are in the
New to Lantus/Levemir sticky above.
Paige is generally correct with respect to starting dose. The
dosing protocol that we use stipulates that the initial dose of Lantus can be based on weight - 0.25IU per kg of your cat's
ideal weight. This generally works out to somewhere in the 1.0 - 1.5u range. I would be more concerned about Max's dose if you were seeing big swings in his numbers. At this point, there's not a great deal of test data to really interpret his curve or conclude that his dose is too high.
I'm wondering what kind of meter you're using. Some meters require considerably more blood than others. It's recommended that you use a meter that requires no more than 0.6uL of blood. You may also need to use a lancet that's a bigger gauge. The thinner the lancet (higher gauge # is thinner), the smaller the poke and until you've poked a lot, Max's ears may not bleed easily. You probably want a 28 or 29 gauge lancet.
You do need to collect more information. If you cannot get anything other than an AMPS test in during the day on workdays, it's imperative that you test at night. Further, if you don't test in the evening, you are losing half of your data. Max can go low just as easily during the night as during the day and many cats do tend to have lower numbers in the evening. If you can get an out the door test and an in the house test in the AM cycle, that would be helpful, as well.
The numbers in the 50s and 60s are not dangerous in the least. Also, unless a cat is symptomatic, even numbers in the 20s or 30s are not a hypo. Please read the link about having a hypo kit -- you need to have high carb food, not dry, at home to manage numbers. This is the FF flavors that have gravy. The stuff works wonders at raising numbers!
One way to offset lower numbers when you aren't home is to leave food out or to get a timed feeder that will provide food every couple of hours. Most of us work or are in school and these two methods work admirably.