Pre-Shot BG Question

Status
Not open for further replies.
A

Amy & Revson

Member
I've been reading the stickies and trying to catch up.
I will finally be home next week and can do all the things I should to take care of Revson.

Very, very long story short.
He started out DKA, with a UTI and Pancreatitis (sp?)
No longer DKA, no UTI and latest fpl test was 2.8

I am testing BG before each shot (paw). Currently on 1u Lantus.
However, the numbers are range from 70 - 300+.
Vet says not to dose at 250 or lower, so typically getting only one dose per day. I KNOW it's not ideal and not a good way to regulate.

Next Wednesday (19th), I can do a curve test day.

Here's my question.
Should the pre-shot BG test be done on an empty stomach?
Right now Revson needs to gain weight so he is eating whenever he wants - low carb wet food. Not so much free-feeding, as on demand feeding since the wet gets icky when it's left out and he's being cat-like and picky about what he wants to eat (and when!)

Thanks again for your help.

Amy
 
Here's my question.
Should the pre-shot BG test be done on an empty stomach?
Right now Revson needs to gain weight so he is eating whenever he wants - low carb wet food. Not so much free-feeding, as on demand feeding since the wet gets icky when it's left out and he's being cat-like and picky about what he wants to eat (and when!)
Click to expand...

Yes. You want to make sure that when you test his BG at the pre-shot test that there is no food skewing the number. We usually say "don't feed for an hour or two before AMPS or PMPS" so that you don't get a food-induced higher result. It is usually test, feed, and then shoot in that order.

Carl
 
Amy & Revson said:
.... However, the numbers are range from 70 - 300+. Vet says not to dose at 250 or lower, so typically getting only one dose per day. ......
Click to expand...

The wide swings are likely due to the 1 dose per day. When you can do 2 equal doses, roughly 12 hours apart, I would suggest starting at half the current dose every 12 hours, since you have gotten down to 70 using 1 dose. I also would encourage you to print out the stickie on Hypos because doing your current dose twice a day may provoke a hypo incident.

We typically have a "no shoot" number of 200 for beginners. Once you have LOTS of data throughout the cycle, pre-shot & curves - ie you know how your cat responds to insulin, that number may be reduced to 150.

Amy & Revson said:
.....Should the pre-shot BG test be done on an empty stomach? .....
Click to expand...
Generally, yes. If you can, pick up the food for roughly 2 hours before you plan to test him. If for any reason you think he has gone too low, test and follow the hypo instructions as needed.
 
Re: Clarification needed Pre-Shot BG Question

So test at least 1 hour before feeding, or 2 hours if possible. We're looking for a fasting number, correct?

Once tested, ok to shoot immediately?
Once tested and shot given, ok to give food?
 
No, let me try again. ;-)
Say you normally would feed him dinner at 6 PM. You want to make sure that in between 4 pm and 6 pm, he has no food to graze on, so if you leave food out during the afternoon, you make sure to remove it by 4pm. At a few minutes before 6 pm, you would test his BG. Then right after the test, you would feed him his dinner at 6. Once you see that he is eating well, you would give him his shot. The reason to feed first, then shoot is because you want to make sure he eats. Insulin shouldn't go in when his belly isn't full. If for some reason he feels crappy and doesn't eat, you want to convince him that he needs to for the same reason. The insulin is going to drop his BG no matter what. If he eats, then the food and the insulin work against each other, which is actually what you want to happen. If he doesn't eat, then food isn't going to work against the insulin, and the insulin would in effect be more effective - it would cause his BG to drop more than normal.

So, test first, then feed right after, then shoot right after that. 10 or 15 minutes for the whole thing to happen.

You just want to deny him food for 2 hours prior to dinnertime. Food makes BG go up for a couple hours. Eating just before a test will make his test number higher. A higher test number would make you think he needs a higher dose.

So test on an empty tummy, and shoot on a full tummy.

Carl
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top