Question: Soldier's SS

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Soldiers Mom

Member Since 2013
Evening all. I'd like to ask for some assistance understanding the numbers on Soldier's spreadsheet. I've been reading everything, TRYING to apply it to what I'm seeing here but I feel like a fail. I keep his habits consistent so when I get a higher number tonight I don't understand what's happening.

I'm only feeding Friskies Classic Pate. He tests, eats and gets his shot (in that order) between 6:50 and 7 twice a day. He gets about an ounce of food in the afternoon (I leave it out frozen in the morning) and another snack in the evening about 10p (+3). I'm trying to feed 225kcal/day. I look at his data, comparing yesterday and today, and don't understand the rise in his PM +5. Am I doing something wrong? :cry:

Maria
 
I will let the more experience members chime in but I think ts because he needs to build up his depot. Also you need to be more consistent in your dosing. I will let the others recommend a dose.
 
Likely inconsistent dosing. Lantus likes consistency. When you don't shoot consistently, numbers get wonky.

I think for him to be getting into blue numbers already, if you are able to shoot a consistent dose, he could be getting into some really nice numbers. If you get a PS that you are worried to shoot, post and let us help you with it. If we have you shoot lower than you are used to, we will stay with you.
 
Hi Maria! I don't believe we've ever visited one of your condos before, welcome to LL! I hope you are able to regulate Soldier soon and start seeing some more consistency.
 
I know that it seems unlikely that a drop of insulin can have an effect on numbers, but with cats and Lantus it does. So, I agree with Marje's observation that you'll get better results if you don't make frequent dose adjustments. The other issue is that Soldier is just getting to the point that a depot has formed. It takes 5 - 7 days.

To be honest, I don't see anything unusual with regard to Soldier's SS. If you expect that Soldier's numbers will be pretty much the same on the same dose, I'd suggest you take a look at some of our SSs. There are so many things that can influence BG that expecting a flat curve, especially at the beginning of this process will leave you thinking just what you're thinking -- that you're doing something wrong -- and you're not.
 
Her dose is all over the place - does anyone have a recommendation? Stick to 1 unit?

Also he may be bouncing.. When a cat is first diagnosed, the blood glucose has probably been high for a while. As the insulin starts to take effect and numbers start to come down, the liver has to learn to adjust to the lower numbers. We call this "liver training school". But before it relearns that low numbers are ok, when the BG drops to a number lower than the liver is accustomed, or if BGs drop low, or if the BG drops suddenly, the liver”panics” and reacts by releasing counterregulatory hormones and glucagon. This drives the BG back up. This is what we call a "bounce". Bounces can take up to 72 hours to clear so we are generally careful about increasing doses during the bounce. Once the bounce clears, then you can see the "real" numbers and determine if the dose needs to go up or down.
 
That all makes a lot of sense. Thank you so very much. I'm just so afraid to fail him.

I wonder after the experience some of you have had, reading the spreadsheets, do things like "bouncing" just seem obvious? You make it sound easy but then I look at my own SS and see nothing.

Have a great day everyone.

Maria
 
You wont fail him - you are doing so much for him already!

it might be too early to tell if he is bouncing due to the fact his depot is still building up. However usually its apparent, you get a low green or blue which you may or may not have seen for a while, and then the BG rises steadily to yellow pink or above which doesnt seem to correlate with the normal lantus curve of action ie

Example of a typical Lantus curve:
+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.
 
Maria

You are doing great!! And so is Soldier. If you are able to monitor like you have been, I'd stick with the 1u and give him some time on it so he can fill the depot.

I'm not sure if we've mentioned, but we do one condo or thread per cat per day. So each day, you would start a new one with the date, his AMPS and other numbers. We put a link in the current condo to the previous day's condo. Let us know if we can help you with that.
 
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