Ready to start Micro Dosing...need advice

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lmcfrld

lmcfrld

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I'll try to give a brief summary...(I tried posting a profile, couldn't get it to load properly)

Misha was diagnosed 11/2/12. We tried the diet change for 3 weeks (he had been on high-carb dry food his entire life, made the switch to wet very easily), and although his follow up BG at the vet's had come down, it was still in the high 300's. I started him on insulin, 1u 2x/day. He quickly went to .5u 2x/day, then once a day, then sporadic .25u. His numbers have been consistently below 200 the last several days, thus no insulin in 60 hours. His reading this morning was 128. Sue has advised me on another post to start micro-dosing, but only with the help of all of you marvelous folks out there. I will be purchasing u100 needles today. I think I finally understand how to give just a drop of insulin. I am home for the next three weeks so I will be able to monitor closely and give Misha frequent meals.

Misha is SO much more himself the last 4-5 days. He's been more energetic and playful, and his neuropathy is getting better everyday (thanks to M-B12, something I learned from the FDMB). His coat is looking healthier. He had lost quite a bit of weight (some of which he needed to!), and is looking like his regular healthy self!

My biggest question right now is, how do I figure out when/how much to shoot? I don't feel Misha has been on insulin long enough for me to get an idea of what will work for him, and I'm way too new at this to figure it out on my own. What should be my "line in the sand"? I00? We're aiming for consistently being in the 40-120 range right?

This forum has been a priceless source of information, support, advice and calm. I so appreciate it!
 
Hi Lora,

Unfortunately Misha probably won't be willing to do this on your timetable and during the weekend when you have time. :mrgreen: Right now, I would not give insulin. He has pretty consistently come down on his own. Everyone's line in the sand is different, but I am one of the cautious ones and I wouldn't shoot under 150. He hasn't been there in awhile. I'd watch for a number in the 150 range and then try a drop and monitor carefully.

Yes, the remission range is 40-120 but we don't shoot at the high end of that range (100-120). Some Lantus users do as their insulin has an overlap component and tends to have a flatter curve than ProZinc.

I'll send out some pms to ProZinc users who are off insulin, did mini dosing but don't post often and ask them to weigh in.
 
Thanks Sue..you've been so helpful! I bought u100 syringes today, wondering now if I'll need them... :)
 
Hi Lora,
When you are at this point, one important thing to note is when Misha eats because that will help with understanding the numbers.
For instance, this morning, you got a 128. Six hours later, you got a 162. What and when did Misha eat during those 6 hours?

You can expect an increase in BG in the hour or two after eating. If his pancreas is functioning, but not quite 100%, you would expect the numbers to come back down within 2-3 hours after eating. As he digests the food, and turns it into glucose, his pancreas will put out insulin, and enable his body to process the glucose, turning into "energy", and lowering the amount in his bloodstream.

If instead you see a slow but steady rise in the numbers, then that means his pancreas isn't quite able to "keep up", and you would eventually want to help by giving him tiny amounts of insulin.

Let's see where he's at at +72.

Carl
 
Thanks Carl. I know I keep thanking people, but I just don't know what I'd do without you guys walking me through this.

Misha ate at 5:30 this morning...1/2 can Friskies Pate. I guess I should start putting that info in the spreadsheet. I thought later that, since I'm home for a while now, I should start feeding mini meals, and maybe should've given him 1/4 can at 5:30am, then another 1/4 can at 9:30, 1/4 at 1:30pm and 1/4 at 5:30pm? I think today I'll split up the evening feeding into two, and feed him at 1:30 and 5:30. Because both my cats (the other is a civvie) always seem to be hungry, and after researching calorie charts for their weight, I've decided to feed an additional 1/4 can to each of them at 9:30pm. I've also started mixing some warm water with their food, another FDMB tip.
 
OK, so he ate at "shot time", but not after that? I was sort of hoping he'd eaten between +4 and +6, because that would explain why the number was a little higher at +6.
But not to worry, just see if he comes down or comes up, by +72, and that'll help as far as a decision at his potential shot time.

And yes, if you're going to be at home, going with 4 meals instead of two can help. It distributes the "carb load" on his system more evenly, and might help his pancreas to self-regulate.

Carl
 
Wow...our first "green" number...Misha had a 91 this evening. I'm so excited! This is after a drop of ProZinc at 1:30.
 
Wow!
Looks like you did the micro-dose thing perfectly. Waited till you saw a number you felt good about shooting, shot a drop, and voila. Great job:-)
Carl
 
How long does Misha have to be in the green before I start counting days toward OTJ? From other people's SS it looks like 14 days w/no insulin is considered OTJ?
 
Our "rule" for OTJ is 14 days with readings between 40-120, without insulin, with the majority of the time in double digits. Sometimes the kitty just continues down and fits right into the numbers for OTJ. Sometimes he jumps back up in the 150+ range and you have to give a few drops here and there. And the tiny drop may give him days without a higher number again. It's that Every Cat is Different thing. Don't get discouraged. He (and you) are doing great!
 
Sue, I can't tell you how excited I am! Green is my new favorite color! I talked to the vet yesterday and she says Misha would be her first diabetic cat to go into remission. And to have it (possibly...) happen so quickly is wonderful. He looks so much better, he's playing more, his neuropathy is better, his coat is better. Today is day 8, just a few more days and then we can be officialy OTJ!
Thanks for all your support, advice and encouragement.
 
That SS looks awesome! Just keep doing what you're doing. :-D

Carl
 
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