She did so well today, now I'm nervous.

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missMeows

missMeows

Member Since 2015
Hi again everyone,

I'm sorry for the constant posts lately, but you all are so helpful and encouraging that I feel I must write whenever something worries me. This time I'm worried about her going too low. I keep reading scary things that happens when kitties go low, I almost wish she stayed in the 200s today...

Today (well last night) I made the switch to up kitty's dose, the vet wanted 2 units, I opted for 1.5. She did really well today, and only hated me 3/4 of the time while testing. The thing is, now I'm so nervous about her going lower, while I'm sleeping or at work, and won't be able to help her. Tonight is only the third time she was given a 1.5 unit dose, and I know that her numbers can be wacky when you first change dosage. It seems her Nadir is actually at around +8 too. So her lowest numbers should be around 4am. My fiance gets up for work at 4:30 and said he can test her then for me. What would be the cut off number for me to lower her dose to, say 1.25 or 1 unit? She was 156 tonight and I opted to keep the same dose of 1.5 units. Was that smart?

Again, thank you all for all your helpful advice and encouragement. I cannot wait until the day comes where I can repay the favor :)
 
If you can get a test at +2 that can often give an indication of where the cycle is likely to go. If the +2 number is significantly lower than her pre-shot number that can often be an indication of an active cycle that will need more monitoring so can be an early warning of whether you might have to finish up with a late night or whether her numbers are likely to stay fairly level. Because the cycles and the numbers they get vary day to day - often significantly - that +2 test is one of the ones a lot of us really like to get so we have some idea of what we're headed for over the next few hours. :)
 
Good to know, thanks! I will definitely do a +2 tonight. Is this something that you would recommend in the morning as well? I might be able to go in a little late tomorrow for work in order to get one. I just can't make it the norm.
 
Where possible it's good to get a +2 on as many cycles as you can. There have been days where the best I've been able to do in the morning is a +1 - we all finish up having to adjust things a bit to work around our existing commitments and we can only do what's possible. If you can do it tomorrow while she's adjusting to the new dose, it might well make you a bit more relaxed at work instead of worrying about her all day.
 
I wasn't sure if posting these questions were more appropriate for this forum or the Lantus one. Thanks for the clarification! I'll move my questions to there from now on. For the sake of keeping tonights information together, I'll keep this one open for now.

I just did her +2 test. It was 180. So higher then her pre-shot number. I suppose that means we are ok for tonight. I'm gonna try going into work late tomorrow to try getting a +2 tomorrow morning just for my own peace of mind. Would either of you have a suggestion on what too low would be to give her the 1.5 units in the morning?

Thanks again!
 
Cool - looks as though she's most likely going to have a nice, normal cycle for you tonight. :cool: If you can just snag a before bed test on her - peace of mind for you and just to double check that the indication from the +2 is right but other than that she should be good. :)

As she's just had an increase and there's not a whole load of data on her numbers just yet as she's newly diagnosed, I'd be inclined to stick with the 200 as a "don't shoot below number" for tomorrow as you're going to be out at work. Unless you think differently @BJM I'm inclined to be cautious here!
 
Since she is still so new to the dance, I'd try to get at least one more test in tonight, just because she started out lower than usual

MOST of the time, if the +2 is higher, that can mean the start of a bounce, but with her being so new and with limited data, it's also possible that's still a food spike from eating

Nice to see the blue!! :cool:
 
Thanks you two. I'm feeling much more confident now. If she is below 200 tomorrow morning, wouldn't skipping her dose put her back where we started? Perhaps if she is less then 200 I just give her 1 unit to be cautious while still keeping a "depot" of insulin in her body?
 
Even with a skipped shot, she will still have some insulin in her system from her depot and a lot of cats do recover well from a skipped shot and get back on track quickly. But I'd have thought a reduced dose is also an option - what do you think @Chris & China?
 
Any time you can get that +2, it's helpful...You'll also learn when the onset will be for her as you keep testing

When you work, is there anyone who can check on her or is it once you're gone, you're gone until you get home?

What's your schedule like? What time do you get up, and when do you HAVE to leave for work and when do you get home? (you or your fiance)
 
I have to leave by 9am for work. She gets her shot at 8am/pm. Once I'm at work I'm there until close (5ish). My fiance usually gets home by 2-3ish. So he can check her nadir for me.

What is the "onset" you were referring to?
 
"Onset" is when the insulin is really starting to kick in. Usually it's between +2 and +4

You might want to consider changing your shot schedule too....If you'd shoot at 6am/6pm, that'd give you the chance to always get a +2 (and maybe even a +3) before you had to leave...and if your fiance is home by 2-3, he could get a +8/+9.....then you'd be home in time for the 6pm shot

You can change your schedule 15 minutes per cycle or 30 minutes per day if that's something you're interested in doing. I HATE mornings, but it's been great for us since if I have to stay up with China at night, it's still only midnight at +6 and she's usually going to start heading up by then
 
Oh god, I'm totally not a morning person either :)

It does make sense what you're suggesting, but I'll have to mull over the idea of changing her dose time... Although I am a 9-5er, I often need to stay late so that is why I picked the 8 am/pm schedule. Forces me to leave work and come home sometimes ;-)
 
The nice thing about getting up to shoot at 6am (if there IS anything nice) is that I've gotten to the point where I can test/feed/shoot without really waking up (if I don't have to) and crawl back to bed for some more snooze time
 
Well, just tested her at 356. No worries of hypo here! Gave her 1.5 units and I'm sticking around a bit this morning to get her +2. Thanks for all your help and advice everyone!
 
Yes, I figured to have the numbers for a +2 if only to know what I might expect after an AMPS on other days would be helpful. Plus it's raining cats and dogs out there and I'd frankly rather not have to walk in this ;)
 
That sort of information is always good to have - it helps you and it helps anyone who's helping you to figure out what her patterns are to work out what's safe to shoot. :) I don't blame you for not wanting to be outside in that sort of weather either - sometimes being able to use the cat as an excuse can be a good thing!! ;)
 
Well darn... Looks like I may have done a fur shot today... Her numbers went up again and I smelled a little insulin. Boo. What a waste of a going in late day. Sigh.
 
She's not up by a huge amount - if it was a fur shot she'll recover (we've all done it) and it might still not have been - occasionally you might get a slight smell of insulin just from the tiny bit that clings to the outside of the needle from being in the vial when you draw up the shot. I thought I'd managed fur shots with Rosa a couple of times when her numbers later in the day proved they couldn't have been - and I got some real fur shots now and then too. You'll have plenty of chances to get those +2 numbers on her evening shots and at weekends if it really was a fur shot this morning - and you did get to spend a little longer at home with her this morning anyway...extra kitty time is always better than work!! ;)

The important thing is you know she's going to be safe while you're at work. :)
 
Thank you so much for your support and advice. You've been such a big help I can't thank you enough.

I'll see if my fiance can check her this afternoon just to see, but you're right, at least I don't have to worry while at work now :) There are plenty of opportunities to try again (not sure if that's a good thing but I'll take it!)

Cheers!
 
No problem at all - I was actually up earlier than usual this morning so was able to look in on her numbers early. But any time you need help or reassurance and I'm online, you can just tag me if you want me to take a look at something! :) And I'll look out for your posts too. :)
 
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