somogyi effect???

[sch]

My vet suggested Caesar to increase his insulin by 1 unit 2x a day. I had increased it myself by .25 and almost .50 and his numbers were starting to decrease. Now that I am giving him 2 units 2x a day, his numbers are increasing! What is up with this? Tonight I got a great test from him when he just woke from sleep and was still groggy and not stressed. His number was 546. I was shocked. He has been on low carb Friskies Indoor formula canned and seems to be doing fine otherwise. Should I back up on his insulin????? I am mighty confused!!!

 

[hmjohnston]

Two things-
1- while 1.5u might be around just right, 2u might be too much and there is rebounding. you could do reduction to 1.75 and see.

2- Caesar is finding something to nibble on that isn't low-carb. My Sneakers was getting out and visiting the neighborhood kitty restaurant across the street and eat KCC (kitty cat contraband). Screwed up her numbers greatly for weeks. Normal culprits- bread, noodles, anything in the pantry a cat might taste.

Good luck in finding what it is.

 

[Carl & Polly & Bob (GA)]

I don't use Lantus so all I can go by is the protocol....
Looking at his SS, you were right to up his dose to 1.25. But I think you didn't stay with that dose long enough to figure out how well it could work.
The higher numbers could be due to too much insulin, if he is dropping low at times when you didn't catch it by testing.
Or, there could be some sort of infection going on that is giving him higher numbers, but you said he seems otherwise okay?

Wait for some people with more experience than me to chime in, but I think you could go back to 1.25 and stick with it for at least 3-4 days. Then if you need to increase, do so in .25 steps like you have been before the vet told you to go to 2.
Carl

 

[sch]

Thank you. I agree with the idea that it is too much too soon and I am backing off and staying at 1.5 for a week or 10 days and will be testing more to see if that helps. I know he has a bad tooth, so ??? But, other than that, I believe he is in good health-relatively. He has no access to anything but the food I give him and I am home right now 24/7, so I know what he is doing at all times. Thank you for your input.

 

[Pumbaa]

Testing Ceasar after his PM shot is also important so you can see how he reacts to the insulin throughout the day/night. I know that my Pumbaa frequently has lower numbers at night than during the day. Someone explained this as being caused by cats being nocturnal creatures for hunting down prey, etc. You don't have to stay up all night to test, just test Ceasar at +3 or before you go to bed. You'll especially want to get in the habit of doing this as his numbers drop, to make sure he doesn't start diving before you go to sleep.

Suze

 

[Carl & Polly & Bob (GA)]

I know he has a bad tooth, so ???

A bad tooth, if it causes pain, can raise BG. It can also be a source of infection, which can also raise BG levels. I asked because that might explain part of the higher numbers you are seeing.

Carl