Hi Richie, and, of course, you too, sweet Clyde,
Richie & Clyde said:
Hi Deb, so you recommend starting 1unit twice daily? My vet wanted 2units twice daily. So I'll go with your recommendation. How long should I stay w/ the 1 unit?
I was trained with the Start Low, Go Slow FDMB approach. And, the good people have never once steered me wrong! They also suggest one should give any dose at least a week to "settle." Since Lantus is an entirely different insulin from N, Clyde may need a bit longer for his body to adjust. You'll know for sure by home testing... Well, and looking at the whole Clyde. Is he acting normal for him? Doing the 5 Ps: peeing, pooping, playing, purring, and preening (in a manly way, of course). Clyde stuff...
Richie & Clyde said:
I still haven't got the home testing down pat yet. When I come home around 4:30, Clydey is really really ready to eat, as well as his brother & sister. I've tried while he started eating but he runs away. I'll keep trying, maybe over the next weekend settling in & really trying to get him to cooperate.
Rome wasn't built in a day. Patience, grasshopper... Try low-carb treats for all three when you come home, so you can buy yourself a little time to test Clyde before you actually feed them all dinner. You give the treats to all of them so no one gets jealous... Remember, it's Test, Feed, Shoot, okay?
Richie & Clyde said:
Checking him every 2 hrs, is that a little extreme? His ears will look like chopmeat. How should I start out as far as how many times per day?
Checking every two hours between shots is called a Curve. You do that to find his peak/nadir, when he's at his lowest during a shot cycle. Always test Pre-Shot morning and night, so that's twice a day. In the beginning, since it's such a new insulin, and you'll both be getting used to ear pokes, Pre-Shot tests only will be fine. Pre-Shot tests tell you It's Safe To Shoot. After a few days/nights, try for a +6, meaning test him 6 hours after his shot. This will give you a ball park number as to how he's doing mid-cycle. Peak/Nadir tests (and Curves) tell you his dose is working or needs to be adjusted. But you're not dancing there yet. Although, you could start testing while he's still on N... Just a hint... A humble suggestion... Knowledge is power, Richie. And, if you can master testing Master Clyde while he's on N, you'll have a bit of data to see the difference when he starts the Lantus.
And, no, his ears won't look like chopped meat. Your hands might look a little dinged at first... A little Neosporin can go a long way for both of you...
Richie & Clyde said:
I afraid to increase the Humulin dose, my vet wants to do more bloodwork. But I want to see how he does w/ the Lantus before I take him back to the vet. He seems fine, purring & chasing his sister around so.......
Seems like a good plan! You've got the makings of a great sugar dad, Richie!
Richie & Clyde said:
oh, the Lantus has not arrived yet.
Still?!?! Darn those international shipments... Sigh...
So, start with the treats for the furry chorus of three, and start testing. Be a Nike commercial. Just Do It!
Oh, and one more thing, sugar parents deserve treats, too...
Good luck dancing! And, please keep us posted. We were all newbies once...
Love and encouraging hugs for the entire family as everyone learns to dance,
Deb and Nikki -- and, Giz, forever dancing in my heart...