? Understanding the +1 etc numbers

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Nicole dorsey

Member Since 2017
I have read through the sticky notes etc but I am not certain I understand what exactly the +1, etc numbers mean exactly. Also not certain I completely understand how/what is meant by reaching its peak etc
Thank you
 
Numbers....

The board is world wide. To save brain pain, when figuring out time after insulin has been given, the times zones are nullified.

Insulin shot
+1 = one hour after insulin shot
+2 = two hours after insulin shot
+3 = three hours after insulin shot

and so it goes.
 
Hi Nicole. Is the number you input at +1 the result of a test an hour after insulin? I'm thinking it may be before. AMPS is the BG before injecting. Maybe you didn't do a test then. Just checking. Congrats on getting your ss started and testing.
 
@tiffmaxee or @Kris & Teasel

how soon before shots should they be fed? And how much?
The sequence is test/feed/shoot. Some people do it all within 10-15 minutes and shoot while kitty is eating. Others wait until food is finished. Lantus is a slower onset insulin so a full meal isn't essential before shooting. A tablespoon or two of food should be enough if your kitty is a grazer. It's important that there's no food for at least 2 hours before the pre shot test so the BG isn't elevated by food.
 
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@Nicole dorsey, my sugar baby is a grazer so I pull food 2 hours before (at +10) and then I test, immediately get food down for the kitties, and as long as I see Zeke start eating, I do his shot. I don't wait til his meal is through because he is a slow eater. His shot could end up being as much as 45 minutes after his PS if I waited.
 
Also not certain I completely understand how/what is meant by reaching its peak etc
If you are talking about nadir, here is a good explanation:

Learn how YOUR kitty is responding to insulin:
  • Onset - the length of time before insulin reaches the bloodstream & begins lowering blood glucose
  • Peak/Nadir - the lowest point in the cycle
  • Duration - the length of time insulin continues to lower blood glucose
  • How to do a Curve - a simple explanation

Example of an ACTIVE, but NOT necessarily typical Lantus cycle:
NOTE: Until kitty is pretty well regulated, the description below is NOT not what you'd consider a "typical" Lantus cycle. It takes time and patience for kitty to achieve a "typical" cycle! The example below is what you're working towards (a nice shallow curve). A relatively flat cycle is the ultimate goal.

+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. Onset begins around +2 for most cats. You'll probably see an active cycle if the +2 is the same/similar OR lower than the preshot number. Continue testing!
+3 - Often lower than the PreShot number.
+4 - Lower.
+5 - Lower.
+6 - Nadir/Peak (the lowest number of cycle. NOTE: ECID. Not every cat has a mid-cycle nadir. Adjust the hours on this example to fit your cat.)
+7 - Surf (hang around the nadir number).
+8 - Slight rise.
+9 - Slight rise.
+10 - Rising.
+11 - Rising (one of the quirks of Lantus/Levemir: some cat's blood glucose numbers dip around +10 or +11... not to be confused with nadir).
+12 - PreShot number.
 
Hey Nicole and Welcome to the Lantus and Levemir group. Below is the explanation of interpreting the SS that helped me when I first started here.


AMPS is the AM Pre-shot test (always test before shooting to make sure they're high enough to give insulin)...then the U column is for "Units" (how much you gave)

The +1, +2, +3, etc are for how many hours since shooting...so +2 is 2 hours after the AM shot, +9 is 9 hour after, etc.....Since we're all over the world here, saying "he was at 148 at 8pm" doesn't tell us anything...we need to know how long since his last shot

At the end of a 12 hour cycle, it's PMPS time! (PM Pre-shot) and the whole thing starts over
 
Hey Nicole and Welcome to the Lantus and Levemir group. Below is the explanation of interpreting the SS that helped me when I first started here.


AMPS is the AM Pre-shot test (always test before shooting to make sure they're high enough to give insulin)...then the U column is for "Units" (how much you gave)

The +1, +2, +3, etc are for how many hours since shooting...so +2 is 2 hours after the AM shot, +9 is 9 hour after, etc.....Since we're all over the world here, saying "he was at 148 at 8pm" doesn't tell us anything...we need to know how long since his last shot

At the end of a 12 hour cycle, it's PMPS time! (PM Pre-shot) and the whole thing starts over
Thank you so very much. This is incredibly helpful!!! I feel very overwhelmed with all that is going on and throwing This into the mix, so I really appreciate the feedback!
 
Thank you so very much. This is incredibly helpful!!! I feel very overwhelmed with all that is going on and throwing This into the mix, so I really appreciate the feedback!
You are welcome! We all remember how overwhelmed we were in the beginning. Keep asking questions as that is how we all learned. We are here to help you learn this sugar dance and help your kitty. :bighug:
 
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