We are new. Home testing number is lower than expected. How much insulin to give?

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Susan and Timmy

Susan and Timmy

Member Since 2017
Timmy is my wonderful gray mouser. He is 11 years old. He weighs 13.2 pounds. Timmy was diagnosed with diabetes about 3 weeks ago. I took him to the vet because he had lost a little weight, but he was drinking a lot, was flooding the litter box and did not want to eat. He was still his loving self though. After complete blood work the vet put him on Vetsulin 2 units to start. Well two glucose curves later he was up to 3 units and then 4 units, which is where we are now. He also has a history of urethral obstruction and has been on the Royal Canin urinary dry food for years now. The vet put him on Royal Canin Glycobalance dry food because it also helps with obstruction. I have been devastated these last few weeks, but I am getting myself educated and this site has helped me so very much.

I learned that he must be on low carb wet food, so I started home testing on Sunday, two days ago. It went so much better than I thought. Although I need a lot more practice. I am using the Relion Prime meter.

My question right now is yesterday, Monday, before his a.m. injection he was 407. It came down through the day to: 259, 224, 198 and then before the p.m. Injection it was 401.

Throughout the day he ate 3 Sheba perfect portions beef pate with no gravy along with the Royal Canin Glycobalance.

This morning, Tuesday, it was 378 before injection.
*****Tonight though it is at 194.

He has eaten the same food and amounts as yesterday.

I have no idea what to do now. I can't give the 4 units, but do I skip it tonight.

Any help will be appreciated so much.
 
I'm fairly certain that 4 units is way too high. It's about twice the average dose (actually most cats start at 1 unit and then raise it in 0.5 increments as needed. By raising whole units quickly you may have skipped his ideal dose ). I'm so glad you are testing because with that preshot you could have sent him into a deep, deadly hypo. I would either skip this time or give less than half of a unit.

Tomorrow please reduce his dose or post here for advice. He probably went a bit low mid cycle.
 
Thank you so much for your quick reply. I rewrote some of my introduction and question into the health forum. That is where I will post from now on.

So for tonight I think I am going to skip the dose. I am so scared of him going too low. If I had not tested him...oh my goodness!!!! How do I lower the amount. Should I go back to the 2 units that the vet started on 3 weeks ago? Do you think it will be okay to skip tonight's dose?
 
S. Russman said:
Thank you so much for your quick reply. I rewrote some of my introduction and question into the health forum. That is where I will post from now on.

So for tonight I think I am going to skip the dose. I am so scared of him going too low. If I had not tested him...oh my goodness!!!! How do I lower the amount. Should I go back to the 2 units that the vet started on 3 weeks ago? Do you think it will be okay to skip tonight's dose?
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He will be fine to skip. Definitely safer to be a bit high than to go too low. His preshot tomorrow may be a bit higher, but that's fine.

Now that you are home testing is not a bad idea to go back to 2 units and do several curves. Ideally catch a number 4 hours after, 5, and 6... Just so you get a better picture of what his numbers are doing.

If you set up a spreadsheet it would be really helpful for everyone to track trends and give advice.
 
S. Russman said:
Thank you so much for your quick reply. I rewrote some of my introduction and question into the health forum. That is where I will post from now on.

So for tonight I think I am going to skip the dose. I am so scared of him going too low. If I had not tested him...oh my goodness!!!! How do I lower the amount. Should I go back to the 2 units that the vet started on 3 weeks ago? Do you think it will be okay to skip tonight's dose?
Click to expand...
Here's a link to set up a spreadsheet like the ones in everyone's signature. To use on a phone download the app Google Sheets. http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/fdmb-spreadsheet-instructions.130337/
 
Okay. Thank you for the link to the spreadsheet. Now I need to get educated about curves. I appreciate you being there. This site is wonderful!
 
S. Russman said:
Okay. Thank you for the link to the spreadsheet. Now I need to get educated about curves. I appreciate you being there. This site is wonderful!
Click to expand...
Really great that you jumped right into home testing. I didn't for the first two months and in retrospect wish I had ...... So great job
 
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