Got some numbers, Santino now acting weird

Hello all,
So I tried to get some numbers last night. Well, 2 numbers to be exact.

In the last several days, I took away the kibble, switched from FF gravy lovers (too much starch) to the pates, the vet gave some antibiotics to rule out a hidden infection, and insulin was increased to 2.5 U Prozinc twice a day.

Pre-insulin, a few minutes after feeding: 441
+3 hrs: 116

In those 3 hours, Santino still had his wet stuff out to graze on, since he doesn't always eat a whole can at once.

The first time I tested, I must've had beginner's luck and got blood the first time; he seemed to hardly notice it. The second time, I involved my friend who had come over, since I thought it would be easier to make this a two person job. I held Santino and poked, while my friend folded the ear outward to access the vessels and manned the glucometer. It took 4 pokes to get a usable amount of blood, and Santino was pretty miserable. He promptly made himself scarce after the procedure.

Today, Santino did his duty of waking me up in the morning so I would feed him (he bats me awake and is better than any alarm clock), but has been hiding under the bed ever since. He NEVER hides. I peeked under the bed and he was lounging and comfortable, didn't seem to be in any pain. He also peed randomly in the middle of my bedroom. (He'll often have accidents around his box in the kitchen, but never in other rooms). The several times he's ventured out, there's been guttural meowing, and his back legs seem weak and a little uncoordinated again.

I wonder, could something else be going on, or is he just unhappy at being poked? Also, I'm worried he might be going hypoglycemic and rebounding. I think I may have made too many interventions...
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I just learned that the ReliOn human meter tends to run low, so hopefully he didn't actually go hypoglycemic. But the flip side is that 440 in a Relion is likely 600+ on a feline meter, which isn't good. I think I will reduce the dose to 1.5-2.0 and continue testing.

 

Lowering the carbs in the food can drastically lower the needed amount of insulin. Instead of raising the dose, the dose should have been lowered with a carb decrease.

What insulin are you giving. Is it's vetsulin and it was 116 just 3 hours later with 2 hours to go there is a strong possibility that he went to low.

After a drop that intense he probably will bounce back up pretty high.

 

Hi. What kind of insulin is he on? Are you using an AlphaTrack glucometer or one for people? (It would be helpful if you set up a signature with that kind of basic info so you will not get asked every time you post.) If it is Prozinc, the nadir (lowest point in the cycle) usually occurs later than +3. I have seen it be anywhere between +4 and +8. So, he probably did go lower than 116. If you can only test once during mid-cycle, make it closer to +6 rather than as early as +3. Also, your pre-shot test should be before he eats. Food should be taken up at least two hours before shot time so that the pre-shot test result will not be influenced by food. Since he had eaten already, that 441 probably was a little higher due to the food. 441 to less than 116 is a pretty big drop. That makes it seem like his dose is too high.

 

Prozinc.
Yeah, I think I just freaked out that he was at 700 pre-insulin last time he was checked at the vet, and made too many interventions at once.

 

About the testing. I find that it is better as a one person job. Mia is less stressed if it is just me doing it. If you set up a routine.. always do it in the same spot, give him a special treat each time..it becomes very routine and even easy to get them to come for and put up with the testing. If you heat the ear up a little prior to poking, it will bleed better.

 

I'd probably drop that back to 1.5 units and test for a few days... If it's not enough raise it be no more than 0.25-0.5 units at a time.

You can't base a dose on 1 reading. That 700 may have been influenced from food, vet stress, bouncing from a dose that is too much... Or all three.

 

...Assuming Santino comes out of hiding, I'll test him. BTW, I watched the video in your signature and it was quite helpful.