low read

Discussion in 'Feline Health - (Welcome & Main Forum)' started by Brenda Locke, Oct 9, 2017.

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  1. Brenda Locke

    Brenda Locke New Member

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    Jul 14, 2017
    my 11 year old cat just switched from kibble to wet food on Sat. He is on Lantis 3.5 units. This a.m he read 42 and just now read 40. I use the ReliOn meter. I have not injected him today. I do have his spreadsheet. What do I do about this number?
     
  2. FurBabiesMama

    FurBabiesMama Well-Known Member

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    If you have food with higher carbs, like a gravy food, feed him a little bit of that. Then, test again in 20 minutes or so to make sure his number is rising. If you do not have higher carb food, add a drop or two of honey or Karo syrup to the food you have.
     
  3. MrWorfMen's Mom

    MrWorfMen's Mom Well-Known Member

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    Please let us know how you kitty is doing. If you have retested, what is his reading now? If not please retest now.
    Also what insulin are you using? It would also be most helpful if you could provide a link to your spreadsheet. It's likely you need to decrease the dose going forward to keep kitty safe.
     
  4. FurBabiesMama

    FurBabiesMama Well-Known Member

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    First post says Lantus, 3.5 u.
     
  5. MrWorfMen's Mom

    MrWorfMen's Mom Well-Known Member

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    Oops! Missed that. Thank you! Was following other post and it didn't say and I didn't read first message here. Lesson learned! :blackeye:
     
  6. Brenda Locke

    Brenda Locke New Member

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    I have him more wet food (friskies pate) with some honey in it at 9:40. Just tested him and hes down to 36!
     
  7. MrWorfMen's Mom

    MrWorfMen's Mom Well-Known Member

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    You need to rub some honey on his gums unless he will just lick some from your finger (half tsp or so) and then retest again in 15 minutes. You don't want him dropping any lower.
     
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  8. MrWorfMen's Mom

    MrWorfMen's Mom Well-Known Member

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    How many hours since last shot now? I know you skipped his shot this AM but with Lantus and the depot, he may just coast along in low numbers for awhile so you may be monitoring somewhat intensely for a bit yet. Do you have lots of strips for you meter in case he does surf along in low numbers for a while?
     
  9. Brenda Locke

    Brenda Locke New Member

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    Jul 14, 2017
    OK I just tested him and he is up to 50.
     
  10. JanetNJ

    JanetNJ Well-Known Member

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    Jun 8, 2016
    ok, well since he hasn't had any insulin since last night, he's probably ok at this point. I would probably test again in 10 min. Switching to wet food can lower his numbers significantly, so because of that you should have lowered his dose. I'll let more experienced lantus users comment on their recommendation for the new dose. Have you been taking readings consistently? can you share with us your spreadsheet or log of his tests?
     
  11. MrWorfMen's Mom

    MrWorfMen's Mom Well-Known Member

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    I agree with Janet that Riley is probably Ok now but another test or 2 just to be sure he holding would be a good idea. Dose definitely needs to be lowered and while we usually suggest dose adjustments of 0.25u, without seeing some recent pre-shot and midcycle test values, it's possible you need to reduce more than a quarter unit given the switch to wet food.
     
  12. Brenda Locke

    Brenda Locke New Member

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    Jul 14, 2017
    His last shot was last night at 8;30 pm
    how do I share his spreadsheet
     
  13. MrWorfMen's Mom

    MrWorfMen's Mom Well-Known Member

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    Is the spreadsheet in Google sheets? If so, you need to turn on sharing with anyone with the link and then you can put the link to the spreadsheet in your signature for anyone here to view. If you are using an excel or other type of spreadsheet, you'd have to upload the file but only those with the appropriate software would be able to view it. If you need more help with the sharing or signature please holler and we'll help you get it set up here.
     
  14. Chris & China (GA)

    Chris & China (GA) Well-Known Member

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  15. MrWorfMen's Mom

    MrWorfMen's Mom Well-Known Member

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    There are no readings between Sept 23rd and Oct 8th on your spreadsheet. Do you have any data for that time period? My gut feeling is that Riley's dose may have been too high for awhile causing those HI and black readings and it would be good to know what readings have been like for the past couple of weeks before making any recommendations about dosing for tonight.

    I suggest you post with your pre-shot reading tonight a half hour or so before Riley's shot is due along with any data that may be missing from the spreadsheet to get advice on what dose to give at this point in time. That low reading this AM may make Riley a little more sensitive to insulin right now but Riley's BG may bounce up higher today following that low reading earlier. The dose definitely needs to be reduced...the decision to be made is by how much.
     
  16. Chris & China (GA)

    Chris & China (GA) Well-Known Member

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    I agree that it looks like Riley's dose has been too high all along

    That 94 the other day was my first clue.....that's why I had told you to try to get mid-cycles more often if you can. I think what's going on is that he's getting too much insulin, especially now that you've got him off the dry food

    Is he eating better than he was?
     
  17. JanetNJ

    JanetNJ Well-Known Member

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    Jun 8, 2016
    I would lower to 2 units for a few days. Your cat is bouncing like a rubber ball. To go from 600+ down to 40 is crazy. It's gotta be making him feel crappy. Stop the bouncing and hopefully the preshots will come down. What wet food are you feeding.

    What do more experienced lantus users think about a dose moving forward?
     
  18. Chris & China (GA)

    Chris & China (GA) Well-Known Member

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    I agree.....I think it's a good idea to drop down to 2U and see how he does for a few days
     
  19. Brenda Locke

    Brenda Locke New Member

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    Jul 14, 2017
    I just got home and tested him....he is at 203 now. I did not do any testing from sep 22nd-oct 8. He is currently eating Friskies pate.
     
  20. MrWorfMen's Mom

    MrWorfMen's Mom Well-Known Member

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    I think we are all in agreement that the dose needs to be lowered. As others have suggested, try 2u but do try to get a test before bed tonight to see if Riley is dropping fast or holding steady. He may stay higher for a few cycles (up to 6 cycles) from the low this morning so it's important to test whenever you can to see how low the 2 units is taking him. The change from dry to wet food can have a dramatic effect on BG so monitoring a little more closely right now is really important to make sure Riley stays safe.
     
  21. Brenda Locke

    Brenda Locke New Member

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    Jul 14, 2017
    I skipper his dose last night. He read 200 at 8:30pm. This a.m at 8:30 he read 299 so I gave him 1 unit. I will retest again at 10:30am.
     
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  22. Brenda Locke

    Brenda Locke New Member

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    Jul 14, 2017
    Just tested him again at 10:30 and he is at 203
     
    Chris & China (GA) likes this.
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