What should the numbers be?

I’m still a bit confused as to what the numbers should look like? Should they be hitting green at nadir? I know they shouldn’t go below 5

 

From what I've been learning here (I'm quite new to this) is that your numbers should be blue. Green is too low, yellow too high. Though there are many experts on here that could likely help out more than I.

 

You are correct, with caninsulin you don’t want them much lower than 5.0 at nadir unless you really know your cat and can monitor a lot. Ideally your cat would be around that numbering at nadir, but sometimes that can be tough with caninsulin and may take some fine tuning.

I know it has been mentioned before, but have you considered using syringes with your pen? It does look like 1.5 units was too much but 1.0 may not be quite enough so ideally you would be able to try 1.25 units if 1 unit doesn’t start bringing her BG down

 

Youve already done the best thing for your kitty and thats finding FDMB. Welcome to the best site to help your kitty. I'm no expert but theres a wealth of info here with good people to help you navigate this disease.
jeanne

 

I think I will get some syringes and try 1,25. Do you just unscrew the pen and put the syringe in?

 

I have not used the pens before, but I believe that’s how they do it with the lantus pens. With the syringes, be sure to get ones with half unit markings on them

 

You take the top off like you would an ink pen. You will find a little rubber stopper. Insert the syringe needle into that rubber and withdraw the insulin just like you would do with a vial. The syringes with the half unit marking make it so much easier to measure out the right amount.

 

Don't mean to hyjack just wanted to say so sorry Donna for the loss of Callie, and best of luck with Patches

 

Yes just make sure before you put the syringe into the rubber stopper you push the plunger on the syringe to get it to the top. I use the syringe with the pen and half until unit markings , it's a lot easier

 

Hi Bev (waving from Surrey!), just taken a quick look at your SS and see that the 1.5 units slammed your kitty's blood glucose down REALLY hard, so the sheer speed of that drop is highly likely to trigger some 'bouncing' (are you familiar with that term here? - If not I will gladly explain. ) ...I see you're feeding Sheba fine flakes. Were you feeding a higher carb food prior to that? And if so, what was that, and when did you switch to lower carb?

Eliz

 

Hi again, Bev. ...Regarding 'what the numbers should look like'.... Well, there's an ideal range that we aim for. But that isn't always possible to achieve. And/or, that may not be achievable in the short term, but may be later on. ...Some kitties are quite easy to regulate, some are harder. And quite a few lucky kitties will go into remission and become diet controlled diabetics.
From looking at your SS you're actually doing really well. You've learned to hometest, you've set up a spreadsheet, and you're touching down into some nice numbers. Given that your kitty was only diagnosed just over a month ago that is really good, and your kitty is extremely lucky to have you looking after her.
As you seem to already know (to your credit) it's best to not have the blood glucose drop lower than about 5mmol with Caninsulin (at least at first). But I see that you've already reduced the dose, so you do seem to be doing just fine. ....However, there's a possibility that the one unit 'may' also be too high and be causing some steep dropping and bouncing (if you look back at your partial 'curve' of 10th Feb). And it 'may' be worth trying something like a 0.75 to see if that evens out the number a bit...

 

Hi Elizabeth!
The night she went really low I had put some Beaphar Calming Spot On on her and I think that may have contributed as it has valerian in it
I was feeding her a cup of Virbac dried food what the vet gave us before each shot but stopped around 2 weeks ago. I now just keep it for potential hypos like the other night! I’ve read about bouncing, how they go high after a low. So you think 1 is still too high? I really need to get some more mid cycle tests in x

 

Green is not too low. Those dark greens are the "healing numbers", helping to give the pancreas time to reccover and produce insulin on it's own.

Bright green on the other hand IS too low. Creeping into hypoglycemic territory. Need to bring those low numbers up with food.

Yes, yes you do.

 

Video showing how to withdraw insulin from a vial or an insulin pen.
How to Draw Insulin from a Pen or Vial With a Syringe (Video from Julie & Punkin)

This and many other links to useful information can be found in the Index "Sticky" or pinned post at the top of the
Health Links / FAQs about Feline Diabetes forum. Link to the Index is on the next line, highlighted in blue. Simply click on the blue highlighted text to open the link.

INDEX: Health Links/FAQs

 

I thought we weren’t meant to get to below 5 though which is dark green?

 

Depends on where in the diabetes journey you are with your cat. Early on, not home testing or not proficient with home testing, than the < 5.5 (99 mg/dL) needs to be watched closely. If you are still 'learning the ropes."

Depends when the BG readings happen. Depends on "Know thy Cat" and how your cat reacts to an insulin. Depends on knowing the onset, nadir, duration of YOUR cat on Caninsulin. Depends on how new you are to treating feline diabetes.

Beginner's Guide to Caninsulin (Vetsulin)

Do you wait 20-30 minutes between feeding and before giving your cat Betsy her insulin? That is so the quick onset of Caninsulin can be balanced out by some food being digested and getting into the blood stream. Helps to balance out the intersection of the insulin kicking into action and the food raising the BG levels. Slows down the steep drop that some cats get on Caninsulin.

 

Ah ok. Yes I always feed her then wait 20-30 mins before insulin

 

@Betsyboo Good numbers are between 70 - 110
Here is the main page's part were you see the whole spectra of bg numbers
http://www.felinediabetes.com/bg-convert.htm