30/05 Spaz - AMPS 56/+2 40/+3 72/+3.5 61/+5.5 50/+6 56/+9 56/+11 76/+12 72/+16 79

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Angela

Good job on feeding and rechecking 30 mins after he eats to get him up.

This is most likely his depot from the higher dose. A higher dose can affect up to six subsequent cycles so I wouldn't reduce again today. Let's see how he does for the next couple of cycles. Unless a kitty is flying down the dosing scale, we try to not give back to back reductions. Spaz may decide to do that but let's try this way first.
 
Okay, only thing that worries me is that I won't be around a lot of the day tomorrow to be able to monitor his BG. What does one do in situations like that? Where the cat's numbers are running low but They can't be at home all day to monitor?
 
Do you have a timed feeder? If not, you might want to run out today and get one. When I went back to work when punkin was diabetic, i thought mine was worth its weight in gold. I used the Petsafe 5 Compartment feeder. You can buy it at Petco, probably PetSmart too, or online, although that won't get it to you in time to use it tomorrow.

The complaints online are always about it not opening all the way. I found that was because the food tray, which lifts out, has to be fully seated in the base unit. If it's all the way in, and you can press a button to rotate the food tray forward one turn, mine always opened correctly. You can set the times you want it to open. If I thought punkin was headed into low numbers, I set it to open every 1/2 hr for the 4 times you can have it open.

If you can't get a timed feeder, you can freeze food for Spaz in a combination of muffin pans and ice cubes (mix with some water first), and leave him food that will thaw. Some people do a combination of some high carb and some low carb catfoodsicles.

Take a look at the first sticky on this support group page about working full-time and following Tight Reg. It has lots of people's suggestions on what worked for them.

You also have the option of giving just a token dose - like 0.5u in Spaz's case - or skipping the shot entirely if you think you need to do that.

Edited to add "Where Can I Find?" link - take a look in the second section of the post for a discussion on timed feeders.
 
Angela said:
Okay, only thing that worries me is that I won't be around a lot of the day tomorrow to be able to monitor his BG. What does one do in situations like that? Where the cat's numbers are running low but They can't be at home all day to monitor?
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You "might" find that as the depot drains from the higher dose, the numbers come up across the cycle. Of course, we won't know this right away with him. If you get up and he gives you a number you are worried about shooting, Julie spelled out some good options.
 
I don't have a timed feeder but I do make sure that there is always food available in the bowl when I am at work. Both Spaz and my non-diabetic Panda graze throughout the day and there's always a bit of food left in the bowl when I get home.
Thank you both for the tips and advice :). I'm still not sure what I'm going to do regarding his next shot, but I'll make that decision once I know where he's at. I'm not entirely comfortable with completely skipping a dose as the last time I did that his BG went up into the 300s.
I WILL be going out and buying some more high carb food today though just in case!
 
Any time you can get a +10 or +11 test, it will give you some idea of where he's headed for shot time. If you are uncertain what to do post and ask for help. If you aren't able to get one if those tests and you are unsure at shot time, don't feed or shoot, post and get some opinions.

We are always happy to help and answer questions. We have many working members who must shoot and go to work. We will do all we can to assist.
 
Thanks again, I really do appreciate all the advice and assistance! I'll test him again an hour before his regular shot time. I stopped in at the vet again to see what his opinion was regarding Spaz's current dosage and he feels that with his current low numbers that he may be in remission.
He actually wants me to stop his insulin and moniter him throughout the week to see how his numbers are. I'm not sure how Spaz is going to react by doing so but I'll give it a try and see what happens. Obviously if his numbers go up again I will put him back on insulin.
I'm not sure if it's different in Canada, but he doesn't like to see cats go under 54 (or 63-can't remember exactly what he said now) and he's concerned that if I continue to give him insulin (even a reduced dose) that he'll go into hypoglycaemic shock. He wants the numbers to stay under 180. He wants to follow up with Spaz next Sunday to see how he is doing.
 
Most vets take a CYA approach since they are not available to deal with low numbers 24/7. As a result, they will suggest running a at in higher numbers than we do. Spam didn't experience hypoglycemia even though his numbers dropped to 40.

Frankly, IMHO, stopping insulin at Spaz's dose isn't giving his pancreas the best chance to heal and for him to go into remission despite the excellent progress he's been making We attempt to have a cat on insulin as long as possible and work the dose down gradually. Doing this, gives your kitty's pancreas the best possible opportunity for support while it heals. To me, your vet's advice is like telling someone with a broken leg to get rid of the cast and crutches before the leg is fully healed and able to support weight. It's possible that all will be well but it's highly unlikely.

 
Sorry but I don't know what CYA is short for?
Yes, Spaz showed no hypo symptoms at all with the low numbers, he was sleepy this afternoon but he always sleeps in the afternoon, lol.
I'm a little worried that cutting him off from insulin cold turkey might be a shock to his system and cause his numbers to rise. I'll skip his dose tonight and moniter him, but if I see his numbers go up really high I will be putting him back on insulin.
 
Ah okay, lol.
Spaz was sitting at 72 at +12 so we'll see what happens tomorrow morning. I'll be honest and say I'll be very surprised if his numbers do not jump up quite high, but at least I can tell my vet that I tried and it didn't work. If it does work-wonderful!
 
Angela said:
I'm not sure if it's different in Canada, but he doesn't like to see cats go under 54 (or 63-can't remember exactly what he said now) and he's concerned that if I continue to give him insulin (even a reduced dose) that he'll go into hypoglycaemic shock. He wants the numbers to stay under 180. He wants to follow up with Spaz next Sunday to see how he is doing.
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It doesn't make a difference in Canada (Hi from BC) - the difference is the vet. He may not be used to having clients who test as much as you do. This spreadsheet of Davidson, is one of my favourite examples of a Canadian kitty, where Sheena starting shooting green at 2.75U and he mostly earned reductions by going one week in normal numbers, all the way down to OTJ.
 
To go from 2.0u to nothing is a huge change. Usually the best success for a cat to go into remission and stay there, is for the cat to stay on insulin as long as possible. When the cat's body is in normal numbers the pancreas has the opportunity to heal, as Sienne is mentioning. The longer the pancreas has the support it needs, the better the chance that the remission will be a strong one.

It's far better to stay on insulin as long as the cat's body will tolerate it - and the body tells us it needs less insulin when it drops below 50 (if you're following Tight Regulation Protocol) or 90 (for Start Low Go Slow), or if the cat stays in normal numbers on a dose for 7 days. Then the insulin dose is reduced by 0.25u and the cat stays at that dose until either a week has gone by with the cat all in normal numbers, or the cat's BG drops below the reduction point.

Then the dose is reduced by 0.25u and the dance begins again. It goes on until the dose is down to 0.25u or 0.1u, depending on the situation.

Since you've skipped tonight, get a good night's sleep. But if I were in your shoes, I'd absolutely be starting insulin again so that his body can heal and you get a remission that will stick.

Take a look at the part here about remission, including the link below it. And yes, I agree with your vet that everything points towards Spaz being one of those diabetic cats that can go into remission. He looks great, but I'd be cautious about stopping too early.
 
Oh I totally agree with what I've read here and what everyone had told me-it makes sense. Spaz is currently at 79 +4 after he should have received his insulin. He's sitting pretty right now but I won't be shocked or surprised if his numbers don't stay the same in the morning. I'll be getting up at his regular dose time (5:30 am) and checking his BG. If it's up, I'll give him his insulin and advise my vet that it wasn't a good idea to take him off insulin cold turkey and that I want to wean him off it slowly.
 
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