? Am I right to skip a shot?

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SMM

SMM

Member Since 2017
http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/injecting.177662/

Last night Martini did not eat a lot but enough. I gave her 2 units. This morning at 1am she woke me up pawing at my face until I gave her 2 tbsp of FF. She settled after that but come 3:50 her little internal clock went off and she was wanting more food. Gave her 2 units. Tonight, before eating we checked her and she was 7.5 or 135!
Thank goodness I convinced my husband to help me check her. After reading here, I did not give her any insulin. Is this correct? I can give still give it. I don't know if my DH will wake up tomorrow at 4 to help me.
Do I give her 2 units tomorrow morning? What will this do to trying to do a full cycle of 5 more days?
Any assistance is so much appreciated. Thank you!!!
 
I am stressing about giving her no insulin tonight. Was this correct to do??
 
Might I ask you to re-phrase your Title to something like..." I am right to skip the shot?"..
And to keep the ? as prefix?
 
Thank you so much Tricia and Harvey! There is nothing I read that said to give insulin if I cannot test again? I will try testing later but what info will that give me?
I thought the count started over but wasn't sure. Thank you. Yes, SLGS.
Yes, I do realize I do not test enough, but it is difficult by myself.
 
Bitite said:
I'm very sorry to keep screwing up.
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But you don't:bighug: - right phrasing catches experienced eyes and "no shot" is certainly a catch phrase:)
I can only add to what Tricia said - testing is only way to keep it all safe and the only bridle for our natural fears.
 
Did you shoot? I would recommend getting a test at +2. If it's the same or lower than the preshot, you will need to test again, as it may be an active cycle. If it's higher, it's probably safe to go to bed.

Bitite said:
I will try testing later but what info will that give me?
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Testing tells you how the insulin is affecting your cat. Lantus dosing is based on how low the BG goes. In order to make an informed decision on what dose to give, you need to know what your cat's lowest BGs are. You can only find that out by testing. Most cats nadir, or hit their lowest number, 4-7 hours after the shot. So getting a test or two in that range every cycle is very valuable information to have. Right now we have no idea if Martini has been staying high all the time, or has dropped low and come back up. Here is what an active Lantus cycle looks like:

Example of an ACTIVE, but NOT necessarily typical Lantus cycle:
NOTE: Until kitty is pretty well regulated, the description below is NOT not what you'd consider a "typical" Lantus cycle. It takes time and patience for kitty to achieve a "typical" cycle! The example below is what you're working towards (a nice shallow curve). A relatively flat cycle is the ultimate goal.

+0 - PreShot number.
+1 - Usually higher than PreShot number because of the last shot wearing off. May see a food spike in this number.
+2 - Often similar to the PreShot number. You'll probably see an active cycle if the +2 is the same/similar OR lower than the preshot number. Continue testing!
+3 - Lower than the PreShot number, onset has started.
+4 - Lower.
+5 - Lower.
+6 - Nadir/Peak (the lowest number of cycle. NOTE: ECID. Not every cat has a mid-cycle nadir. Adjust the hours on this example to fit your cat.)
+7 - Surf (hang around the nadir number).
+8 - Slight rise.
+9 - Slight rise.
+10 - Rising.
+11 - Rising (one of the quirks of Lantus/Levemir: some cat's blood glucose numbers dip around +10 or +11... not to be confused with nadir).
+12 - PreShot number.
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More good info:

Initially, don't expect to see "active" cycles after every single shot whether you're using Lantus or Levemir. Chances are, your kitty had diabetes for some time before diagnosis. It requires time for kitty's body to become used to dropping into lower numbers than their bodies have become accustomed. Don't expect immediate results! Regulation takes time and patience:
  • Also worth noting: "Many cats will occasionally react to an increased dose with increased BGs - within the first 2 to 3 days after an increase, usually lasting for less than 24 hours. Nobody really knows what the reason for this phenomenon is (perhaps a "panicky liver"?) - hold the dose and ignore the fluctuations."http://www.tillydiabetes.net/en_6_protocol2.htm. Here in the Lantus and Levemir Insulin Support Group (ISG), we've affectionately dubbed this unexplained phenomenon "New Dose Wonkiness" (NDW).
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I didn't shoot. Will test hopefully at around 6pm.
Martini has in the past stayed steady with insulin or without all pretty high #'s. She's pretty active right now, not sleeping like she normally does after a shot. I get up very early for work and hope I can stay up for a later test.
If I didn't give her insulin, how can I see how it affects her?
 
12.1 or 215 after 2 hours. Hopefully will do another test in 2 more but at least I can sleep safely I think. I will do 2 units I think tomorrow morning unless I can get DH to help me test and then go from there.
 
You will be fine going to sleep especially since you didn't shoot..

As Tricia mentioned, we get tests in throughout the cycle because Lantus dosing is based on the lowest number in the cycle. You don't base the dose on the pre-shot number. The pre-shot test informs you whether it's safe to shoot but it doesn't tell you how low the numbers will gone over the course of the 12-hours. In some cases, numbers rise, stay flat, or drop. Part of understanding how Lantus works is understanding how it effects your cat. We have a saying -- "every cat is different" (ECID) -- and it truly does apply. It's important for you to have an understanding of when Lantus onset and nadir fall and how much your duration your getting since not all cats read and/or follow the Lantus rule book.
 
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