I'm not sure if I'm doing this right. Please correct me if I have any mistakes or if you have suggestions for how to do better.

Lucifer was diagnosed diabetic a week and a half ago and started on 1u Vetsulin twice a day nine days ago.

amps 344 1u Vetsulin fed 1 can FF (he didn't like the flavor--ate 1/3 at first and nibbled on the rest throughout the day)
+2 266
+4 223 (added 1/2 can Wellness to give him more to nibble on)
+6 275
+8 282
+10 296 (took away remains of food - 1/3 can left)
+11.5 336 (fed 1 can FF after test and will give shot at +12)

My assumption from this is that the dose should increase? By how much?

Also, is it just a fluke that his preshot value the night before was much lower (282)?

Oh, and do I have to use a new lancet every time, or is it okay to reuse it if I clean it with rubbing alcohol before and after?



Edited 1 times. Last edit at 09/07/08 09:34PM by Laura & Lucifer.

You did it perfectly. In terms of numbers and doses, be aware that there is something called meter variance where there is a +/- percentage to the accuracy of the numbers. I have seen 18% to 20%. So that makes the PS yesterday not that much different than today's. Yes, today is higher, but not WAY higher.

Do you have any other PS numbers? Put your numbers in your profile, along with this curve so we can reference it. You should hold this dose until you have 5 days or so of data. In addition to the PS tests, try for as many +4's as you can. Since you are also changing his food he will need some time to adjust to the diet and insulin. If that +4 numbers does not come down more in a few days, then look at increasing to 1.25u. That is a dose you will have to guestimate on the syringe. If you can't do it, then try 1.5, but I really believe that vetsulin works better with smaller dose increases - which are easier on u100 syringes. There is a conversion for using those (no big deal) so ask about that if you are interested.

Don't reuse the lancets. They dull pretty quick. I have seen a photo of the tip after one use and the point is all bent over - this it will hurt more. I have reused a few because I ran out. I soaked them in alcohol and let them dry completely - which is important because the alcohol will mess up the testing number.

Sheila, thanks for your response.

These are the only numbers I have; I just started testing last night.

I suppose I could do +4 numbers at night this week. (I give him the shot at 9pm so I could test at 1am. Goodbye sleep!)

I will try 1.25 units if the +4 numbers don't come down by Wednesday. Since the lowest number here was 223 I feel like I should probably increase the dose...

His diet is pretty much switched over. He really likes the Fancy Feast so I've stopped giving dry food at all (he was eating a mix of wet and dry before). But yeah, I guess his body will need time to adjust to that change.

Thanks for the info about the lancets; I'll buy a big box tomorrow.

Oh, and here's another question. Should I get the preshot values in the morning, since I won't be able to get the +4s? (I'll be at work.) Or should I just get them in the evening, along with the +4s that follow them?

Now I realize that there may be some situation where this is not possible, BUT there have been half a dozen times AT LEAST where I tested Beau at PS and he was too low to give insulin to. You DO NOT want to shoot a regular dose into a cat that is, say, 150 instead of his normal 250. Right?

Please hold that dose. I KNOW you are anxious to get his numbers "down", but you can't rush the process of finding the right dose. If you don't let a dose settle you risk going past the optimal dose and shooting too much insulin, not enough for serious hypos, but enough that his PS numbers will start to climb and them - guess what? - you want to increase the dose AGAIN. Have you read about rebound? It is where too much insulin causes increased rebound numbers. What is very important to know is that rebound can happen because the body is not "comfortable" with the lower number or the speed of the drop, even though the body never hypos. So you have to let them step down to the right dose.

Also, witih vetsulin, the increases need to be very small, which is why I recommend that it be used with u100 syringes instead of the u40s. Using a u100 it is easy to make changes in .2u increments.

I saw that you asked about changing insulins over on Health and that the answers all suggested that you are getting good numbers and should give vetsulin a chance to work. I agree with them.

Just had to say hello to you after noticing your cat's name is Lucifer! When I was about 4 years old I got my first cat and I named him Lucifer (I had just seen Cindarella). I thought it was a great name and didn't have any problems opening my front door to scream his name when it was time for him to come for dinner. When I was about 12 I was confused one night when our neighbor came over and asked me to stop calling Lucifer into the neighborhood every night. I couldn't figure out why my neighbor didn't want me to have my cat come home at the end of the day. -My mom had to explain that Lucifer wasn't just the name of the cat in Cindarella...
Anyway, how did you choose the name?

BTW, your curve looks great for a cat who just started insulin. I agree with Sheila when she said you should give it at least 5 days before increasing. You will probably end up increasing by .5 units on the 6th day, but it's best not to do much at once. -Congrats on doing an entire curve when you just started home testing. Great job



Edgar (diet controlled since 12/12/07), Hardy (diet controlled and adopted from Deborah of Deborah, Muffy & Wendall 2/23/08. Daily, I think thankfull thoughts to Deborah and the rescue group she is a part of for all she does to rescue animals in need in), Isabelle (civie)

Kim, thanks. I decided I'll do another curve this weekend and decide whether/how much to increase his dose then. (I'm sure I'll be back here asking for advice!)

I was a sixteen year old goth kid when I named Lucifer. It seemed appropriately macabre and also was just kind of funny because he's the opposite of a "Lucifer"; he's as sweet and gentle as a cat can get.

Here's a bunch of photos of Lucifer (he's the one in the tuxedo; non-diabetic Angel is the one in the stripes):
[rusty-halo.com]

I love the one of Angel "laughing" and the one of Lucifer at less than a day old.

Thanks, Sheila!

Lucifer's mom was a stray cat I rescued named Shadow. She was terrified of people, but I used to give her food and sit outside talking to her until she finally started letting me pet her. It turned out she was starved for affection and incredibly sweet once she finally trusted me.

She gave birth to four kittens in our laundry room on Valentine's Day. Lucifer was the second; I have his birth on video tape. (Along with hours and hours chronicling him learning to crawl, walk, eat, play, etc etc etc.)

I'll never forget watching him born. It was the best day of my life. And at that point I had no idea how awesome he'd turn out to be!

Funny how different cats end up with the same name for entirely different reasons. My Lucifer looked like your Angel, but probably came closer to deserving the name of Lucifer. He really didn't like people much and used to attack the neighbors or their dogs when they came over... Everyone but those of us in my family were afraid of him.

Anyway, your Lucifer and Angel are very cute. I love the picture of Angel in the sink, makes the sink look like a perfectly good bed.

Awww, your Lucifer sounds very appropriately named!

My Lucifer and Angel are actually oppositely-named. Angel is a high-strung, demanding, and insane lunatic of a cat who would be suited to a far scarier name. (I love her anyway, of course!)

(still talking cats here )



Edited 1 times. Last edit at 09/09/08 09:43PM by Sheila and Beau.