Advice Please - BGS Going Up

Discussion in 'Feline Health - (Welcome & Main Forum)' started by Colio, Oct 14, 2020.

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  1. Colio

    Colio Member

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    Sep 30, 2020
    Fairly new to all of this, and working on adjusting Cole's shots. Today I thought we started off at a better level at 22.4 but this afternoon he has gone up to 29.3.

    Can anyone take a look at my spreadsheet and let me know if I should be concerned? The vet has asked me to move to 3u every 12 hours.

    We start at 3u once a day, and then I gave the vet those results. Based on what I've been reading, I decided to move him to 2u twice a day but looks like it isn't enough and so the 3u twice a day (with testing) is better.

    Any idea why he would go up like this today?

    thank you!
    Elizabeth
     
  2. Sienne and Gabby (GA)

    Sienne and Gabby (GA) Senior Member Moderator

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    Dec 28, 2009
    Elizabeth --

    I'm tagging @Bandit's Mom. The World spreadsheet your using doesn't have a tab that converts the mmol/L values from your meter to mg/dL values which is what most of us in the US use. If you didn't use the link to the spreadsheet template that we use, or if you deleted the page, it makes it very hard for those of us who are not as familiar with the "other" system to read your spreadsheet. We would need to multiply everything by 18 and it would be very time consuming!! I provided the link to our template. Bhooma, Bandit's Mom, can give you some help if you need it.

    Have you transitioned Cole to a low carb diet? Are all of your kitties going to make the transition with Cole? If your other cats are not eating low carb, there's always the chance that Cole got into their food or found some other form of contraband which drove up the numbers.

    The other issue is the depot. Lantus is a depot type of insulin. When you were only giving insulin once a day, the depot would never stabilize since Lantus needs to be dosed twice a day in cats. (Their metabolism is faster than a humans.) It takes roughly 5 - 7 days when dosing twice a day for the depot to stabilize. Right now, a small amount of every shot is going into the depot so numbers will not be ideal. Also, I'd encourage you to visit the Lantus board and read the sticky notes at the top of the board. With Lantus, you want to raise or lower the dose slowly and methodically. Generally, doses are changed by 0.25u. This is my long winded way of encouraging you to be patient. It will take a bit of time to get Cole's depot established and then you'll be able to work on getting him to a good dose.
     
  3. Wendy&Neko

    Wendy&Neko Senior Member Moderator

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    I "speak" World numbers. Hi from the west coast. You will however need to get that US tab back so more people can help you.

    First, you haven't given Cole enough time on the 2.0 unit dose. He saw some nice blues on 3.0 units, as low as 7.2 (130) but that was just six cycles ago. Then he bounced. If you aren't familiar with the term, here is the definition:
    However, it's possible he cleared that bounce last night, and is bouncing again today. Numbers that go up during the cycle are an indication a bounce is happening.

    So moving forward, hold the 2.0 unit dose for at least a few more days to build that depot. You also had a skip in there a few nights ago which depletes the depot, causing higher numbers. Then visit the Lantus forum, read our Sticky Notes, especially the ones on Dosing Methods. Depending which ones suites your lifestyle and goals, your next increase will either be by 0.25 units, or 0.5 units, also depending on what numbers you see the next couple cycles. The choice of dosing method also depends on type of food you are feeding Cole now.
     
  4. Colio

    Colio Member

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    Sep 30, 2020
    Yes someone explained that which is why I adjusted to twice a day. Appreciate the advice on being patient :)
     
  5. Colio

    Colio Member

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    Sep 30, 2020

    The US tab is there - not sure why it isn't showing up but I rechecked and left it on the US tab if you have time to look again.

    The skip is when I was still following the vet's guidance and only dosing once a day - so I switched to 2u twice a day, instead of 3u once a day. Was worried about giving him too much.

    So the vet saying go to 3u twice a day sounds too high to you? Just stick it out with 2u twice a day a bit longer?

    All low carb, high protein wet food now.
     
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  6. Wendy&Neko

    Wendy&Neko Senior Member Moderator

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    Yes stick with 2 units twice a day a bit longer, to build that depot, which can take 5-7 days at the same dose when new to insulin therapy.
     
  7. Colio

    Colio Member

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    Sep 30, 2020
    I kept the US tab but no one can see it - any thoughts why? I opened the spreadsheet again and left it on the US page - can you check again if you have time please?
     
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  8. Colio

    Colio Member

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    thank you!
     
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  9. Wendy&Neko

    Wendy&Neko Senior Member Moderator

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    Sorry, can only see the World tab. Sienne has tagged someone who may be able to help. But she's in India and might not be up yet.
     
  10. JaxBenji

    JaxBenji Well-Known Member

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    Jul 10, 2020
    I saw this issue with someone else - in your share link, remove "gid" and everything after - see the link below (it's to your spreadsheet :) but you'll need to update it in your signature). Basically the "gid" is saying to only share a certain tab - if you remove it then you share all tabs.

    https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet...OFTjSIdzhZLcj55Wo7rlykDcv7vkAncQH-x7/pubhtml?
     
  11. Colio

    Colio Member

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    Sep 30, 2020
    Thank you! I edited the link and if you have a chance could you check again and see if you can see all the tabs? :nailbiting:
     
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  12. JaxBenji

    JaxBenji Well-Known Member

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    You are welcome! Yes, I see the US, World, & Lab tabs using the link in your signature :bighug:
     
  13. Colio

    Colio Member

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    Awesome!
     
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  14. Sienne and Gabby (GA)

    Sienne and Gabby (GA) Senior Member Moderator

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    I can see the US tab now!
     
  15. Colio

    Colio Member

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    Sep 30, 2020
    Looking for some help please just to look at Cole's spreadsheet and tell me what you think is happening? Is this clearing a bounce? He's stayed so high and I realize from all the info people have shared that he's building up a depot. Today seemed so odd - starting at 33.8, then very gradual drops, and then back up to his evening shot when he was at 31.1 and now just before I'm going to bed - dropped to 17.2. :eek:
     
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  16. Little Bit’s Mom

    Little Bit’s Mom Member

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    I just want to say that Cole is adorable! Those ear tufts!
     
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  17. jt and trouble (GA)

    jt and trouble (GA) Well-Known Member

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    Dec 28, 2009
    I'm NOT a dosing advice helper. But I'm curious why you reduced insulin so quickly and by so much. I'n not criticizing Just want to understand. If anything this post will bump your thread to the top of the page ;)
    Maybe @Diane Tyler's Mom can give this a look?
     
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  18. Colio

    Colio Member

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    Sep 30, 2020
    Thanks for the question - I actually didn't drop - my vet recommended 3u once a day, but then I switched him to 2u twice a day so those 0 PM cells were actually days with no evening dose til I switched :)

    This morning he's dropped to 12.6?
     
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  19. jt and trouble (GA)

    jt and trouble (GA) Well-Known Member

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    Dec 28, 2009
    I should have reread this thread before I commented. Duh jeanne... I remember now. :oops:

    When you get a number that is SO different than what you've been getting, Its a good practice to retest. Just to make sure you didnt get wonky strip. It would have been interesting to see a test from last night. It might have given a clue as to this mornings test.

    I tagged a lantus helper, Hopefully she or another will come and check out your spread sheet.;)
     
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  20. Colio

    Colio Member

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    Sep 30, 2020
    No worries at all - there's so much info to digest! Yes late last night he was 17.2. This morning I tested 3 times because it seems so much lower - all within .3 of the 12.6 reading. I am comforted that I am doing the things you are suggesting - not easy to learn all of this. Now I'm going to test every hour to make sure he isn't dropping too much ...
     
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  21. jt and trouble (GA)

    jt and trouble (GA) Well-Known Member

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    Dec 28, 2009
    Yes it is a steep learning curve, Once you've "learned" how Cole reacts to insulin in different circumstance it all becomes clearer.
    Youre doing a good job.

    KEEP UP THE GOOD FIGHT!
     
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