Smiffy's numbers lower August/September

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JanetNJ said:
I agree with Herta... Her numbers don't seem that different from before. Just keep doing what you're doing. It's possible she's a little stressed from the change in routine but it's not a huge difference in numbers. Fluctuations are too be expected.
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She has not been 13 at +3 for a very long time. It must be because Malcolm is away.


JanetNJ said:
150-199 id do half unit, over 200 1 unit.
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I kind of do that really .... miss her shot in the evening though if she has been around the 7-9 (126-162) for the most part of the day.
 
Squalliesmom said:
Looby, Smiffy's results look fairly typical for Caninsulin. It was this type of frustration with it that finally drove me to make the switch to Lantus.
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Have you seen her spreadsheet?

She was making steady progress for weeks and required no insulin a week or so ago on several occasions.

Since the thunderstorm and DH going away and the weather change she has now started having these higher (not really high I know) but over the renal threshold and there was evidence of her pancreas working as her numbers during the day went down, then up and then down again so that she was around 8 (145) so I didn't have to give her an evening shot and she still went down in the evening and was getting a low AM number too ...

Can circumstances like weather etc and DH being away really affect her so much?
 
Herta & Honey said:
Lucille, it would seem that you have asked very similar questions before...

Perhaps a good use of time would be for you to go back through your own threads and see what answers people gave the last time/s you asked similar questions?
.
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It doesn't hurt to ask similar questions more than once .....

This is very unusual for her based on her recent steady improvement ......
 
Looby, I agree that Smiffy's numbers are pretty consistent now and the fluctuations you are seeing are completely normal. Unfortunately, you'll never know what causes those ups and downs. While her numbers are much better, they are still above normal. I think the big question is how low do you want to get Smiffy's numbers?

If your goal is to get Smiffy off insulin and into remission, then you need to keep trying to get her onto a strictly canned food diet. I appreciate how tough that can be but Smiffy will eat some soft food so it should be possible to switch her over and ditch the biscuits. I know how tough it is to have standoffs with a hungry cat....I've been having them with my girl since she was a kitten and continue to this day, 5+years later. When they are on insulin they have to eat but if you take those opportunities when Smiffy doesn't get insulin to push the soft food and not offer the biscuits, you stand a good chance of getting her to accept canned food more readily on the days when she does need some insulin. The diet change might get Smiffy's numbers down just enough to let her pancreas take over completely. I'm sure Smiffy would agree that giving up the biscuits so she doesn't have to get tested and injected all the time would be a good trade off.

The other option would be trying those 100u syringes with the conversion chart as we suggested a while back so you can finesses her insulin down to 0.25u on those days when she now doesn't get insulin, to help get her get into more normal numbers so she gets used to being in normal ranges.

It's clear Smiffy has improved a lot but it's equally clear that the current treatment isn't quite enough to get her down to normal numbers so if you're goal is to get Smiffy off insulin, more changes are going to be needed.
 
MrWorfMen's Mom said:
Looby, I agree that Smiffy's numbers are pretty consistent now and the fluctuations you are seeing are completely normal. Unfortunately, you'll never know what causes those ups and downs. While her numbers are much better, they are still above normal. I think the big question is how low do you want to get Smiffy's numbers?

If your goal is to get Smiffy off insulin and into remission, then you need to keep trying to get her onto a strictly canned food diet. I appreciate how tough that can be but Smiffy will eat some soft food so it should be possible to switch her over and ditch the biscuits. I know how tough it is to have standoffs with a hungry cat....I've been having them with my girl since she was a kitten and continue to this day, 5+years later. When they are on insulin they have to eat but if you take those opportunities when Smiffy doesn't get insulin to push the soft food and not offer the biscuits, you stand a good chance of getting her to accept canned food more readily on the days when she does need some insulin. The diet change might get Smiffy's numbers down just enough to let her pancreas take over completely. I'm sure Smiffy would agree that giving up the biscuits so she doesn't have to get tested and injected all the time would be a good trade off.

The other option would be trying those 100u syringes with the conversion chart as we suggested a while back so you can finesses her insulin down to 0.25u on those days when she now doesn't get insulin, to help get her get into more normal numbers so she gets used to being in normal ranges.

It's clear Smiffy has improved a lot but it's equally clear that the current treatment isn't quite enough to get her down to normal numbers so if you're goal is to get Smiffy off insulin, more changes are going to be needed.
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Thank you Linda,

I have got the syringes and am going to take them to the Vet next time I take Smiffy.

At the moment I am home alone with her as DH who is abroad for 2 weeks and as you know I can't get out of the house because of my severe anxiety and aggr0phobia so I am under rather a lot of stress at the moment.

I am trying my best with giving Smiffy wet food.

She is on a much lower carb dry now too.

I also think that Smiffy arthritis might be playing up a bit in this damp weather so I am hoping her numbers will come down a bit once she gets used to that and her Daddy being away.

Thanks for your ongoing advice and support I appreciate it ........ I will try not to worry so much .... I am sure if I continue doing what I am doing she will gradually come down again.

Fingers crossed (:



I have the stress

I don't think I am asking the same
 
Looby & Smiify said:
She is on a much lower carb dry now too.
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Looby the carbs may be a bit lower than her previous biscuits but Thrive has potatoes in it which is a high glycemic food and the Porta21 has brown rice (20%) so definitely too high in carbs. Not sure if you are still mixing these two with the Hills m/d but if you must give her biscuits, it looks to me from a cursory check that giving her only the Thrive would be a better option than a mix of all 3.
 
Thanks for that bit of research Linda (:

I have just received the delivery of some more Thrive and she is now almost completely on that now with very little m/d so by tomorrow that is all she will have. I've weaned her off the other biscuits slowly as she is prone to an upset tummy.

Once again I appreciate your positive and helpful comments (:
 
Herta & Honey said:
You have asked extremely similar questions before, and not so long ago....
It doesn't hurt 'you' to ask them again, but is it not wasteful of others' time if you already have numerous responses to these questions in your own threads...?
.
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The only way to learn is to ask questions even if they are the same questions as I have asked before.

In this instance, Smiffy's +3 number was extraordinarily high in comparison to the last few weeks.

I really don't want you to have to waste your time so really feel free not to comment (:

I do however appreciate your positive help and advice and sometimes I just need a bit of reassurance (:
 
If Smiffy is still 13 (134) or higher tonight, I am not sure whether to give her one or 1.5 units?

I could risk 1.5 and test her at +3

I have dosed her 1.5 units on that sort of number some time ago?

@Marlena @Alexi

I may need to call upon you tonight at around 9.30 UK time?
 
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Herta & Honey said:
You have asked extremely similar questions before, and not so long ago....
It doesn't hurt 'you' to ask them again, but is it not wasteful of others' time if you already have numerous responses to these questions in your own threads...?
.
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Our goal in this forum is to help members and if they need to ask the same question several times, so be it. You have not been here long so surely you understand the stresses that come being a new member with a newly diagnosed cat. As volunteers helping new members here, we need to show patience and compassion during this early stressful time until new members are able to learn their cat's patterns and get into the rhythm of FD. So, please, be patient and if you are asked the same question twice or more, answer it. There is such a steep learning curve that it's hard for a new member to "get it all" right away. Also understand that we all have different ways to "learn" something and a good teacher finds the way that works for the specific student.

@Looby & Smiify ....you are more than welcome to post here in the Main Health Forum every single day for as long as you need. My only suggestion is that tomorrow you start a new thread, linking this old one, as it is easier to not wade through three pages of posts, some of them quite old. It's ok to start a new thread every day with updates and just link the previous day's thread. Please let me know if you need to know how to do that.

For me, personally, I never would take dosing or other advice from someone who didn't have their cat's spreadsheet linked so you can look at it. That's me and you will have to make that decision for yourself. But we should all be willing to disclose how we handle/handled our own cat's BG and there is always something to learn from another cat's SS.

I'd like to read back a bit and study her SS before I give you some thoughts on her dose and perhaps where to go from here. I'll be back in just a bit. You're doing just great!

Edited to add:
@Looby & Smiify I've had a chance to read back through some history and I do want to add that while it is important for those of us volunteering to help to be patient, it is also very important that the new member asking for help be patient, kind, and respectful. Your "job" is to learn as much as you can because we are always short handed on volunteers and always have new members coming in. If I have to choose between a new member who is respectful and anxious to learn and one who is the opposite, I am going to spend my limited time helping the former. We all have lives, stresses, and many who are helping also have their own diabetic cats. So it is imperative we are all respectful of each other and time.
 
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Marje and Gracie said:
Our goal in this forum is to help members and if they need to ask the same question several times, so be it. You have not been here long so surely you understand the stresses that come being a new member with a newly diagnosed cat. As volunteers helping new members here, we need to show patience and compassion during this early stressful time until new members are able to learn their cat's patterns and get into the rhythm of FD. So, please, be patient and if you are asked the same question twice or more, answer it. There is such a steep learning curve that it's hard for a new member to "get it all" right away. Also understand that we all have different ways to "learn" something and a good teacher finds the way that works for the specific student.

@Looby & Smiify ....you are more than welcome to post here in the Main Health Forum every single day for as long as you need. My only suggestion is that tomorrow you start a new thread, linking this old one, as it is easier to not wade through three pages of posts, some of them quite old. It's ok to start a new thread every day with updates and just link the previous day's thread. Please let me know if you need to know how to do that.

For me, personally, I never would take dosing or other advice from someone who didn't have their cat's spreadsheet linked so you can look at it. That's me and you will have to make that decision for yourself. But we should all be willing to disclose how we handle/handled our own cat's BG and there is always something to learn from another cat's SS.

I'd like to read back a bit and study her SS before I give you some thoughts on her dose and perhaps where to go from here. I'll be back in just a bit. You're doing just great!
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Thank you so much Marje :)

I will start a new thread tomorrow but I am not sure how link this old one so yes I would like some help with that please?

I would never take dosing advice from somebody that doesn't have access to Smiffy's spreadsheet so no worries there :)

Oh I see I need to look at the other person's spreadsheet too .... yes I do that if their cats are on Caninsulin (Vetsulin) ..... Oh now I have just realised that Herta doesn't have a spreadsheet so I see what you mean ... thanks for the advice there then (:

I will be back on line at about 9.30 UK time when it is time for Smiffy's preshot time - are you in the UK?

Thanks again :)
 
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Looby, I trust Marje opinion so you've got great help here.
I'm not sure if giving a full dose after stopping insulin for some time is the best option but it might be ok if Smiffy is eating normally and you can monitor and watch her. You can also try 1 unit for few cycles to see where it gets her and make decision on the future dose based on your data.
Other might have a different opinion, let's see what the advice will be.
 
Marlena said:
Looby, I trust Marje opinion so you've got great help here.
I'm not sure if giving a full dose after stopping insulin for some time is the best option but it might be ok if Smiffy is eating normally and you can monitor and watch her. You can also try 1 unit for few cycles to see where it gets her and make decision on the future dose based on your data.
Other might have a different opinion, let's see what the advice will be.
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OK Marlena thank you for your time today - I know you are very busy .....

Unless I hear otherwise I will give Smiffy one unit and see what happens to her at +3 and +4.

If she is over 14, I think I might give her 1.5 units - again unless I hear otherwise from Marje.

You have always given me good advice Marlena and you have the experience with Caninsulin so I value your opinion highly too of course (:
 
Looby & Smiify said:
Thank you so much Marje :)

I will start a new thread tomorrow but I am not sure how link this old one so yes I would like some help with that please?

I would never take dosing advice from somebody that doesn't have access to Smiffy's spreadsheet so no worries there :)

Oh I see I need to look at the other person's spreadsheet too .... yes I do that if their cats are on Caninsulin (Vetsulin).

I will be back on line at about 9.30 UK time when it is time for Smiffy's preshot time - are you in the UK?

Thanks again :)
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To link the previous day's thread, open it, copy the browser address. Open a new thread and put the cursor in the text box. Click on the icon in the toolbar that looks like a paper clip and it will open a box. Paste the browser address into the box and click "insert"

I am not in the U.K. and I don't have Caninsulin experience. Marlena is the best bet for that. I do have experience with fast acting insulins and shorter duration insulins, though.

I do think it is helpful to have a dosing strategy and scale set up so that if she is a certain BG range, you shoot a certain dose. I think I might have read where someone posted something similar earlier but that would be a good goal.....to set up a dosing scale with someone who has experience with Caninsulin. For tonight, if she stays in yellow numbers, I think shooting the 1u, as Marlena has suggested, is appropriate but please be sure and monitor her.

Looby & Smiify said:
By the way how do I change Smiffy's name from Smiify (with two i's) to her proper spelling Smiffy? @Marje and Gracie !!!
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At the top right of the page, click on your user name and then click on the top title in the left column "Personal Details". Scroll all the way to the bottom under "advanced options" and click on "change super name" and follow the directions.
 
Marje and Gracie said:
To link the previous day's thread, open it, copy the browser address. Open a new thread and put the cursor in the text box. Click on the icon in the toolbar that looks like a paper clip and it will open a box. Paste the browser address into the box and click "insert"

I am not in the U.K. and I don't have Caninsulin experience. Marlena is the best bet for that. I do have experience with fast acting insulins and shorter duration insulins, though.

I do think it is helpful to have a dosing strategy and scale set up so that if she is a certain BG range, you shoot a certain dose. I think I might have read where someone posted something similar earlier but that would be a good goal.....to set up a dosing scale with someone who has experience with Caninsulin. For tonight, if she stays in yellow numbers, I think shooting the 1u, as Marlena has suggested, is appropriate but please be sure and monitor her.


At the top right of the page, click on your user name and then click on the top title in the left column "Personal Details". Scroll all the way to the bottom under "advanced options" and click on "change super name" and follow the directions.
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Ooooh I will have to write that down and then try it! Not very good with this sort of thing but I will give it a go (:

I can change Smiffy's name easily enough - that seems straight forward ...

I do have a sliding scale for Smiffy that I have devised through experience but she has defied that in the last couple of days hence the concern or questions I should say.

I will stick to one unit then for the time being and do a +3 and +4 test.

I am more cautious with Smiffy's morning dose as I am not around for her daytime Nadir every day (long story but because of my anxiety issues and day/night sleep patterns).

Thanks for your help (:
 
Looby & Smiify said:
Have you seen her spreadsheet?

She was making steady progress for weeks and required no insulin a week or so ago on several occasions.

Since the thunderstorm and DH going away and the weather change she has now started having these higher (not really high I know) but over the renal threshold and there was evidence of her pancreas working as her numbers during the day went down, then up and then down again so that she was around 8 (145) so I didn't have to give her an evening shot and she still went down in the evening and was getting a low AM number too ...

Can circumstances like weather etc and DH being away really affect her so much?
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Honestly, where you have not given a shot, I probably would have gone ahead and given it, even if it was a reduced dose. However, I am NOT recommending you do this, that's just what I would have done.

If you look at Squallie's spreadsheet from a year ago, around this same time (late Sept), you'll see similarities in his and Smiffy's. I use a human meter so my numbers are lower but the pattern is similar. This to me is just a typical Caninsulin (Vetsulin, here) pattern. When we used it, we had lots of ups and downs, some brief and some frustratingly drawn-out. Small fluctuations will occur in cycles, no matter what insulin you use, and are normal.

Looby & Smiify said:
In this instance, Smiffy's +3 number was extraordinarily high in comparison to the last few weeks.
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You can also look at Squallie's ss just from this week: on a couple of occasions he has had numbers that are more than twice what he his numbers were the week, or even the day, before at the same time. I have given up worrying about the "Why?" of it and just reconciled myself to the fact that sometimes, it just happens. You'll go nuts if you always try to dfind a reason for it, believe me, I've been there, lol!
Bottom line: you are doing a good job with Smiffy, keeping her numbers in a good range and keeping her safe! :):):):)
 
Squalliesmom said:
Honestly, where you have not given a shot, I probably would have gone ahead and given it, even if it was a reduced dose. However, I am NOT recommending you do this, that's just what I would have done.

If you look at Squallie's spreadsheet from a year ago, around this same time (late Sept), you'll see similarities in his and Smiffy's. I use a human meter so my numbers are lower but the pattern is similar. This to me is just a typical Caninsulin (Vetsulin, here) pattern. When we used it, we had lots of ups and downs, some brief and some frustratingly drawn-out. Small fluctuations will occur in cycles, no matter what insulin you use, and are normal.


You can also look at Squallie's ss just from this week: on a couple of occasions he has had numbers that are more than twice what he his numbers were the week, or even the day, before at the same time. I have given up worrying about the "Why?" of it and just reconciled myself to the fact that sometimes, it just happens. You'll go nuts if you always try to dfind a reason for it, believe me, I've been there, lol!
Bottom line: you are doing a good job with Smiffy, keeping her numbers in a good range and keeping her safe! :):):):)
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I will read this in a moment ...... just started a new thread for Smiffy so I may copy this there as it is really useful if that is OK .... it's time for Smiffy's shot now .... yes I will paste this to her new thread and take it all in a bit later or tomorrow ....

Thank you so much :)

I have tagged you in her new thread :)

I have copied this to Smiffy's new thread and tagged you ..... I will look at your spreadsheet tomorrow ..... thank you again - that is going to be very useful (:
 
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