Post by borisv on Aug 1, 2013 12:13:09 GMT
Thanks to all that put this forum together so quickly, I am trying to spread the word! And another HUGE thank you for teaching me how to handle low numbers and helping me feel confident about doing so!!!
So.... I had a night! I knew I was in for one when Tashie gave me a "magenta" number at PMPS - whenever she gives me a colored number she drops really fast! She was at 323 (which would be high for most cats) and by =2.5 she was 97. Now, I know that "normally" that is no big deal but ECID and Tash would be in the 30's in a half hour if I don't start giving HC gravy. I KNOW this is not the "protocol" but Tash drops so quickly I have to react. Also, even with an appetite stimulant, she is not interested in eating when she is at lower numbers - she just doesn't! I started with 4 syringes (total of about 7-10ML) of HC Gravy Food @ 97, she dropped to 78, I repeated, she dropped to 64, I repeated, she then went to 48 - with all that gravy on board - gave a little Karo and more HC gravy, brought her up to 112 then she started dropping again. Finally, at +9, she dropped to 45 and I did a no no - ***I was tired***it was 4AM, I was beat so I gave her just a FEW DM cookies - I know, shouldn't have but I did - I was delirious by then and had to do something, it was maybe just 1/8 of a cup - not a lot - then it brought her up and I felt we were out of the woods. Yes, she's HIGH this morning but she bounces anyway, she probably would have been high regardless.
SO, here is the question of the day ..... I have got her COMPLETELY off DRY food - last night was an exception, there is NO dry offered. She is eating FF LC and I am feeding her often and she is eating with the help of an appetite stimulant. She now is wanting "turkey treats" more and more - fresh, NO MSG turkey breast - she loves it - and that has NO, or virtually NO carbs. This is definitely helping with the insulin as she is not bouncing quite so much but she is dropping REALLY LOW when she clears the bounces. I did drop her from 1.25U to 1U *** Again, I know this is not protocol but I KNOW she dropped low the night of the 28th - didn't catch it but I did drop her as I just feel the food is making her go lower*** Even though she earned a dose reduction last night I went from 1U to a skinny 1u - I did not drop the whole .25U.
Any suggestions on how to handle this better? I KNOW I shouldn't be giving gravy at 97 but you can see what happens to her even when I do - I can't trust her as she will be down to 12 before I blink. I don't think I'm overreacting, just trying to keep her safe and I think this food transition is playing a major part with her insulin. I'd LOVE to have her "surf the greens" and have her eat LC to have that happen - but she doesn't, she just dives. She has no interest in food when she goes low and even with HC it's a struggle to keep her afloat.
Hope this makes sense as I am SO tired - maybe got 2 hours!
Thanks!
Bern
So.... I had a night! I knew I was in for one when Tashie gave me a "magenta" number at PMPS - whenever she gives me a colored number she drops really fast! She was at 323 (which would be high for most cats) and by =2.5 she was 97. Now, I know that "normally" that is no big deal but ECID and Tash would be in the 30's in a half hour if I don't start giving HC gravy. I KNOW this is not the "protocol" but Tash drops so quickly I have to react. Also, even with an appetite stimulant, she is not interested in eating when she is at lower numbers - she just doesn't! I started with 4 syringes (total of about 7-10ML) of HC Gravy Food @ 97, she dropped to 78, I repeated, she dropped to 64, I repeated, she then went to 48 - with all that gravy on board - gave a little Karo and more HC gravy, brought her up to 112 then she started dropping again. Finally, at +9, she dropped to 45 and I did a no no - ***I was tired***it was 4AM, I was beat so I gave her just a FEW DM cookies - I know, shouldn't have but I did - I was delirious by then and had to do something, it was maybe just 1/8 of a cup - not a lot - then it brought her up and I felt we were out of the woods. Yes, she's HIGH this morning but she bounces anyway, she probably would have been high regardless.
SO, here is the question of the day ..... I have got her COMPLETELY off DRY food - last night was an exception, there is NO dry offered. She is eating FF LC and I am feeding her often and she is eating with the help of an appetite stimulant. She now is wanting "turkey treats" more and more - fresh, NO MSG turkey breast - she loves it - and that has NO, or virtually NO carbs. This is definitely helping with the insulin as she is not bouncing quite so much but she is dropping REALLY LOW when she clears the bounces. I did drop her from 1.25U to 1U *** Again, I know this is not protocol but I KNOW she dropped low the night of the 28th - didn't catch it but I did drop her as I just feel the food is making her go lower*** Even though she earned a dose reduction last night I went from 1U to a skinny 1u - I did not drop the whole .25U.
Any suggestions on how to handle this better? I KNOW I shouldn't be giving gravy at 97 but you can see what happens to her even when I do - I can't trust her as she will be down to 12 before I blink. I don't think I'm overreacting, just trying to keep her safe and I think this food transition is playing a major part with her insulin. I'd LOVE to have her "surf the greens" and have her eat LC to have that happen - but she doesn't, she just dives. She has no interest in food when she goes low and even with HC it's a struggle to keep her afloat.
Hope this makes sense as I am SO tired - maybe got 2 hours!
Thanks!
Bern