Newly Dx: Ruby, my foster rescue Yorkie mix

[MaryLea]

Thanks, Raysaint. We did just that this morning without figuring out the control solution problem. Fasting BG was407. Next reading in 30 minutes.

She is perky today, but still drinking lots of water. The curve run at the vet (.5 unit Vetsulin) started at 497, but was not a fasting BG. It will be interesting to see what the next reading is. I have already asked the vet to switch to Novolin N, but plan to wait until we get some sort of stable readings, which I expect to take at least 2 weeks. It will be time to retire that vial then anyway. Vetsulin only lasts about 4 weeks. We are at 1 unit BID this week, which is week #2.

I will take our unit with us to the vet when they run their curve next Thursday. Great idea!

[Raysaint]

Just bear in mind that once you have stable readings, changing insulin will at first probably change some of her numbers and nadir time also. Novolin has a different pattern of onset and peak. If that's what you're sure you will do, you might make the change right now.

With diabetes, every change in something can throw things out of whack.

[MaryLea]

Thank you, Raysaint. We decided last night to make the change now. The vet put her on 1 unit of Novolin N, which I began last night. She didn't have the near hypo incident which is a relief. Next curve by vet will be next Tuesday, one week after switching. I may do a curve on Saturday if I can get some more test strips. I will need them soon, anyway.

She is still drinking much water, but not as ravenously as b4 we began insulin. Still pees a lot of course and seems hungry most of the time. Has a little more energy, so that's a good sign. Fasting numbers are still in the 300s and 400s.

The U100 syringes have a smaller needle, so she didn't even jump when I inserted it, which was nice. She is still not calm for the BG test or the injection. I'm using treats, which she eats. Still wrapping her in a blanket for the test and shot. I hope she can relax soon.

I am using her scruff for the injections, which I know is not ideal. She is so skinny that I haven't found a good alternative yet. Hopefully she will gain weight and become more calm. I can hope, can't I?

[Raysaint]

With the new insulin, you might want to spot check around nadir time, to be sure she's not dropping lower than before.

I've used the scruff almost entirely and haven't had a problem. I occassionally inject behind the front shoulder, 3 or 4 inches down from the spine.
Absorption is generally OK in many areas, as long as you can pull skin up a bit. Using the same area can slowly cause scarring inside and may affect absorption, but I believe it takes a long time.

I've been injecting myself in the same areas for 30 years, and my insulin still works fine.

[MaryLea]

Your comment about injecting for 30 years made me .

A friend has donated an One touch mini with 25 test strips, so I may try some parallel readings to see if they are within the 10% allowance. Besides, I failed to realize that the started kit for Alpha Trak had only 25 strips instead of 50, so I will run out one or two reading before the order arrives. I don't really want to skip any fasting readings, if possible. I am free handing the lances with the AT because i think the sound would spook her. The auto-lance with the One Touch seems much quieter, and she has little reaction to it so far. Of course, I didn't have a lance in it or try to get a sample.

I want to try the pad above the pad to see if she reacts better to that than her mouth. She doesn't offer to bite, which is wonderful, but she surely resists as much as possible. We wrap her in a blanket, but I would prefer to find a "sweeter" spot.

The vet will do a curve next Tuesday, and we may do one one Saturday.

[MaryLea]

Parallel readings did not go so well, so I abandoned the One Touch for now. Found a new friend who had some extra strips for the AT, which filled in until my order could arrive. I have been ill with a virus, so have not kept you up to date.

We have adjusted her food intake; the kibble was too high in carbs, but it's what I have as a foster Mom. Lowered the amount of kibble, Added 1 tsp. pure white chicken breast (in water) for protein and calories.

She was groomed last week and got a small nic on her bum which is bothering her. Vet prescribed clavamox. We are spraying it with silver colloidal water and keeping her in a cone most of the time so she can't lick it.

Vet increased insulin to 1.5 units, BID.

Curve for 9/20 with food and insulin adjusted
6:30, 434, fasting
8:40, 445, fasting (at vet)
9:52, 459, fasting (at home after vet)
Full meal, clavamox. 1.5 u/NovolinN
12:04, 414
2:31, 394
5:30, 298
7:30, 296
9:02, 373
full meal, clavamox, 1.5 u/NovolinN

Notes: more energy; gave pure chicken as treats after every test
She has decided that I am her friend; I think the chicken made the difference.
She is not drinking as much water, so I am watching that.
I know these numbers are not indicative of where she will "land", but since we changed both her food and insulin at the same time, I wanted to monitor her anyway.

fasting, 9/21, am, 249
fasting, 9/21, pm, 412

fasting, 9/22, am, 248 (today)

I really need to find a kibble that is low fat/carb, high fiber/protein. Haven't felt up to the search yet.

[jesse girl]

definitely seeing improvement and progress . Keep up the good work

[Raysaint]

Adjustments take time to settle in, so don't get anxious if numbers don't improve right away. And know that a different food will change numbers again, so you'll be going thru the regulating process for some time, but that's normal. Took me almost 2 years to get to where I am now.

And you don't necessarily need a low carb food, maybe just a bit lower than the current food. Carbs are what works with the insulin to balance; carbs are the body's fuel.
Unfortunately labels don't list carbs, so you have to go by ingredients, or do a calculation. The calculation formula is on a website, I may have it here.

[MaryLea]

Thank you both for your responses. Ruby's am fasting number is gradually dropping, so we are double checking it. Today she was 151 at 6 am and 205 at 8 am. Both are fasting numbers. She ate a full meal and got her injection at 8:30. I'm wondering if we should add about 3 grams of kibble to the food mix. She gets 1 tsp. of chicken added to the kibble. Evening fasting is not as low and she is receiving only chicken as a treat for pottying outside. That's often an issue with rescues, and it is with her, too. She acts fine, but we all know that is not always a good indicator of bg.

[Raysaint]

Adding 3 gr kibble to kibble, not sure I understand, might be interpretting it wrong.