Since his blood sugar went low, his insulin dose should be reduced a little bit. Even half a unit can make a big difference.
Variations in blood sugar are normal so it may not work to stay at a dose that gets his blood sugar down to 128 because some days instead of 128 it will be 57. With a dog who is not very consistent, in order to worry a lot less, you have to let their blood sugar run a little higher by reducing the insulin dose a little.
Although it's tempting to respond to higher blood sugar with more insulin, you actually can't base the insulin dose on high numbers. You have to take into consideration how low it's going and that determines the insulin amount you can safely give.
Sometimes we see dogs who have a huge difference between their highest and lowest blood sugar values - they might start at 425, drop to 80, and then go back up to 400 in 12 hours. And one would be really really tempted to increase the dog's insulin to bring those readings in the 300s and 400s down. But if the insulin is increased, it isn't just the 400 level readings that fall. The reading of 80 falls too - putting the dog at risky of hypogycemia.
So in a case like that, you have to look for ways to flatten out the curve because you can't increase the insulin.
You want to find a place where there is leeway for the "low days" that just happen as a natural part of diabetes.
Natalie
Variations in blood sugar are normal so it may not work to stay at a dose that gets his blood sugar down to 128 because some days instead of 128 it will be 57. With a dog who is not very consistent, in order to worry a lot less, you have to let their blood sugar run a little higher by reducing the insulin dose a little.
Although it's tempting to respond to higher blood sugar with more insulin, you actually can't base the insulin dose on high numbers. You have to take into consideration how low it's going and that determines the insulin amount you can safely give.
Sometimes we see dogs who have a huge difference between their highest and lowest blood sugar values - they might start at 425, drop to 80, and then go back up to 400 in 12 hours. And one would be really really tempted to increase the dog's insulin to bring those readings in the 300s and 400s down. But if the insulin is increased, it isn't just the 400 level readings that fall. The reading of 80 falls too - putting the dog at risky of hypogycemia.
So in a case like that, you have to look for ways to flatten out the curve because you can't increase the insulin.
You want to find a place where there is leeway for the "low days" that just happen as a natural part of diabetes.
Natalie
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