Angel Sadie Lynn passed on Dec 30, 2015

[WRoberson]

Re: Sadie Lynn

https://flic.kr/p/qNvxf3

Sadie's latest curves have started looking like this one....She was doing fairly well for sometime now even with the afternoon spike but it seems to be getting worst. At 715PM on the chart shown she went up to 442.

She is taking in the same amount of water, WT. is holding steady at 30lbs, her food intake is the same.I have cut out ALL snacks in the afternoon Even as those were just frozen beans.

The thing that is of concern is she is starting to show a reoccurrence of the Neuropathy in her hind legs.

[jesse girl]

Re: Sadie Lynn

its possible the amount of insulin is to much with the spikes off the lower numbers . my jesse can only tolerate a specific amount of insulin and its kind of on the small side for her weight

you could see if a reduction in the dose reduces the instability if so you may have your answer

[amydunn19]

Re: Sadie Lynn

I was thinking that as well. Maybe her dosage is too much.

Also, what are you feeding for meals again? I tried to look back and couldn't find it. If she gets a snack(something with a carb rather than green bean) at that low point, what happens with her blood sugar? Have you tried it and then tested?

If I leave Maggie's snack out or don't give her enough, her numbers are higher at the end of the day rather than lower.

[WRoberson]

Re: Sadie Lynn

https://www.flickr.com/photos/265motorhome/16309192834/

Well Dog my Tail!!! (something Granddad would say)

It is counter intuitive But I reduced Sadies morning Insulin by one unit from 8 to 7 and her afternoon curves did come down as some suggested.

tapping wood, rubbing a rabbits foot, throwing salt to the wind...hoping it stays like this for a while....

Vet visit in the morning....

[jesse girl]

Re: Sadie Lynn

keep in mind you may have to take it down a bit more if you still see instability for me if things begin to stabilize without big fluctuations then its maybe time to hold a bit . if the numbers are a bit higher than you like then you may be able to raise by small amounts and maybe give more time to settle

thats the hard thing with this disease there is no magical thing that pops up and says we are at the correct amount . you adjust and tweak until you find something that you can live with for the long haul and always expect the unexpected

[WRoberson]

Re: Sadie Lynn

keep in mind you may have to take it down a bit more if you still see instability for me if things begin to stabilize without big fluctuations then its maybe time to hold a bit . if the numbers are a bit higher than you like then you may be able to raise by small amounts and maybe give more time to settle

I wish the Flexpin used with the Levemir had half unit steps instead of the full unit. With the 4X strength of the levemir it would be nice to adjust in half unit steps.

[jesse girl]

Re: Sadie Lynn

i have heard some able to use a regular syringe to remove insulin out of the flexpin as you would do with a vial of insulin i am not sure i have that wright or how its done . maybe some others who do may give an opinion

[WRoberson]

Re: Sadie Lynn

i have heard some able to use a regular syringe to remove insulin out of the flexpin as you would do with a vial of insulin i am not sure i have that wright or how its done . maybe some others who do may give an opinion

I see where that may be possible...I think I'll look into that, it may come in handy.

[WRoberson]

Re: Sadie Lynn update

Been awhile but everything was on cruise until the first week on April when Sadie would go into high numbers for no reason and has stayed there for most of the month.

Typically 350-400 number for morning fast then down to 150's at 9am and working back up to mid 400's by evening meal. A day or two then even out with a day or two of mid 100's for fasting and an evening number in the 250-300 range. Then without notice the numbers would go back up for a few days or maybe a week, Good looking curves but a little higher than her norm.

Excellent eater, normal water consumption, good weight control, alert.

Increasing Insulin had very little effect on highs, but would push lows down.

Cutting back to combat possible rebound had no effect.

Vet appointment coming this Thursday afternoon , blood work up, check for UTI, etc

On dry WD now, think of changing to canned.

[Cara Sandler]

Re: Sadie Lynn

The first thing to rule out in a diabetic dog whose blood sugar suddenly starts running high is infection. I would hold off changing food until you find out whether she has an infection.

[jesse girl]

Re: Sadie Lynn

how old is insulin ? i guess it gets expensive if it doesn't make a difference but its something that should be kept on the plate

maybe blood work will give a clue

jesse gets out of whack from time to time

[WRoberson]

Re: Sadie Lynn

Well, overall a good meeting with the Vets yesterday.

Reviewed Sadie's records for the pass month, blood work up showed no problems, temp normal, no UTI, added blood drawn for full blood work up by outside lab Just for owner reassurance.

Going to increase insulin in two steps from 8 to 10units over the next two weeks while watching lows.

[WRoberson]

Re: Sadie Lynn its been awhile...HELP

OK its been awhile but after going to three different vets in two different practices I feel like I'm right back where I was six months ago and have no idea where to go next.

Sadie is now on 11units of levemir twice a day and still has numbers all over the scale... 400 morning fast down to 125 mid morning and then back up to 450-500's at evening meal.

All three vets have rules out UTIs, Triglycerides, and rebound effect.

As far as the 22units of Levemir being too much "it takes what it takes" is starting to scare me.

Ideas welcome with open ears!

( the following is the working notes I took to the last vet appoint)


Weight: 30.6lbs
Water intake: Normal
Appetite: Good, always ready to eat.
Food: Science Diet WD 1.5 cup morning and night.
Snacks: Frozen green beans <90 grams (½ cup/day thru out the day)
Frozen Broccoli

Meds Thyrovet .2mg 2x/day, Quellin (carprofen) 25mg 2x/day
Tramadol 50mg 2x/day
Activity level: low
Hearing: high frequency ok, lows only when loud
Sight: Diminished, but not to the problem level
Rear Neuropathy steady improvement until this month/ increase BG level
Blood Glucose: Steady climbing upward.
Morning fast mid 160’s to 400’s, Evening numbers Mid to high 400’s norm (last 2 hours)
Insulin Dose: Levemir Held steady @ 7 units until April when BG levels climbed. Increased to 8 and then 9 units twice a day with no improvement, Now holding @11 Units twice a day... Blood Glucose level still climbing.

[jesse girl]

Re: Sadie Lynn

i think rebounding can be narrow in its interpretation

i remember one person on the forum that explained there are milder versions of it and may not be as dramatic as described. that was a light bulb moment for me

so basically 11 units of levemir compares to 44 units of nph

well past a dose of one unit per pound. its allot for a 30 pound dog and for me the most i have seen given to a dog your size in the 5 years i have been here

the only way to determine if the dose is to large is to reduce maybe by half . my jesse is close to your pups weight she would be on one unit or less of levemir
i understand its comparing apples to oranges but just to give you some perspective

you may have to hold for a week or 2 just to give the body a chance to stabilize . if you see things flatten out and look better overall especially at fasting that maybe a clue

its really hard for any vet to have success especially one that's difficult . i gave up after a couple week when i saw the blank stare from my vet at the time . they are already pretty well full with all the other things going on at there practice

for me it was allot of trial and error her routine shows what was necessary to get jesse to a better place

i do believe every dog has the potential for adequate regulation . its just figuring it out one step at a time

never know the 7 units may have been to much

[CraigM]

Re: Sadie Lynn

Might be interesting to see a full curve, testing every two hours to see what the lowest number is. 125 might not be the lowest?

Craig