? Injecting

[SMM]

I have been updating the spreadsheet when I have had the opportunity to test, which I know is not enough but it is what it is.
I am very disappointed and frustrated with my vet who said they were talking with a specialist about my case, but I have not received anything worth mentioning (learned more from this group).
I believe I am on the right track with the 2 unit injections, but would appreciate greatly any thoughts. Unfortunately either the bounce/the plumber/nature of the disease upset kitty's 'blues'.
I have to go out Saturday and she usually gets her injection at the 4's. Leaving 3pm and probably not getting home until 5:30. Is it best to shoot earlier or later? Thank you!!!

 

[Gill & George]

Hello and welcome, to LL, I don't think I have visited with you and Martini before.

I have to go out Saturday and she usually gets her injection at the 4's. Leaving 3pm and probably not getting home until 5:30. Is it best to shoot earlier or later? Thank you!!!

We try not to change shot time by any more than 30min a day (or 15min per cycle)

You have two options, if your schedule allows you could start by shooting
15min earlier every cycle from thursday morning.
so that would see you shoot as follows
thursday
pm3.45
friday
am 3.30
pm 3.15
saturday
am 3.00

Then you can start changing back to your normal shot times, by delaying 15min per cycle.

The reason we do small changes is that bringing the shot forward by an hour can act as a dose increase, and shooting late can act as a dose reduction, by altering the times gradually we hope to avoid influencing the insulin cycles dramatically.

I took a look at the ss, I really would encourage you to at the very least get an amps and pmps test, I find shooting blind a very scary prospect. I'm not familiar with your personal schedule, but if allows it at all, getting one other test in each cycle would be really helpful, when it comes to assesing the dose, at the moment it is really hard to say if those 2u are a good and safe dose for Martini. (she's such a cutie by the way)
I can see from your previous post (we usually link it so we can look back through history easily, so I've done it for you) that you were having difficulty testing. How are you getting along with that? Any progress? DH still not cooperating?

 

[SMM]

Pleased to meet you Gill & George! Thank you so much for the reply!!
I didn't know about the linking or how to even do this, I'm sorry.
I would love to get more tests done, DH still not cooperating tho. If we do manage to get her to keep her ears still and up, the prick is pretty easy. She's also learned shaking her head makes it very difficult for us to 'torture' her. Otherwise she is an angel!

 

[Gill & George]

I didn't know about the linking or how to even do this, I'm sorry.

Don't worry about it to link anything to your post you use the paperclip icon and paste the URL of the link into the box and click link. So to link the previous post you would go to that post, copy the URL and then just paste it into that box

If we do manage to get her to keep her ears still and up, the prick is pretty easy. She's also learned shaking her head makes it very difficult for us to 'torture' her. Otherwise she is an angel!

Ah the dreaded ear flick, head shake. I found it easiest to have George sat on my lap, he loves a cuddle, so lots of scritches and tickles, then quick as a flash I'd get the meter out, poke/test and just as quick as that was done he'd get a treat.

We also did a lot of ear rubbing without poking, and he would get a treat after the ear rub, that seemed to help too.

 

[Tanya and Ducia]

If we do manage to get her to keep her ears still and up, the prick is pretty easy. She's also learned shaking her head makes it very difficult for us to 'torture' her.

Assuming that you are right-handed: have the light to fall on to the kittie's head; sit behind your kitty who is also in a sitting position. I keep mine between my knees while I am leaning over her on the bed - my feet restrict her backward crawling but does not make her feel trapped in a bad way.

With your left hand hold Jumbo - Large- size ball of cotton against the inside of her ear with your left thumb and index finger flattening the ear against the cotton ball on the outside of the ear, the left middle fingers lays underneath the cotton ball giving it firm support; the outer edge of your left palm lightly rest on the kitty's forehead covering her eyes - very lightly, do not rest the entire weight of your palm on her head but block the view and hold your fingers firmly on the ear.

Have the lancet opened in advance in your right hand; the outer edge of your right palm lightly rests on the kitty's back head - this way her head is sort of surrounded by your palms minimizing the movement, and blocking the view. The head shake is still possible. The firmer, but not tighter, you keep both of your palms the less chance the shake has.

Aim at the "sweet" spot at an angle, do swift definitive poking movement and immediately after your got the blood bead throw the lancet away, pick up the meter with your right hand (strip is in in advance, of course), return your palm to the previous position with the outer edge of the right palm on the back of the head and dip the strip into the blood. If you do not get sufficient amount of blood to sample, hold the ear as you were, throw the lancet away and with your right hand make milking - moving the blood toward the pierce point, gently. You need very little blood for the Relion Prime.

I hold the strip in the blood until the reading is ready - a few sec on ReliOn Prime human meter. As soon as the reading is done, put the meter aside, grab 2 smaller cotton balls with your right hand and press against the poke site for a few second - one piece on the outside and another on the inside the ear. That'll stop bleeding and help the ear to heal. A small snack afterwards goes long way.

I hope this description helps and not confuses. I had to learn to do all of the poking on my own. It gets easier with practice. The ear also learns to bleed properly with time - and to heal, too.

Sorry for the length, I am not good at explaining but wanted to describe the method as best as possible. I promise - you will test in seconds in no time although I know you cannot believe it now. Hope what I typed makes sense.
Best of luck to you and Martini (cute name)!

 

[SMM]

We do the ear rubbing no poke, cuddle (when SHE wants) and the only treat she used to like was Raw Boost Mixers (rabbit flavour) but now only looks at us like "You Judas" and will not take it.
Thank you both for the suggestions, they are sincerely appreciated and I will try another 'treat' and a new process. We don't have a Relion, just my husband's older Ascensia which needs a good size drop to activate.

 

[Tricia Cinco(GA) & Harvey]

Hi and welcome to Lantus & Levemir Land, the nicest place you never wanted to be.

I had a kitty that was tough to test and really good at the ear flick, too. We tested in the bathroom, and when we done, the room often looked like crime scene, with blood spatter everywhere! On trick that could help is, as soon as you get some blood, get it on your fingernail. You can test from that and then it doesn't matter if the ear twitches.

Here are more tips that might help with testing: http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/hometesting-links-and-tips.287/

I'd also like to share with you a post we put together especially for new members: http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/updated-tips-for-new-members.173572/

Have you tried freeze dried treats? My Cinco adored the salmon. We bought the dog ones as they were cheaper and you could just break off a smaller piece. Harvey preferred plain boiled chicken or bits of tri tip (which he didn't get often!).

We're glad you and Martini found us! Ask lots of questions - we love to help!

ETA: I just wanted to mention that, if you schedule will not allow you to move your shot time gradually back to 3:00 and then back to your preferred time, it would be best to shoot when you get home, and then get back on track by moving the next morning's shot by 15 minutes, etc. Just remember Martini's numbers will probably be higher for a day or two because of the late shot.

 

[SMM]

Thank you so much also Tricia and Harvey!