New issues with Biscuits

[Karen & Biscuits]

Hey everyone! I have a question - where do you give your cats their insulin shots on their bodies and do you always test glucose by pricking their ears or do you have other places you can prick that work better?
Biscuits has been acting weird lately with incessant licking and scratching at her neck and back, and I attributed that to the neuropathy since this started, thinking she was in a lot of pain. However....I was holding her the other day and noticed that every time I touched just at the base of her neck and then sliding my hand over her shoulder blades and down her back, she was going ballistic with licking and trying to bite me. I started rubbing deeper into her fur, as she's quite fluffy, and noticed that her skin is very rough at the neck area, full of scabs, which made me think that perhaps giving her insulin there has caused a major rash or some kind of skin irritation and that's what is making her so uncomfortable. I have been trying to give her the insulin in her hips, where I do Skittles and she hates that and tends to move a lot which then results in wasted insulin and having to watch her because with only 3 units, it's hard to know how much she got in those situations.
I had no idea she had a skin irritation from the shots, but what else could it be? Her ears are a hot mess from all the pricking for testing and I feel so bad because she absolutely hates it and I'm sure the ears are sore and itchy as well.
What do I do to give those poor ears a break and what about giving the shots? I gave her a shot in her hip this morning and I'm not sure she actually got it because her sugar was lower right before she got the shot, and now it's in the 500's again. She hasn't eaten that much today so I'm thinking that she didn't get any insulin this morning because giving it in the hip makes her move and the needle is short. I'm using up the ones I had from Skittles way back, and once those are done I have a new box with a longer needle which helps me to "feel" whether or not it's going into her skin properly. That's never been an issue with Skittles, he doesn't mind his shot at all, doesn't even flinch as long as he's on the bathroom vanity and watching water drip from the faucet or drinking it when he gets the shot. It's always been his thing and it works well for us. He actually likes getting his shot as opposed to Biscuits who freaks out.
Anyway...I digress...what should I do about Biscuits? Any and all suggestions welcome! Thank you.

 

[Ashleigh & Ares]

Hi
I dont hav advice on a new spot because i have never shot anywhere else, but there are many spots to shoot.
I do want to say that, if she is all scabbed up, you might find some relief with a colloidal silver spray on her scruff. I got mine from amazon, get in spray bottle, u can find the ones for pets specific or for human. Poor biscuits she is still in my prayers

 

[Karen & Biscuits]

Hi
I dont hav advice on a new spot because i have never shot anywhere else, but there are many spots to shoot.
I do want to say that, if she is all scabbed up, you might find some relief with a colloidal silver spray on her scruff. I got mine from amazon, get in spray bottle, u can find the ones for pets specific or for human. Poor biscuits she is still in my prayers

Thank you for reminding me about Colloidal silver. I have some! I got it on Etsy via a friend who has a huge cat sanctuary and uses it religiously. I don't know why I didn't think of that but I will definitely give it a try tomorrow. I thnk you're right, it will probably give her the relief she needs!

 

[Noah & me (GA)]

I was taught to inject around the neck but the thought of being too close to the spine (irrational or not) and waving a needle so close to the eyes made me switch to what's described below as the flank. Both cats simply laid down on their sides and I had much more "meat" to work with. It's also much easier to tent the site.
There are known issues from repeatedly injecting in the same site as well as known sarcoma problems. The exact causes have left my brain but they are real.

 

[Diane Tyler's Mom GA]

I'm sure the ears are sore and itchy as well.

I did a search about sore ears and remembered I saw a few of the members used this and said
use pure coconut oil, I have copied this from one of the members posts
just make sure the only ingredient is coconut oil (mine is solid at room temp and I would take an itty bitty dab and rub on his ears, just make sure its pure coconut oil

What dosing method are you following for Biscuits?
https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB...-low-go-slow-slgs-tight-regulation-tr.210110/

 

[Hendrick Cuddleclaw]

I am worried about causing sore ears, esp for doing a curve. I mean, you can't use the same spot over and over right so for a curve, you're pricking 6-8 different spots maybe both ears?

 

[Ashleigh & Ares]

I am worried about causing sore ears, esp for doing a curve. I mean, you can't use the same spot over and over right so for a curve, you're pricking 6-8 different spots maybe both ears?

I found that if you get the ear nice and warm and put the Vaseline on it, then i can get blood from all over the edge, not just the sweet spot...so we move from ear to ear and from spot to spot. It may help to begin near bottom then work way up or vice versa. Gota get that ear warm and blood flowing! Good luck and dont 4get to treats!

 

[Ashleigh & Ares]

I also rub the coconut oil on his ears usually at night after most pokes are done...I dont do it everyday. I was also worried about the soreness, but i got better as time went on, and his ears heal quick as long as ur following all the rules.

Warm ear
Vaseline
Bevel up, 45degree angle, poke edge not on vein!
Pressure on poke afterward 10 seconds
Treat

These are the rules i follow.