The hometesting tips and videos are here:
https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/hometesting-links-and-tips.287/
We are doing the every two hour blood draw thing today and I’m not sure how I would ever do this without my son to help. We have not been able to get blood from his ear the entire day so we keep having to use a paw. It seems like by the time we get the blood And we are ready to use the AlphaTrak 3 it turns off or something. It’s just very frustrating. We do the warm compress, and the Vaseline, and we’ve been able to get blood from a paw but there’s no way one person would be able to do all of that.
Does anyone ever just use a lancet to get blood from an ear? When we try to use the little injector thing that came with our set it doesn’t do anything on the ear. Then I was thinking I should do the wearable glucose monitor but I’m seeing bad stories about that as well.
I’m lucky our cat has been sort of OK with this but he’s getting more irritable each time. This has been a horribly stressful day.
Testing approximately every 2 hours for a day is called a curve
Make sure to log those number in somewhere. Paper is fine for now but an online spreadsheet is highly recommended so that FDMB can better help you and your vet can see how your cat is responding to the insulin and dose. Spreadsheet instructions are here:
https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/how-to-create-a-spreadsheet.241706/
As you are new, read this:
https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/new-how-you-can-help-us-help-you.216696/ The signature is important so that members can see your cat's info at a glance.
Tip: Insert the test strip only partially into the meter, just far enough in that the meter won't turn on. Warm the cat's ear and poke. Once you have a nice drop of blood, quickly push the test strip all the way into the meter to turn it on. When the meter flashes the blood drop icon (exact icon may vary depending on the meter) and is ready, touch the edge of the test strip to the blood drop to draw it in by capillary action.
I don't know about the lancet device that comes with the Alpha Track3. Does it have adjustable depth settings? If it does, try a higher setting. If not, try pressing the lancet device firmly on the ear. Hold the rice sock (if using) or a cotton ball on the underside of the ear so you have a firm-ish surface to press the lancet device on but not poke your finger at the same time. If the lancet device doesn't work (some just don't), you can either buy a new lancet device and matching lancets or just freehand the lancet without the device. I personally use the AccuChek Softclix lancet device.
How are you warming up the ear? The rice sock is popular and works well. Take a small old cotton sock, fill with uncooked rice or dried uncooked beans. Exact amount depends on how big the sock is but less than 1/8 cup is generally more than enough. Knot close. If you're a crafty person, take some scrap cotton fabric and make a little bag to fill with your choice of rice or beans. A 2 inch square bag is plenty big enough. Heat in microwave until just barely comfortably warm enough for you to hold in your hand for a minute. Wrap the sock around the edge of the cat's ear for a good minute if possible to get the blood flowing. Then poke. If the rice sock is too warm for your cat's ear, you'll know because the cat will flinch and try to move away. Some people do the hot damp washcloth in a baggie method but I could never get that to work. The washcloth would be cold by the time I got it on my cat plus my cat hated the crinkly sound of the baggie so close to his ear. I've heard of some people using a small prescription pill - type bottle filled with hot water. Try different things to see what works for you.
And just a FYI, you don't need to use the Alpha Track even if the vet says you do
The test strips are expensive and you can't go out to a pharmacy to buy more if you forget to order more online. Many of the insulin specific tips here on FDMB are based on using Human blood glucose meters.
