02/04 Ethan

[Erin Ethan]

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A few updates on Ethan's journey--

Managed to get a test yesterday (with a 28-gauge lancet)- two large drops of blood, so not as much as before, but still too much.

Tried the 30-guage lancets today and got a poke in that drew blood but not enough for a test. I am going to stick with them though as 28-gauge seem to be too heavy-duty for him.

Now I am wondering how persistent I should be trying to get a test to be successful (e.g., if the first poke fails, retry immediately? In 15 mins? An hour?) I don't want to ruin any progress we've made by pestering him with many attempts back-to-back, but I do want to have more successful tests vs. 'practice runs' that only occasionally produce a reading.

In other news...I noticed a couple days ago that Ethan has a new black raised mass on his upper lip (near where his whiskers are). I've reached out to ask his vet about this (along with the q's about his bloodwork)...

 

[tiffmaxee]

Have you thought about having your vet put on a Libre again while you are learning how to test?

 

[Erin Ethan]

Hi @tiffmaxee - I've definitely thought about that--

I was hoping to have home testing down pat before he goes for his dental work (March 14). If I can't make that happen, we'll have to put the Libre on him again to see how he's doing prior to surgery & afterwards to see if there's changes in his #s.

The Libre was helpful to gather data but it's also a bit flakey- often not reading in the moment when you really need it to (e.g., when BG is moving fast it won't read); I've also heard it can give false low readings.

I am definitely open to putting on the Libre again but was thinking of it as a 'last resort'...

 

[tiffmaxee]

It would be my last choice too as I think the Libres can be flaky too. I’d try a second poke if tge first fails and give a treat. Then if unsuccessful try again in 20 minutes. I used a very sharp terumo needle 25 gauge for pokes. My vet preferred needles and that was how I learned. I never had a problem with not enough blood.