BG testing not going well

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Scratchie'smom

I know this takes time but have a question. I bought the Relion Comp meter and it came with 30g lancets. Do I need to go buy others? Someone earlier mentioned 20-28??

So far big fat zero on getting anything out of Scratchie. Still trying.

Good news is I picked up some more canned food (he's hated everything so far). Authority brand - beef as that's his favorite. He's eating it!! :RAHCAT
 
You're not alone. I started home testing this week myself, and I've had the same challenges!

I've had okay luck with 28 gauge lancets. I'm going to go by the ol' Walmart to see if they carry anything with a smaller gauge (bigger) and see how that goes.


I'm by no means an expert, but a couple things I've observed...

- I prefer using the pen at the deepest setting to going freehand (at least for now). I can really push that ear up against the pen and BLAMO! I was finding myself being less than 'deliberate' when I was going freehand, pokey pokey flinch flinch...

- Poking the inside of the ear seems to be working better, at least so far...Dandy has dark ears...

- Hitting the vein directly once made me reconsider using my bed for the BG check staging area...anyone know how to get blood out of sheets? All things considered, that's a good problem to have.

I understand how frustrating it can be. I'll keep trying if you do!! :)

Congratulations on the food! That's a good victory!

R
 
I have a different meter and lancet device but it's the same gauge.
I learned yesterday that I was using it on too soft of a setting. I am currently using a 4 ( out of 6) so I bet you need to try with the middle setting on yours ( yours have 5)


check out this part. see danny's ears for the sweet spot.
http://www.felinediabetes.com/bg-test.htm

I am now having success. My cat prefers the one time stick over the numerous failure sticks and seems to realize it's necessary. She really likes getting her no carb treat
afterward. (purebites shrimp)

I don't think you need a different once. You just have to learn how to use what you have. Practice on yourself to feel the pressure from the stick.
They say that over time, kitty ears give up the blood droplet even easier so we will both be able to move to a softer setting....

Good luck.
 
HA! Wow. That's a hilarious and creepy find, Carl.

Jeez! This blood will never come out of my concrete!! :)

R
 
Thanks everyone - your support is incredible. I'll keep trying!
 
Thanks for the link, rhiannon!

It really helped me. Two painless and non-wrassling blood draws in a row! Aim high!

R
 
30 gauge is too thin for newbies to get blood with. Try a thicker lancet. 28 gauge is a good size. Here's a chart: http://www.walgreens.com/marketing/library/centers/diabetes/lancets.jsp If you are using the lancet device, you may need to get a new device to work with the lancets. Lancets of one brand may not work with a lancet device of another brand.

Make sure to poke the ear firmly. Holding the rice sock under the ear will give you a firm surface against which to poke.
 
I just finished a two day curve, after having a couple of frustrating days. In addition to everything mentioned above, the things that I found really helpful have been:

1. Use a 28 gauge lancet.

2. Press the ear firmly against the lancet device while you hit the button, and hold it for a second or two afterward. This made a huge difference. Think 'deliberate and decisive'. As Yoda once said, "Do or do not. There is no try."

3. Make sure the lancet is aimed toward the edge of the ear. Remember that the pokey poke is coming from the center of the lancet device, and you're aiming for close to the edge of the ear, so the device itself may come off the ear a little on one side. I got my finger a couple times, but it wasn't the end of the world :). Make sure you're hitting the right spot. I started way too low, and from the inside of the ear. I've had much better luck higher and from the outside.

4. Touch the strip gently to the blood at a 45 degree angle (for ReliOn strips, anyway) and let it suck the blood up. I was trying to scoop the blood onto the strip, which does not work, at all. It just sits there mockingly.

5. I much prefer the ReliOn lancet device to the FreeStyle one I started with...the shape seems easier to maneuver.

6. Patience and attempts...you'll just get better at it...

R
 
Today is my first day with hometesting, too, and the same problem!! It was a waste of many strips and I still don't know the glucose level of my Kitty. The last time I think I managed to put the correct amount of blood at the correct time, but the number was 13!! which was impossible, because the cat is quite healthy!!!

And now the Kitty is hiding :cry:
 
Here are my testing tips. I hope they help!

1. Pet your kitty and massage the ear while you are petting him then use a rice sock to warm his ears.

2. Find a place with good light to do the testing. I used a section of my kitchen counter because it's a good height and has under cabinet lights. I would put a towel down on the counter. Some people get the cat in between their legs while kneeling on the floor. Others use a couch or chair and put the cat between them and the arm. Others test in their lap. I sometimes tested Maggie in her bed.

3. Set out everything you need before getting your cat. I put the tesing strip part way into the meter, cock the pen.

4. Put a very thin smear of vaseline on the ear to help the blood bead up and not flow into the hair. I would talk to her and tell her she's being a very good girl.

5. Put something firm behind the ear - it gives a firm base to press against, and keeps you from getting poked. Some people use cotton balls, makeup sponges. I used a waded up paper towel. It was handy to put light pressure on the spot after it bleeds. A little pressure will stop the bleeding and reduced bruising.

6. Most lancet pens have adjustment for depth. I started with it almost at the deepest. I worked down to the next to the smallest. Some people don't use the pen, they use the lancet free-hand.

7. Hold the ear firmly or you'll get the dreaded "ear flick" that send little spots of blood all over!

8. Some people use their fingernail to "scoop" up the blood drop, and test from the nail.

9. Don't forget the praise and treats!


It takes time to get the technique down that will work the best for you. And If you're tense, your cat will be tense. So breathe and try to relax. Don't give up. After a while it will become second nature. And Maggie would actually purr during her test, so I know it didn't hurt her. The thing she disliked the most seemed to be holding the test strip up to her ear - I think it tickled.

Oh! I would limit testing to 4 attempts. If you haven't gotten a reading, consider giving a reduced dose or try later.
 
My best tip, the thing that worked for me, was to pull the cap off of the lancet pen and just use it with the lancet exposed. That allows me to see where I am pointing (I can be more precise). If you want to try this: cock the lancet pen; with the cap removed and the lancet exposed, hold the pen a millimeter or two away from the ear (don't touch the ear with the lancet tip); then hit the release button.

PS: To everyone who is having difficulty, this DOES get easier with time. See my spreadsheet below. I was the absolute WORST at getting readings initially. In fact, I may hold the FDMB record for "worst tester." At first, I had to chase my cat Ninja around the house, tried wrapping her in a towel and a blanket (she escaped); and when that no longer worked, I cried, gave up, tried again, cried some more, gave up again, thought about getting drunk (but didn't), and kept trying. I got ZERO readings the first week and maybe 1 the following week.

Associating the testing attempts with a treat, OVER TIME, was what finally worked. It didn't work the first day or even the first week for me -- my cat may be slow -- but over time, this association has worked and she now purrs during testing. Also, what worked for me was not traumatizing her by poking 10 times in one sitting. I decided that after a couple of pokes (successful or not) I would let her go, treat her, and try again later. That way, she would not be so fearful next time. Another point is that, over time, the cat's ears will start bleeding more freely (they grow additional capillaries I am told) if you continue to stick them daily -- so that within a few weeks, you will get blood on the same one or two pokes, where now you may be getting nothing.

So, keep trying -- but don't be too hard on yourself (or your cat) if it takes a little while to master this. FYI: Just because your meter came with 31 gauge lancets does not mean that's what you have to continue using in your lancet pens. Most pens accept other size lancets. I bought a box of 28 gauge and am using those in the pen that came with my Relion Micro.

Melanie
 
Heyyooooo!!!! I managed to test my Kitty's BG with the last strip in the box!!! and it showed 319!!! I always took Kitty to the vet when she was hungry for 12 hours, but this time she was not even hungry, so can we say it is even lower than 319?

I'm soooo happy, I hope you will manage to do it like me tomorrow if not today :smile:
 
Thanks everyone for your help and advise. The weekend was a bust. I did finally get a drop of blood out of his rear paw yesterday (the big pad) but he took off and hid under the couch. I decided he was going through too much trauma so I let him relax after that. Thought I would try again tonight. I'll pick up the 28 guage before I attempt again.

I have an appointment with the vet tomorrow to do a fructose because I am concerned that his number is dropping since he is totally on wet food now. He's definitely acting better! If i can get something tonight - I'll cancel.

Thank you all again! Your support is great!
 
Don't give up - it WILL happen! At least 90% of the people here went thru the same thing you're going thru right now so you're NOT alone!!! We PROMISE 'cos we KNOW you can do it. You're closer than you were with your last tries...you learn a bit with each one.

Look at a strip for a second. It's a hard-ish middle substance such as cardboard or plastic with another substance on each outside.

The sucking end - the middle stuff has a slot cut in it but the outside pieces cover it. That creates the 'syphon' action. That's why getting the blood ON the strip doesn't work, it has to be sucked up inside. The relion confirm uses a very small drop of blood - amazes me how small compared to most other meters. Remember to let the end sip!

The meter end - it's basically a small motherboard type connection that allows communication between the strip and meter. There is no slot in it, some brands use plastic, others use copper. THIS is why strips aren't interchangable.

You're TRYING which is WONDERFUL!!!! BIG HUG!!!!
 
Squeaky and KT said:
Look at a strip for a second. It's a hard-ish middle substance such as cardboard or plastic with another substance on each outside.

The sucking end - the middle stuff has a slot cut in it but the outside pieces cover it. That creates the 'syphon' action. That's why getting the blood ON the strip doesn't work, it has to be sucked up inside. The relion confirm uses a very small drop of blood - amazes me how small compared to most other meters. Remember to let the end sip!
Click to expand...

A very important note :smile: You are not trying to get blood onto the test strip. You just want to touch the very edge of the test strip window to the drop of blood. Te test strip will "sip up" the blood via capillary action.

Here is a picture of a Human diabetic's finger and the test strip:

Using_a_test_strip_to_measure_blood_glucose_levels_058MHA00251.jpg


The test window is the slightly lighter gray-ish strip with the 3 little rectangles. The left edge of the test strip is touched to the drop of blood. Most test strips are simlar to this. Here is an Aviva test strip:

Roche_04528654001_Accucheck_Aviva_Test_Strips_3.jpg


The test window is the yellow strip.

The entire test window must completely fill with blood so that you get an accurate reading. If not enough blood is in the window the meter may give you an error message or give a false low reading.

You mention using a Relion Comp meter. I don't see this listed on the Relion web site? http://www.relion.com/diabetes/blood-glucose-testing
 
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