First day off-BGL tests

[CassWTribby]

Hi all,

First day I have done mid day testing. Tribby's blood glucose level has been around 13 the lowest 9 this week. She's getting 1 u caninsulin 2 x a day.

Today I did a test 6 he's after her morning shot and it was 6.4 which is great. Shows the insulin is working during the day.

The bad news is I had to poke her 3 x to get the test done. First time it said not enough blood and even though I added some it said new test strip.
Then twice after it said used test strip - replace and try again. I washed my hands prior and am careful not to touch the chip end.
We have a contour next meter. I am using just the lancet to poke.
Any thought of what happened or was it just one of those things? We are brand new to feline diabetes.

 

[Barbara & Uncle (GA)]

Hi there, I had a terrible time getting blood from Uncle's ears at first because I wasn't warming them up first. Now I put warm water in an empty plastic vitamin bottle and hold it on the ear I want to test until it's warm. Some others who have microwaves make a rice sock, warm it up in the micro and use that. I really is night and day for getting blood from Uncle. He seems to like it too, sometimes I give him a face message with it
Hope this helps! Congrats on the good test result!

 

[JanetNJ]

The first two weeks esp. it sometimes takes a few times to get a good sample. Good job starting home testing! I'm glad it seems to be working for her.

 

[MrWorfMen's Mom]

Good job testing!

Your meter requires a sample of 0.6uL which while not large is double that needed by some other meters. Some meters give you a "grace" period to add more blood to the strip while others don't. If you are using the lancets that came with the meter, they are likely either 31 or 33 gauge which could be adding to your difficulties. Most of us, at least when starting out, use lancets gauge 26-28. As you test more kitty will grow more capillaries and learn to bleed better but in the early days larger lancets definitely help.

You could also try putting a very thin skim of Vaseline on the puncture site. This helps the blood bead up instead of spreading into the fur which makes it nearly impossible to get onto the strip.

That 6.4 at +6 reading is wonderful. It would be a good idea though to try to get some random tests in between 3 and 6 hours post shots as some cats on Caninsulin will reach their lowest reading as early as +3. Some reach their lowest point earlier, some later and the nadir (lowest point) is not necessarily the same every day.

 

[CassWTribby]

Thanks everyone! I am warming her ear bit seemed to be enough like the other times I've tested. The strips also seem to draw the blood in.

My pharmacy was kind enough to give me this monitor no charge and gave me sample lancets and test strips as well. So nice!!

I have a friend that's a pharmacy tech and is sending me some test strips and lancets that were damaged in shipping and/or recently expired. A huge help!

She also mentioned that Caninsulins 28 day expiry date once opened is based on room temperature storage. If you keep it in the fridge it may last well beyond 60 days. However watch your BGT results. If your getting off results for no apparent reason or may be time for a new one.

Thanks!