First successful BG!

[JeanK]

It has not been easy trying to learn how to do a good ear stick, despite the wonderful how-to vids. Blaze doesn't like his ears being fiddled with, and he's squirmy. So either I didn't get enough of a drop to get a reading, or when I did get a good clean sample, Blaze would squirm around and it would smear, or by the time I got the little drop sucked up into the test strip, the stupid meter timed out and wouldn't accept the loaded strip. Blaze has been tolerant, if not especially patient, and only complained twice, but it's been very frustrating!
But this morning, I finally succeeded in getting a legitimate BG reading — and I was horrified to see 580! That's almost as much as when he first diagnosed! This was a fasting level at 9:30 AM, about 11 hours after his last shot and before his morning shot and breakfast (half a 5.5-oz can of Friskies poultry pate). I'm going to try again this evening, but in the meantime, should I worry? Is the insulin working at all? He seems brighter and doesn't seem to be drinking or peeing as much, but he doesn't seem to be putting on any weight, even though I'm giving him more food.

 

[Melanie and Smokey]

Way to go! Even though it was a scary reading, doesn't it feel great to know what the heck is going on?

I know nothing about your insulin so I can't comment on what that number means, just came in to chear your victory with you. cat_pet_icon

 

[Larry and Kitties]

How much N are you giving? In most cats N last only about 8-10 hours so a high preshot is not that uncommon. After a couple of day it is recommended that you do a curve to determine how low Blaze goes in between shots and thus if the does can safely be raised.

 

[JeanK]

Thanks! I do feel better knowing. I give 1u twice a day. He's supposed to go back to the vet for a curve in a week, but first I have to figure out how I'm gonna pay for that.
By the way, does anybody know if there's anything in a rice sock besides rice? Because I accidentally nuked the one that came with my hometesting kit to a crisp, and black stuff leaked out of it that looked like cooling lava (and smelling similar). Evidently I set the timer to 3 minutes, not 30 seconds. I'm not at my best in the morning.

 

[Karen & Smokey(GA)]

Just plain un-cooked white rice. NOT minute-rice, or Uncle Ben's quick-cooking rice...NOT brown
rice....just the plain white stuff that comes in a plastic bag.

You're not the only one to 'over cook' a rice sock....There's a picture around here
somewhere of an 'exploded' rice sock.

 

[Maggies Mom Debby]

Here are my testing tips. I hope something here will make it easier for you.

1. Pet your kitty and massage the ear while you are petting him or 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. 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 - I used a waded up paper towel. It gives a firm base to work on, and keeps you from getting poked. It's 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 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 glucometer up to her ear - I think it tickled.

 

[Larry and Kitties]

SOmeone already answered your rice-sock question. Regarding going to the vet for a curve. That is unnecessary. You can do the curve yourself at home. Frequently a curve done at the vet shows elevated because the stress of going to and being at the vet tends to raise BGs.

Thanks! I do feel better knowing. I give 1u twice a day. He's supposed to go back to the vet for a curve in a week, but first I have to figure out how I'm gonna pay for that.
By the way, does anybody know if there's anything in a rice sock besides rice? Because I accidentally nuked the one that came with my hometesting kit to a crisp, and black stuff leaked out of it that looked like cooling lava (and smelling similar). Evidently I set the timer to 3 minutes, not 30 seconds. I'm not at my best in the morning.

 

[Dawn & Nova]

Congrats on your first test!!! It does get soooo much easier.. practice practice practice!

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

My cat hates her ears being touched.. (but hates her paws being touched more ).. From this tip above what I came up with was to cut a small (1/2-1 inch) piece off a drinking straw at a time.. and cut a little bit off one end to make a spoon like a slurpee straw.. so I poke, and scoop, and can muck around for quite some time with the meter if need be.

I buy a box of straws from the grocery store and it lasts a really long time.. though I suppose a quick trip to your random fast food restaurant could provide the same at a 5-finger discount type cost ahahha.

 

[JeanK]

Using a straw sounds great, and I happen to have some because of a beaded necklace I was making. Thanks, Dawn!