First time home test!

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Lisa & Nacho

Lisa & Nacho

Member Since 2016
I did it!!!

I gave Nacho his FIRST ever successful home BG test! I have been putting it off because I was scared to do it.

His reading was 354. Which I am pretty excited about! With the reliOn Micro reader from Walmart.

Initial reading at vet was 524, second visit a few weeks ago was 405.

I am working with the diabetic cats in need organization as I got a prescription for Lantus. They have been SO AMAZING with helping me get started for my nacho boy.

What are my next steps? Should I post in the Lantus forum for how to get started on the insulin once i receive it?

I am just so excited that I finally did it :) on the road to helping my furry buddy!
 
Good for you! :D I suggest you enter it on your spreadsheet. Yes, post on the Lantus forum and let those people know you're waiting for your Lantus to arrive. Ask them what you should know in the first days. Go read the info stickies on that forum so you can start thinking about whether you want to try SLGS (Start Low Go Slow) or TR (Tight Regulation).
 
You are all doing great. Those are scary times - the first times. Before you know it you'll be expert testers and dosers. The big key is keeping our cats calm during the tests. Food helps. Yes, I would post on the Lantus forum. That is a good place for daily updates.
 
JeffJ said:
You are all doing great. Those are scary times - the first times. Before you know it you'll be expert testers and dosers. The big key is keeping our cats calm during the tests. Food helps. Yes, I would post on the Lantus forum. That is a good place for daily updates.
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Thank you!! Yes I gave him 1 treat before and one after as a prize :) !
 
Great job!!
I remember that first test so well... my palms were sweaty and I was convinced I was going to hurt my sweet kitty. Felt the same way the first time I had to give a shot, except worse! I must've tented his skin in 10 different places before I found a spot where I was comfortable inserting the needle and then, I was so tentative. Poor cat was looking at me like I was nuts!! Thank goodness he was one very patient kitty!! Just telling you all this so you know we have ALL been there and all felt those same jitters.

Just the fact that you are willing to learn to test and to give insulin and to help your Nacho get well deserves HUGE KUDOS!! You'll be an old had at this soon and telling others about YOUR first days!!

I'll see you over at the Lantus and Lev forum!! Great people over there too! :):cat:
 
Donna and Flame said:
Great job!!
I remember that first test so well... my palms were sweaty and I was convinced I was going to hurt my sweet kitty. Felt the same way the first time I had to give a shot, except worse! I must've tented his skin in 10 different places before I found a spot where I was comfortable inserting the needle and then, I was so tentative. Poor cat was looking at me like I was nuts!! Thank goodness he was one very patient kitty!! Just telling you all this so you know we have ALL been there and all felt those same jitters.

Just the fact that you are willing to learn to test and to give insulin and to help your Nacho get well deserves HUGE KUDOS!! You'll be an old had at this soon and telling others about YOUR first days!!

I'll see you over at the Lantus and Lev forum!! Great people over there too! :):cat:
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Thank you!! I tried earlier in the day yesterday, and I think I poked him so lightly that nothing came out..... haha! Then the second time I warmed his ear more and just went for it! My vet didn't really say much about home testing, but I wanted to learn because I think it is very important for me to help Nacho :)
 
It took me longer than a week. But at some point it does become routine. Leo sometimes still growls when I take blood. He is such a trooper. After "this many" shots (see pic), you will definitely be an expert :D Thanks Costco for big disposal containers!
 

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JeffJ said:
It took me longer than a week. But at some point it does become routine. Leo sometimes still growls when I take blood. He is such a trooper. After "this many" shots (see pic), you will definitely be an expert :D Thanks Costco for big disposal containers!
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Is that an empty plastic snack container? I was wondering what I should get to dispose of the needles.
 
Yes - it was pretzel snacks with peanut butter cores. Gawd they are awesome but addictive. I also use plastic orange juice containers, with the screw-on lid. The plastic is pretty hard on these, so I don't worry about their final destination. I used to clip the ends off. Now I just put the cap back on.

I actually tried to reuse some of the syringes for hobby stuff, like glue application. But the needles are so narrow that glue will not go thru them. Not a big deal.
 
For disposal, I use empty mayo or peanut butter jars. I bend the needle and put cap back on. When jar is full I take it to the vet and they dispose them. Sometimes they give me the jar back. If I'm out of a jar I just put in plastic zip lock baggie and take to vet.
 
Hi Lisa, hope you and Nacho's good luck and health is continuing. Just a few things you might find helpful along with my usual "Don't mean to sound condescending". With syringes and lancets, the higher the gauge number the thinner they are. I use 33 gauge lancets on Noah and it's worked out okay. This doesn't work for everyone but it might be worth a try. Where we live drugstores and vets are obligated to take your sharpies. I don't press the issue with the drugstore because I just keep them in an old Purina Maxx Scoop tub. Pretty sure that's not rated for bio disposables. Thank MrWorfMen's Mom for this, it's a cat's ear I lifted from a previous post. Just right click and save-picture-as for reference. Let us know when you've done a long-hair-cat-poopy-bum-bath and then you're in the club for life!

ear_01.JPG
 
I poked myself one too many times bending the needles to trying dispose them properly in a make-shift way. I work with my hands all day , so I'm not quite sure what my problem was!
I found this little gadget for about $5 at Rite Aid. It holds 1,000 needles before it gets full. I LOVE IT!!! I've had it for 4 months and it's still not full.
Here is a link to the product. You can probaby find it at most drug stores and on amazon.
https://www.walgreens.com/store/c/b...pping-&-storage-device/ID=prod6044981-product
Congratulations on hometesting, we gotta keep 'em safe! Naco is so cute :cat::cat::cat::cat::cat:
Warming up Uncle's ear before I test is night and day. I use warm water in an old vitamin bottle and hold it on his ear. Sometimes I gently rub it around on his face too, he really likes it.
 
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