Help getting glucose reading

Status
Not open for further replies.
C

cinder1

Member Since 2019
Our cat, 9 years old, is just diagnosed with diabetes. Doctor recommended Lantus. One unit dosage for now while we record glucose reading twice daily. We only started two days ago. Today is our third. We had success on our first two days but it was not easy. He was not hurt when we pricked his ear -- he made no reaction -- and we were gentle with him.

Today, however, our cat avoids us when we come near. Eventually, we are able to stroke him, scratch his ear and his throat, etc., but when he sees one of us move both hands toward his ear, he seems to know something's about to happen and moves away. We don't want to use force because we know that will make it even more difficult the next time.

Are there any tips or youtube videos on how to "trick" or calm our cat? We already skipped this morning's glucose reading and insulin and we might again tonight.

Injecting the insulin isn't a problem -- it's the glucose reading that we're having difficulty with. But we do not want to inject the insulin without getting the reading first. We're supposed to do the "curve" after a week but I don't see how we can get a glucose reading once every two hours without forcibly doing it on him.​
 
I struggled with this when I first started as well! It might help to get him used to all the motions involved first before trying the whole thing at once. So for example, just start rubbing his ears and then leave it at that. If he likes treats, give him a treat after. If you’re using the lancet pen, another time click the pen then give him another treat, that way he gets used to the noise.

My girl goes nuts for freeze dried salmon treats, so our testing routine is to give her a treat, check her glucose, then give her another treat. For my kitty, it helps to make it rewarding for her and to give her something she likes
 
Testing your cat's blood sugar (BG or blood glucose) is a process of practice and patience. Not many members are adept at first, so don't be discouraged.

It's helpful to choose a place where you will always test. Make sure kitty and you are comfortable and have good lighting. Take your cat there, stroke and fondle the ears, and give a low carb treat. I use small pieces of cooked unseasoned chicken breast, many members use freeze dried low carb treats, or even a taste or two of tuna. Then kitty can go about his business. Try to do this frequently, and kitty will become accustomed to the process. Some members offer the treat before testing also, it's a great conditioning tool. Always provide a treat whether the test is successful or not.

Here is a link to some home testing information:http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/hometesting-links-and-tips.287/
There are many videos on YouTube, just type in test a cat's blood sugar.

You are definitely on the right track by testing before injecting, it's so important to know it's safe to inject.

You can also take a look at the yellow tagged "stickies" at the top of the Lantus insulin support group forum, this is going to inform you about how Lantus works, as well as other very important information you need to know going forward.
http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/forums/lantus-basaglar-glargine-and-levemir-detemir.9/
 
to start with, every time you mess with his ears, give him a treat -- I've had the best success with bonito flakes (can be bought at Oriental type store, sometimes called katsuobushi there; or online, the feline specific type, from the KatManDoo brand, available from Chewy or Amazon)

low carb or no carb is preferred -- freeze dried chicken, or tuna, or herrings, or sardines, or whatever is a treat according to your cat

to begin with, you don't even have to do the test, just have a place where you will always be doing it, and stroke his ears, with your fingers, with cotton balls, or whatever, so he gets used to a treat after you play with his ears ..

actually I often have a fight on my hands if I test him without giving him a regular spoonful of catfood, well watered down -- he can put up with me pricking his ears if he has his nose in the food bowl
 
You've gotten some great advice and links! And good on you for already home testing!

The only thing I'll offer is, since there are two of you available (now anyway) for testing, the way it works for us is Wayne is the treater, I'm the poker :) When Willow hears /sees me setting up for a poke, she gets excited because she knows a treat is coming, and eagerly waits for me to come and sit behind her. Wayne sits to the front side (so she doesn't feel trapped). I give her a scritch, and rub her ear a moment so she knows it's being handled (I don't just grab and poke). Because I'm behind her she doesn't see the Lancet coming and I've already been handling her ear, I prick, it's not a shock, and she gets her treat after (don't forget to apply pressure for a few seconds to prevent bruising).

To help train him for this, work in ear rubs when you're petting him at random times throughout the day, and always treat immediately after an ear rub. If you're going to be using the Lancet device, work up to clicking that by his ear and immediately treating, so he gets used to the noise and also associates it with a treat.

Don't worry about him avoiding you, once he associates the ear handling with treats it will be a good thing :)

With love, nikki
 
I remember seeing that at Sea World many years ago so I'm like why didn't we think of that. My wife is petting him right now with treats at the ready. In time we're hoping our cat will get accustomed and look forward to the treats. nslade001, the past two days we were able to do the reading my wife was the poker and I'm the one with the device. But we'd like my wife to be able to do all by herself because I sometimes leave early for work and return home late.

Thank you, all! We'll look at the links and look on youtube, too.
 
cinder1 said:
. But we'd like my wife to be able to do all by herself because I sometimes leave early for work and return home late.

Thank you, all! We'll look at the links and look on youtube, too.
Click to expand...
For sure! It's usually not a problem at all for one person to do the test :) I just wanted you to have an example of how the two of you can work together for now, getting him used to the process without seeing the Lancet. You guys will be rocking this before you know it lol. Good luck! With love, nikki
 
I am lucky in that Jack the Cat is usually lounging on the bed or the floor for post AM and pre PM testing so that it was just a matter of picking him up in a cuddle, asking him what is number is going to be and taking him to the place where he is alway tested and shot so he is familiar with the space. I also let him smell whatever is going on whether it is the shot or the testing...he smells the meter, the lancet device and even the cotton balls I used to support his ears.

I always rub his ears, then put a bit of petroleum jelly on and then hold them so the blood flows into the veins. We've gone from I can say truthfully 13 pokes to usually down to 1...and I always ask for just one poke Jack!

I hug him, tell him what I am going to do, let him sit down and relax before I do anything.

Good luck. Just takes time and practice.
 
Thank you, all, for the support, encouragements, advice, etc. Wife was able to do it on her own last night, after two days of "conditioning" -- that is, petting, clicking the poker, and giving treats without (yet) getting glucose readings. This morning, our cat is active and seemed to want to do something else and kept moving about. So we'll wait till he calms down or gets tired.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top