Help! Just bought ReliOn kit, my first time testing..

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Beth61

Beth61

Member Since 2015
I'm at home now, just opened up my ReliOn kit but I'm getting overwhelmed and confused. I bought test strips of course but now I'm freaked out because they say 'Confirm Plus' while I bought just the 'plain' Confirm Glucose meter.

I am so frustrated and feeling helpless right now. I wish I had someone here to help me with this! I am not getting the Lancet tool.

Can anyone help?! thank you!!!!
 
You can use those strips with the Confirm; you're OK.

Practice on a piece of fruit or yourself first. Some of us just freehand the lancet, rather than using the holder.
 
Well I just failed miserably. I have watched the video that showed Buddy getting tested. I'll have to watch it again. Spike definitely felt the prick. I thought his ears weren't 'sensitive'!?

This is going to take some practice. I aimed the Lancet between the dominant vein and the edge of his ear.
 
Ok I just read the rest of your message. I'm almost in panic mode, this is nuts. Ok breath... thx for your help, I SO APPRECIATE it.
 
If I use the lancet on a piece of fruit I then need to put a new one in for Spike, right? Won't the lancet get 'contaminated' if I practice on the fruit or myself first?
 
Yes, the lancets are single use. But practice will help you be more confident and get a feel for it.
 
The edge of the ear where you're testing is less sensitive but it's not completely insensitive. Usually, it's more challenging to get the ear to bleed at the beginning. The more you test, the more the capillary bed in the area will develop and bleeding will be easier.

Now, for the practical issues. Each and every time you test, whether the test is successful or not, give your kitty a treat. Find something he loves -- many of us use freeze dried chicken or poached chicken. Tell Spike just how good of a kitty he is. Give him lots of praise. You want to reinforce that testing is a good thing.

The other practical aspect of testing is that even if your knees feel like Jello, what Spike needs to sense is that you are confident and in charge. If you're scared, he'll be scared. So, a couple of deep breaths and give it your best go.

Also, I hope you're using a wider gauge lancet -- a 28 or 29 gauge. While Spike may feel the prick a bit more than with a narrower gauge lancet, in the beginning, it will be easier to draw blood with a wider gauge lancet.
 
As you get more pokes in, his ears will grow new capillaries and it'll be a whole lot easier...it takes a few weeks, but it'll happen!!

I think I could really just tell China's ears to bleed at this point and forget the part about poking....LOL

Where do you live Beth? Sometimes we have other members who live close enough to new people to offer to come help show them the ropes!

It can be really helpful to establish a routine with testing. Pick one spot that you want your "testing spot" to be (I like the kitchen counter because it's got good light and it's at a good height....it also already blocked 2 escape routes due to the wall and the backsplash) It can be anywhere though...a rug on the floor, a table, a particular spot on the couch...wherever is good for you. Take him there as many times a day as you can and just give his ears a quick rub and then he gets a yummy (low carb) treat. Most cats aren't objecting so much with the poking..it's the fooling with their ears they don't like, but once they're desensitized to it and learn to associate a certain place with the treats, they usually start to come when they're called! Or even when they hear us opening the test kit!

You also have to remember...you're not poking him to hurt him...you're testing him to keep him safe and understand what's going on inside his body. There's just nothing better than truly understanding what's going on inside your kitty's body and with this disease, the more knowledge you have, the more power you have against it. The edges of the ears have very few pain receptors, so it really doesn't hurt them. Also, if you're nervous and tense, it's going to make your kitty nervous and tense too. As silly as it might seem, try singing! It forces you to use a different part of your brain!

It's also important to make sure his ear is warm. A small sock filled with a little rice and microwaved or a small pill bottle filled with warm water (check temp against your wrist like you would a baby bottle) works well
 
Thanks tons, you guys!!!!! I live in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

I am using 30 gauge lancets. Came with the kit I just bought.

His ears are pretty warm, I think it was my complete lack of knowing what the hell I was doing that screwed things up. I ALWAYS talk to him. He knows I am trying. He seems patient. But I know he is not feeling that well. Which I hate.

I need to get some low-carb treats for him. I am only feeding him his regular Fancy Feast and Friskies stuff for now. I got rid of the moist crap I used to give him.

I'm sorry if I sound so scattered and .... weird.
 
We've all been there, it's very overwhelming when you start off but it will get easier :)

The 30 gauge lancets are a bit thin for a beginner kitty. The higher the number the thinner the needle so I would go and get some fatter ones in a 28 or 29. I've never had to warm Vyktor's ears (it never gets that cold where I am) but I do rub the edges of his ears for 10-20 secs to get the blood flowing there before testing. I have found it works best to get the test as soon as I stop rubbing, i.e if he moves his head away I rub a little more before taking the test.

I like the quote in your signature :)
 
When I first started testing I was a mess. People kept telling me not to worry that soon she will come running to get tested. I tried to keep that in mind as I kept failing miserably. Soon though, everyone's predictions came true. She actually comes running to me for testing now. It's strange. But a relief. Here is what I learned...

1.) I picked one spot and only one spot to test. That way she knows that any other time I touch her is for love and cuddles, not testing.

2.) I stopped picking her up to place her in the test spot. As I was practicing, I noticed she started growling when I would try to pick her up, any time I tried picking her up. I decided to teach her to hop up on the testing table herself so she no longer associates me picking her up with bad things.

3.) Treats. Lots and lots... and lots, of treats. She doesn't always stay still, and she sometimes gives me a warning growl when poking her ear. But she is growling with treats in her mouth. :) And she is there on her own will. I never hold her down, I just coax her back with treats.

4.) I also tested on myself to see how it feels and to get an idea of the lancet pen depth. I tried doing it freehand at first, but I just couldn't figure out how deep to push, and it took way longer to get an attempt then with the pen. So pen it is!

I'm still not the best at testing. Sometimes I have to poke her ear 2, 3, 5 times even. But she still loves me and comes running when I start prepping her test spot. Listen to everyones advice and encouragement. It does get easier. It really does :)
 
I freehand with the lancet. I've been doing this for four years, and sometimes I still have to poke more than once. Sometimes I poke too hard and go all the way through (honestly, Cinco, pierced ears are all the rage for kitties this year!). Warming the ear is really helpful. We use the rice-filled sock, 30 seconds in the microwave. I leave it there as I poke, to hold the ear firm (so be sure it isn't too hot). Also, if you are too nervous about hurting your kitty, you probably aren't poking deeply enough. It's a good idea to get some Neosporin with pain relief. Rub a little on the ear every night, and any discomfort will go away. We've all been where you are. Trust me, if I can do this, you can, too!
 
My first post started with something like don't be upset with me if I don't test at home. I don't use a lancet pen but do it freehand and often use a very sharp terumo size 25 needle. I've read some say it's cruel to use a needle but my vet taught me that way and then I started buying the smallest and sharpest I could find. I can get a very small drop of blood with them.
 
I like the lancet device because it delivers a much faster "stick" than I can do freehand. To warm the ear I use a damp baby washcloth, microwaved for 10 seconds, and put into a plastic baggie. This is not as "rough to the touch" as the rice sock (in my opinion). Neosporin with pain relief is great. We use it every night after the last test. I use a camping headlamp to illuminate the ear (also use it when drawing up the insulin dose). It leaves both hands free.

It all gets to be routine and you and your kitty will do just fine. Treats are a must!!

Welcome to L&L

Ella & Rusty
 
I use the same kit you have and found that the green lancets that came with it are ok but the white ones are much better. They are 28 and the green are 31 gauge. I also use it free hand and sometimes have to poke twice. I poke Jacks ear and then get the strip in the meter and usually the blood drop is ready by the time I get the meter and strip ready. Sometimes I poke and then rub his ear on both side of the poke to get the blood to come up. I to hated it at first but now I can say "Jack lets get your number" and he comes to me because he knows he is getting treats.
 
Thanks for all this great information. I'm amazed at how afraid I am. I'm going through alot of stress in other areas of my life right now, and so dealing with Spike's diabetes, and learning how to test him, is a challenge.

I just did a test run tonight on myself, to see how bad it was. It wasn't so bad. So I told Spike that it wasn't so bad, I did it, and that we will be trying it out on him tomorrow a.m. early.

I'll have to go back to Walmart and get 28 gauge lancers.
 
I'm taking Spikey into the vet on Wednesday afternoon. In the last 24 hours, he's eating even less than his usual small amounts throughout the day. I'm feeling pretty morose about his condition. I've tried so many tactics to get him to eat, but it must be his glucose level, which I will test my first time tomorrow morning. During this early stage, having given him insulin for not even 2 weeks, what can we do to make him feel as good as possible? I know it takes time....
 
Check the smell of his breath. Does it smell fruity or like nail polish remover (acetone)? That could indicate ketones are developing. Ketones form as a byproduct of fat breakdown for calories. Too many may indicate diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a potentially fatal complication of diabetes.

Pick up urine ketone/glucose (KetoDiaStix) or just ketone (KetoStix) test strips from the pharmacy and test a fresh urine specimen. Some folks crumple up plastic wrap and put it around the litter box edge to catch drops for testing.

Other assessments are described in my signature link Secondary Monitoring Tools, which may be helpful.
 
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