Help! Newbie testing disaster and very high BG

[heidi]

I just got my newbie testing kit in the mail today and tried to test Frodo's blood for the first time tonight. I tested my own blood first to make sure I knew how to use the monitor, then moved on to Frodo. Poor Kitty! I stuck him three times before I got blood and on the third time he bled all over the place! I tested the blood and I got a "hi" reading. The meter is a ReliOn Micro and the manual said a "hi" meant a BG over 600. It said to test again and call your doctor immediately (for humans . . .). I tried to test again, but Frodo was having none of that. I did manage to stick him a few more times but I never got enough blood for a test and I've got one very upset (mad!) kitty on my hands. :-x This was a pre-shot test at right about 12 hours from the last dose of Lantus (1.5 units). He has been on this dose and this insulin for only three days now. Before that he was on 1 unit of Humulin N for about three weeks since his diagnosis.

So what do you do with a higher than 600 reading in cats?
What causes inaccurate readings? Could too much blood have caused a problem? Do you think this was inaccurate?
Should I give him time to calm down and then try again later or do you think the stress of fumbling newbie testing will just make it go higher?
Any tips on relaxing a nervous kitty or getting an ear to bleed? I don't want to traumatize him so much that he doesn't let me keep testing, but I will give it another go tonight if it's important.

Thank you for your help!

 

[MommaOfMuse]

Sometimes too much blood will give you a false reading but where this is your first test it is hard to know if it is a false reading or not, since there is no data to compare against. After awhile as you gather data you will know when a reading seems "off".

One tip for making it easier to get Simba's ear to bleed is warming it up. Either with a rice sock which is just a plain thinnish cotton sock filled with plain uncooked white rice and knotted, then tossed in the micrwave for a few seconds. Or very warm water in a pill bottle, just about anything that will warm up the ear. I also found when I was first starting out if I poked low on the ear, just right above that little double flap of skin, I would get blood pretty easily.

Make sure you are backing his ear with something firm, I use the rice sock even though I no longer have to warm up Musette's ear, others will use a folded paper towel, or cosmetic sponge, this also keeps you from poking your finger.

And don't feel bad it takes awhile to figure out what works best for you and Simba. I even learned that I have to test Musette differently than I test Maxwell. Musette wants to be cuddled up close on my lap. Maxwell hates to be restrained so I just sit him in front of me.

As far as the over 600 reading I have no advice, luckily so far that isn't something that I have had to deal with. But I'm sure someone will be along that has and will have some advice..hang in there. But at the very least I would say he is high enough to safely give him his insulin.

Mel, Maxwell, Musette & The Fur Gang

 

[BJM]

Yes, I've seen high glucose levels like that ... in Spitzer. He's still going.

And yes, you want to address that, with your insulin and diet efforts. It is a gradual process, for the most part, following the guidelines for the insulin you are using. The testing gives you feedback about how well the diabetes management efforts are working.

That being said, please pop over to a pharmacy a.s.a.p and pick up some urine test strips to test for ketones and if available, glucose too. Ketones at a high level indicate an emergency for your cat. Glucose in the urine means the diabetes is not controlled yet.

 

[Carl & Polly & Bob (GA)]

Heidi,
It could be as simple as you aren't hitting the right spot on the ear. Many times, when you get an excessive amount of blood, it's because you hit the vein that runs near the outer edge of the ear with a direct hit. That'll make the ear bleed heavily. And too much blood on the strip can give you a higher reading on the meter. You want enough blood for the strip to "sip" it up. I know that when I got a huge drop that I just stuck the strip in the middle of, I got a high reading. Try to set the strip right near the edge of a drop and get it to "sip" up the strip.

Here's a pic someone posted a while ago, not sure who, but I have it saved to my PC (thanks to the original artist, by the way!)



Get the ear nice and warm and aim for the sweet spot...

 

[Sienne and Gabby (GA)]

Two thoughts that may make the process a bit easier: First, what gauge lancet are you using? In the beginning, using a thicker lancet (e.g., 28 or 29 gauge) will make it easier. The thicker the lancet, the easier it is for the ear to bleed. The more you poke, the more the capillary bed at the edge of the ear will develop and it will get easier for you to get blood. If you need to poke a second time, try to poke as close to the first spot as you can. A little blood from 2 spots may give you enough to get an accurate read. As Mel said, with some meters, too much blood might give you an inaccurate reading. Also, if you are using the lancet device to poke, make sure you have it on a setting where it will go deep enough. (I don't use one so I can't give you a lot of info on their use.)

The second thought is one word -- treats! Any time you poke, successful or not, give Frodo a treat (or several). You want him to begin to associate getting his ear poked with something he likes. Many cats here will run to be tested because they get a treat. Treats and lots of praise do wonders to make the process less painful for everyone. If you haven't already been provided with a list of low carb treats, this post on the topic is helpful. The only thing I don't think they mention on the link is cooked chicken. Several people here will cook a piece of chicken and cut it up for treats.