Help with a curve

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MelissaEbby

MelissaEbby

Member Since 2012
Is there a good link on exactly how to do a glucose curve? I've seen others post with the abbreviations and numbers (+1, +2 Etc.) but I guess don't really understand how to do one. I have yet to get blood, so maybe I'm getting ahead of myself, but just thought I should start looking into it. I might still let the vet do one next week, depending on how well Ebby lets me get blood samples. I hope to start getting her conditioned to the meter today, but guess she might not be ready yet for me to go ahead with the actual sample.
 
MelissaEbby said:
Is there a good link on exactly how to do a glucose curve? I've seen others post with the abbreviations and numbers (+1, +2 Etc.) but I guess don't really understand how to do one.
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To do a curve, you take blood glucose readings every two hours to see how your cat is responding to the insulin, and what the nadir (lowest point) is. Some do mini curves, testing every 3 or 4 hours instead.

The jargon can be confusing, can't it? Here is the basics:
AMPS = The morning pre-shot glucose number
PMPS = The evening pre-shot glucose number
+2, (+4, etc.) = The glucose number 2 (or 4 or 5 or 6) hours after the shot

So, when you post your numbers you write something like:

Sat., Oct. 27
AMPS - 250, 1 unit
+2 - 190
+4 - 160
+6 - 110
+8 - 186
+10 - 212
PMPS - 280, 1 unit
+5 - 130
 
You basically test the bg every two hours, from the morning insulin shot time to the evening insulin shot time. The test you get right before giving the insulin is called the PS (AMPS is the morning one and PMPS is the evening one). If you test again say 2 hours later, that is +2. Five hours later would be +5. Etc. Don't go nuts trying to test exactly every 2 hours. If your cat hides or if you have difficulty getting a bg test, just try again in another hour or so. A few tests spread throughout the day is enough. Make sure to get a test 6 hours or so after the insulin shot. That is when the insulin nadir typically occurs but does vary with the insulin type and the cat.
 
Thank you so much everyone! This completely cleared it up. I attempted to get some blood yesterday...I got her when she was sleepy, but there wasn't much blood, and the meter did not read it. I will try again today. If I could get just one reading I'd be so happy.

I noticed today that there is still a red spot where I pricked her ear (maybe dried blood on her ear.) Do these pricks usually leave a scab? Maybe I just didn't get it wiped off good enough.
 
Have a cotton ball or paper towel handy after you take the blood for your test. After testing the blood, apply a little pressure for 20 seconds or so using the cotton or paper towel to help close the prick. I always scratch and pet Lizzy when I am applying the pressure.

Try, if possible, to link a treat with the test. I take boneless skinless chicken breast, bake it, & then use a food processor to grind it into little bits. Then I give a pinch of the chicken before and after the test. Lizzy always gets impatient when I am applying the pressure after testing because she knows she is getting a chicken treat when we get done. (You don't have to grind it up and can just a pull a piece off the chicken, too.)

Also, on getting blood, I am not able to get enough of Lizzy's blood from the recommended area. However, I get blood from a place below that area and each ear is also different. Stay patient. You will get it figured out, too. :-D

Good luck!

Andy
 
Melissa,

If you're still having difficulty getting blood you may need a larger lancet. I'll admit I was VERY reluctant to switch sizes when first starting to test (which was only a month ago), but after a horrid test time pricking the poor cat 19 times (yes, you read that right), I finally did it. What a difference! We went from a regular round of "Vampire and Pincushion" to a much more reasonable one- or two-poke test time.

Keep in mind that "larger" in lancets actually means a smaller number: a 30 gauge is smaller than a 28 gauge lancet. I'm currently using 26 gauge only because the 28 gauge we're sold out, but the larger size doesn't seem to bother Kitty Rabbit more than the 30 gauge did (I'm sure she's just happy not to be a pincushion any more!). Everyone here says the ears eventually "learn" to bleed, which means I should be able to go to smaller lancets when I run out of the 26s.

By the way, our cats are master manipulators. Kitty Rabbit had me convinced the ear pricks were the worst thing EVER...until she "flinched""-complete with a little mew of pain-when I'd actually stopped before pricking her to look closely at her ear. What an actress!

You'll both master this eventually. I speak from experience. :-D

Christine
 
I started 2 weeks ago and never thought I'd get the hang of it.

I did switch to the 26 gauge lancets - which helped.
I use the Relion Confirm which requires only a tiny bit of blood. The link below shows visually the drop size for different meters (click on 'Blood Glucose Meters')
http://forecast.diabetes.org/consumerguide/charts

I also put a little smear of vaseline on before poking as it does help the blood pool up rather than spread.
And I switched to testing on the inside of her ear as it spreads less in the fur and after a while the ears do bleed a little easier.

Make sure you press on the poke area when finished - it stops bruising - I use half a tissue folded up. I also put a dab of neosporin on.

Also, I watched lots of youtube videos - just search for 'cat blood test'.

The biggest help was finding an irresistable treat - I use Fancy Feast appertizers. She gets about a fifth per test as her treat.
I originally let her eat through the test and she didn't even notice the poke, but her head moved around too much. So now I give her a little bit, take it away and give it back after the test.

Now, generally I'm done with 1 poke.
 
Christine,

Thanks for the advise on the lancet. I guess I don't even know what size they are, so I'll check into that. I'm also not using them with the auto-injector, so maybe I'm just not poking hard enough. She did let out a cry though, so either it hurt, or yes, she too could be acting. It's true how manipulative cats can be.

Even though I didn't get any blood, we had a positive experience. I took her on the dresser where I'm going to be testing and put a treat down. She then let me hold her and mess with her ear and even prick her. She also started purring and seemed fine with me messing with her. That is a first! She also let me give her an insulin shot this morning with very little fuss. So hopefully with time, it will all get routine for both of us. Just last week, I thought the insulin shots were going to be impossible, so I see hope for the blood testing too.

Denise,

Thanks for the link to that meter. I will check it out. It helps to hear you were having difficulty just 2 weeks ago, and now have the hang of it. I might check out the fancy feasts appetizers too. Right now, I've been using either bits of chicken or her tuna greenie treats. (These are probably high carb though, so did order some liver treats that will hopefully take the place.) She sure loves the greenies though.
 
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