high BG reading/ confused

[IloveLarry]

got larrys ear pricked! very hard. no idea how u get them to be still?
at any rate he tested at 239 and it was at the point about 5 hrs until his next shot.
do i give a shot now? any time hes high? or wait until his scheduled time?
very confused.

 

[Sue and Oliver (GA)]

239 isn't terribly high (400-500 is high). What was his preshot number? Or is this your first successful test? (if so, congrats) The routine is to test before each shot and midcycle. Then test and shoot again in 12 hours. With N, once you have some data, you might give the shot more often.

It would be much easier for us to help if you would keep his numbers on a spreadsheet, so when you want advice, we can look back over his history of doses and levels.

Here are the directions:

http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=18207

If you want, I can set one up for you. Just send me a pm (small button at the bottom left side of this post.

To keep him still, you can wrap him in a towel (kitty burrito) or give him a few treats to eat. If you get blood and he is moving away, get the drop on your fingernail and test from there.

 

[IloveLarry]

hi sue...yes this was our first and only test so far. it was a lot harder than i thot bc he wont let me hold him. i followed him around the room and kept at it. it was the halfway point between his 2 shots. i figured that was super high? although i did give him a few treats b4 hand trying to calm him. it took us a long time bc he would not be still. once the blood was present i had no trouble gtng it to the meter tho.

 

[Sue and Oliver (GA)]

Lots of people sit on the floor and loosely hold the cat between their legs, offering a treat or too. You will find the way that works best for you and Larry. Just keep trying. And be sure to give him a treat after the poke too, successful or not.

 

[BJM]

It can work to put the cat on a low counter and snug up between an arm and the body. One hand is in position to brace the ear and hold the head, the other is free to wok with the meter. I partially insert the test strip before starting so that once I've pricked the ear successfully, I just push the strip the rest of the way in. (This cuts down on my fumbling and shortens the time I may need to restrain the cat.

Another option is the kitty burrito wrap.
Place a bath towel on the floor.
Put the cat in the center, perpendicular to the length (---|---).
Wrap each side of the towel snugly around the cat, making sure to confine the legs.
As needed, kneel over the cat and use your thighs to further restrain the cat. You want to use the minimal amount of restraint necessary to do the tesing.