Hom testing NOT going well. Help!

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Kira & Twink

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Oy! It's my first time testing my cat's glucose at home. I've watched a few videos but this is just not going well. My cat doesn't really like her ears messed with, but I tried it anyway. I got a little blood, but not enough for the meter to read it (cat struggling the whole time). I opened up the pen that came with the ReliOn monitor, read the instructions but it totally doesn't seem to work. When you press the release button the needle doesn't come anywhere near out of the cap. It should work with the lancets that CAME with it shouldn't it? So I tried the ear again, didn't get any blood at all. So I moved on to the paws, she's MUCH better with her paws so at least that went well, but once again I didn't get enough blood. I've retired a few times and she'd cry a little but I still didn't get any blood! I've gone through like 5 lancets! I'm so frustrated and I know I keep hurting her, I don't know what to do. I think if the pen would actually work it would be better, but I don't see how it can work with the lancets I have at all. Can someone help?
 
It took me a long time to test my struggling cat. Make sure the pen is set for the deepest penetration. Try it on yourself to get an idea of the size of the drop needed. Maybe just using the lancet without the pen would work. That's what I do. Go in on a slight slant. Donna
 
I just started home testing about 2 weeks ago and at first I was like "this is impossible!", but I've done a dozen successful tests now. :) I'm still quite a newbie, but here's a few suggestions:

1. Make sure the ear or paw is warmed before testing, the blood will flow better. I cut a square of fabric out of an old tshirt, put about 1/2 cup of rice in it and tied it shut with a cloth ponytail holder. Then I just warm it in the microwave for 12 seconds. You could use a sock too. Make sure to test the temperature on your wrist to make sure it's not too hot.

2. Try using a larger lancet. I use 28 guage, but if you're having trouble getting enough blood you may want to try a 26 gauge.

3. Sometimes using a pen makes it hard to hit the right spot, if I'm having trouble I just pop the lancet out and prick the ear manually.

4. If pricking the ear, try distracting your kitty with a little treat. My Mali will only tolerate a test if he has a small bowl of tuna juice to lap up, otherwise he's just like "what are you doing, get away from me!".

5. BE CALM! If you're stressed your kitty will sense it and become stressed too.If she's fusing too much take a short break and try again.

6. Always praise your kitty with love and affection after every test, even if you don't get a reading. Maybe give her a small low-carb treat (in time she may see testing as a way to get a treat and be more open to it if she knows she'll be rewarded).

Just keep at it, it took me 3 days of trying to get my first reading. Good luck!
 
Hi
Don't Panic. I had the same problem myself when I first started testing and Babv's "ouch" each time almost broke my heart - but I use the lancet without the pen, and as they say "Practice Makes Perfect". Now Baby comes over to me when she sees me getting the equipment ready for the test and doesn't let a peep out. Remember to hold something LUKEWARM to her ear before you pierce it. You'll get used to it. Remember to give a treat afterwards.
 
Hi,
All good advice, the warm sock is a winner, just to hold gently under the outer part of the ear and a quick prick with the lancet on the top of the ear towards the back where the little double section is on the edge. I found the lancet by itself doesn't seem as big and scary to puss, in other words they don't see it coming. Try to pet puss and get her/him comfy and relaxed, have the monitor etc, ready so there is no fumbling. Also once you get a little blood hold the strip to it, it's surprising how quickly it sucks up to the end of the strip.
A tip with the old socks is you put a little rice in it and when it gets a little blood on it you can tip the rice into the other sock and wash the soiled one - I just tie a knot at the end so I can undo it, but the hair band is a good idea too.
Just remember a cold ear never works!! It will be easier in the warmer weather.
We have all been through the same scenario and wonder how it will ever work and once it does you won't look back - Good Luck.
Cheers Joan
 
I also can't get the silly pen that came with my Relion meter to work, so I kind of half and half it, I dial mine back to the lowest setting, arm it with the cap off, then free hand it to aim using the pen as a handle, then once I have the point where I want it I click the pen to do the prick, so I don't chicken out.

When I started testing Max it was a nightmare, he isn't a kitty that likes to be restrainted in the first place and secondly he had only known me for about 3 hours, the lenght of time it took me to drive him home from the airport. But we managed, and now all I have to do is shake the bottle of test strips and tell him its "Ears time" and he goes and jumps up on his testing spot. He doesn't even notice the ear pricks because he is so busy looking for what his treat is going to be.

It gets easier it really does.

Mel, Max & The Fur Gang
 
The warming is important to get the blood flowing as stated above.
I found it easier to just use the lancet free hand at an angle rather than using the pen.

I have a cat that is not diabetic, but I like to check every so often to be sure he is still not diabetic.
He is quite the handful and really strong, so I understand what you are going through.
Hopefully in time it will get easier for you.
 
If you are looking to see the lancet poke out of the device, you won't see it. Does not come out far at all and is very fast. Also, when using a device it has to be FLAT on the ear, any angle at all and it won't work. A cosmetic pad under the ear for support works great. As for the lancets, if you don't get blood on the first poke, do it again.........no need to change the lancet until you are through, you have gotten the test, and you want to get ready for a later test. Try the device on your own finger first to see if you get blood. Also, you can milk your finger to also get an idea of the "milking" process. Remember, finger may be a little sore after the poke, not during the poke, but the ears are less sensitive than our fingers.
 
Hi All, thanks for the advice :) I FINALLY got one to work last night. I used the lancet by itself and one prick actually produced a large drop of blood. I was surprised by that one. I had read about the sock, even bought rice, but the second you touch her ears she flattens them against her head, she just doesn't like them messed with, so I figured she'd never allow a ball of rice put on them... I'll still have to give it a try this morning.

Her BG was 226 at diagnosing, was 242 at home, but then I had been trying on and off for 1/2 an hour and had just eaten. That one wasn't my fault, I get home from walmart and the clerk forgot to take the strips out of the security box! I had to drive ALL the way back, so I had to feed her first. ARG!

I REALLY think my pen doesn't work. I've tried all the settings, tried it on my finger and I don't even feel it.
 
Welcome to the Vampire Club! FANtastic! :RAHCAT :RAHCAT

Some people like a small pill vial with hot water in it better than the rice sack. If you can stick it under her ear before she flattens it back.......It does give you a good surface to poke against.

If you can do the lancet without the device, that works fine. You can also double poke at first to make a little bigger hole - just poke again quickly in the same spot.

Sometime you should take the device back to them and get your money back. We tried the Walgreens brand lancet at first and could not get a drop of blood.

Your numbers sound like they are in a good safe range. Always get a number before each shot and try to get one mid cycle. For most insulins, that is somewhere between 4-6 hours after the shot.

So now we can bug you about getting a spreadsheet set up. :mrgreen: It is a great tool for you to see trends and patterns, and invaluable when you come on for dose advice and we need to see what you have been giving and how it has been working. Here are the directions: Setting up a spreadsheet If you need help, just ask.
 
Ooookay. 2nd test down. Still didn't go very smoothly. I tried the water in the pill bottle trick. I poked her 3 times (she cried each time) and didn't draw ANY blood. I swear I was hitting the sweet spot. Went to her paw, that still didn't work. So I retried the ear, but went more towards the very rim of it. THAT bled. It's almost a little scary, it was a decent amount of blood. Is it possible I'm hitting a vein or something? Her BG was 209 this morning, which really leads me to think we won't need insulin.

Is hitting this spot, even if it might be vein blood or whatever, still better than poking her multiple times and getting nothing?
 
You don't really want to hit the vein but it doesn't hurt to do so. But I wouldn't aim for it. Here is the picture: Where to poke You are aiming for the capillaries that run off that vein.

What kind of food are you feeding? If you are feeding low carb and getting 209 with no insulin, you probably will need some insulin to get her into regulation or remision. (Unless she has an infection of some sort? ) Non diabetic numbers are in the 40 - 120 range, without insulin. It will be tricky as you want to give her as little as she needs but enough. Now that you are testing, you will be able to stay on top of her numbers.
 
Yeah, I've looked at that picture many times and always aim for it, I THINK I hit it, but never get anything. Even more towards the edge is still kind of in that sweet spot. I don't know if a vein can run down the actual edge of the ear? Maybe I am hitting a capillary. Just totally not sure...

Here is Twink's full story: viewtopic.php?f=28&t=35908 She only got diagnosed Thursday, and only started on the wet Fancy Feast low carb/no gluten last night and she still gets some of her old dry food to help the transition, plus she got half of her normal dose of Pred yesterday. So I'm thinking once she's fully over to only the wet food and totally off pred, her numbers could easily drop into the normal range before we try insulin?
 
It is certainly possible then that she would then drop into a normal range. Certainly I would wait and see.

If you put a flashlight behind her ear, you should be able to see the vein running down the ear. The tiny capillaries run off that vein to the edge of the ear. You are aiming for the capilliaries.
 
A couple of hints:

1. Pet your kitty and massage the ear while you are petting him or use a rice sock to warm his ears. If he doesn't like his ears touched, get him used to it by petting him and rubbing his ears at other times.

2. Find a place with good light to do the testing. I used a section of my kitchen counter because it's a good height and has under cabinet lights. I put a towel down on the counter. Some people get the cat in between their legs while kneeling on the floor. Others use a couch or chair and put the cat between them and the arm. Others test in their lap. I sometimes tested Maggie in her bed.

3. Set out everything you need before getting your cat. I put the tesing strip part way into the meter, cock the pen.

4. Put a very thin smear of vaseline on the ear to help the blood bead up and not flow into the hair. I would talk to her and tell her she was being a very good girl.

5. Put something firm behind the ear - I used a waded up paper towel. It gives a firm base to work on, and keeps you from getting poked. It's handy to put light pressure on the spot after it bleeds. A little pressure will stop the bleeding and reduced bruising.

6. Most lancet pens have adjustment for depth. I started with it almost at the deepest. I worked down to the next to the smallest. Some people don't use the pen, they use the lancet free-hand. Your cat's ear will "learn" to bleed. Really.

7. Hold the ear firmly or you'll get the dreaded "ear flick" that send little spots of blood all over!

8. Some people use their fingernail to "scoop" up the blood drop, and test from the nail.

9. Don't forget the treats!


It takes time to get the technique down that will work the best for you. And If you're tense, your cat will be tense. So breathe and try to relax. Don't give up. After a while it will become second nature. And Maggie would actually purr during her test, so I know it didn't hurt her.
 
MommaOfMuse said:
I also can't get the silly pen that came with my Relion meter to work, so I kind of half and half it, I dial mine back to the lowest setting, arm it with the cap off, then free hand it to aim using the pen as a handle, then once I have the point where I want it I click the pen to do the prick, so I don't chicken out.
Click to expand...

What a genius idea! I've been having trouble with the pen too but my kitty flinches when I do it by hand (I think because the pen pokes so quickly they feel it less). With this method you can get the quickness of the pen with the accuracy and angle of the hand. I'm totally trying this next test, thanks!
 
you're doing great, trying and not giving up, excellent! :smile: don't worry it will get soooo much easier, i promise. testing is so important, even more so in your case since you probably have a steroid induced diabetic and the odds are good that one day she will no longer need insulin, and that meter will be the first one to know. ;-)
everyone gave great suggestions, just want to throw a reminder in that even though BG's are not bad at all for a newly dx'ed cat, still it is important to get those daily urine ketone tests done until you're further along, k? a second reminder is since you just did the food switch keep a close eye on number of calories she is eating ~some cats one has no worries about this, they will inhale as many cans of wet food as you'll let them, think the food switch is a wonderful thing, while others are not so sure about this new food and just pick and an owner might not realize how little they are actually eating compared to what they normally did, especailly when focused on others things like this whole new world of feline diabetes.
read, read, read and ask questions~ that's what we are here for.
good luck!
~jojo
 
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