Just starting treatment for Jessie

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J

Jessie's mom

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I am so gratefull to have found this board. I took lots of notes and have been doing my homework. Yet here I am, my first day to hometest on my own, and I am a failure. So please help me out. I tried to get a BG before feeding this morning, but was unsuccessful, probably because Jessie was just wanting to eat. Three hours later, I am unsure when I am supposed to test. Is it supposed to be before she eats? An hour after? Then when do I shoot? So afraid to give too much, and would prefer to not give at all if unsure. So is it, test,feed, shoot?
 
It is test, feed and shoot. Tell us what the issue was. If it was no blood, are you sure warming the ear very well with the heated rice sack? That was magic for us. What size lancets are you using? Sometimes, at first, you need to use the bigger gauge - say 25-27. Most lancets come with the smaller 31 gauge. You can try the smaller ones if that is what you have, but double poke - a quick second poke in the same spot. And be sure to give her a treat, successful or not.

What dose are you giving of what insulin? I think I would wait a few hours until the possible food spike is gone and try again. Maybe by this evening you will be an expert.
 
I used the warm sock. Mostly it's just my girl giving me a hard time. Can't keep her from hissing and biting me the minute her ear is touched. I have managed to stick her, but can't contain her to get a drop on the meter. If only I could learn how to grow another pair of hands.
 
We used the Kitty Burrito at first. We put Oliver on the couch on a towel next to the arm of the couch. Then we wrapped him in the towel so only his face was showing. I could press him into the arm and keep him still while I poked. We didn't have to use it for too long - just until we got good and could quickly get a sample.

If you get blood and she is moving off, you can get the drop on your fingernail and test from there.

The other thing is that sometimes newbies are too tentative. You are afraid you are going to hurt her. Silly as it sounds, sometimes it helps to give yourself and Jessie a pep talk. That you are doing this to save her life, that it just takes a second and you will be getting it done!
 
Don't forget to include some sort of treats in the process. It may not make the biggest difference at first when your cat is super resistant. But later on down the road you will have a cat begging for pokes.
 
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