Kitkat: lancing , further info please.

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Melinda and Kitkat

Melinda and Kitkat

Member Since 2022
@Diane Tyler's Mom
I just read a very helpful post reply to Silver:Feral kitty thread from the wonderful Diane Tyler's mom,
My question is specifically about the phrase:

"A lot of us use the lancets to test freehand not the lancing device
I find it better to see where I'm aiming
Look at the lancet under a light and you will see one side is curved upward, that's the side you want to poke with"

We read up on many of the links,and tips and tricks, but somehow we must have missed this particular point.
Kitkat has been troublesome to test from day dot, he's getting better as we go and has become more tolerant (I cannot say he is cooperative). Matt prefers freehand, holds the ear from beneath, inserting the lancet in the backside of his ear from above, straight down (slighty angled) into the sweet spot.

The question is... For the curve in the lancet, should this curve be facing upward or downward when he pokes? We have never looked before and now see this curve..... is this maybe causing the grief, Kitkat's wincing or fighting back.

 
Melinda and Kitkat said:
Is front of ear better for him for blood drop formation or painwise for the poke? I ask this since we haven't had the problem when we do get a nice drop where it is dispersed by the fur.
Click to expand...
To tell you the truth I have never poked on the inside of the ear, only the outside , It might cause less pain , Tyler never meowed or howled when I tested him. I can even test him when he's sleeping . I will post the sweet spot for you again :cat:
 
Always aim for the sweet spot warm the ears up first, you can put rice in a sock and put it in the microwave, test it on the inside of your wrist to be sure it's not to hot, like you would test a babies bottle. You can fill a pill bottle with warm water and roll it on the ears also.Just keep rubbing the ears with your fingers to warm them up
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6. As the ears get used to bleeding and grow more capilares, it gets easier to get the amount of blood you need on the first try. If he won’t stand still, you can get the blood onto a clean finger nail and test from there.
When you do get some blood you can try milking the ear.
Get you finger and gently push up toward the blood , more will appear
You will put the cotton round behind his ear in case you poke your finger, after you are done testing you will fold the cotton round over his ear to stop the bleeding , press gently for about 20 seconds until it stops
Get 26 or 28 gauge lancets
A lot of us use the lancets to test freehand not the lancing device
I find it better to see where I'm aiming
Look at the lancet under a light and you will see one side is curved upward, that's the side you want to poke with

A video one of our members posted, she is using a pet meter ,strips too expensive plus you have to code it
A human meter is just fine, most of us use human meters ,that's what our numbers are based on


VIDEO: How to test your cat's blood sugar
 
Just As a note, my post in the Lantus thread is now about same (I realise it's not recommended here). Just gathering any helpful advice I can. Thought I should mention this.
Thanks DTM ;-)
 
3 tests in today, and they are going smoother!!! Kinda got a little purr out of him within seconds of testing, this is wonderful.
I did a bit of research on lancets and was somewhat surprised to learn there can be considerable variation on the fine details, even within the same box, and of course over different brands. (I do not know if these were sponsored or independent studies).
We now check each lancet when we pop the top off.
 
Testing has become soooo much easier, I must admit I was a more than a bit of a nonbeliever at first (seeing all the lovely, complacent video kitties). Howls, struggles, shredded arms, and incomplete samples, he was very difficult at the start. For his sake we would not give up! Tried all the different tips!
A few weeks in and we have a nice routine, and Kitkat is calm and generally purrs through the whole process. It's a huge relief to know we are no longer stressing him out at each test. Either on the floor, the couch, or even in bed we kinda strattle him gently, enough to stop him from rolling over on his side or back (he loves belly rubs when cuddling), set down the monitor AND the open bag of purebites treats in front of him, close enough to get a sniff. Cuddles, explaining to him the process, " just a check, my cat" repeated a few times. He responds to the "check". Test, "all done, all done", treat time. We linger a bit with rubs, sometimes he will move, sometimes he will just stay there. Nothing short of a miracle, lol.
My husband Matt prefers freehand, for accuracy and control. I prefer the lancing device, (not yet comfortable enough to go freehand). I see that accuracy is not great with the device, but I trust I will get better aim as I go. I have hit the marginal vein 3 times. I checked the Accu Chek website, and unfortunately they do not make a replacement clear cap. I have the Accu-Chek Softclix and has top notch reviews for pain levels by Diabetic patients. It's simple to use, and the audible click is no bother for Kitkat, got the setting just right where I do not pierce full through his ear, 4 of 5. so I want to continue using it rather than replace it with a diffent model with a clear cap.
So my question becomes.....Besides the obvious overflow of blood, and pain increase of hitting the vein, is there a potential risk of damaging the cell walls and disrupting blood flow through the ear by hitting this marginal vein ? Or is there other reasons as well?
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Such great news testing has become so much easier and KitKat is calm .I have hit the marginal vein a few times in the beginning and I really don't think there will be any damage . it will just bleed a lot more. You and Matt are doing a great job :bighug::cat:
Nice greens today
 
Thanks DT Mom !
I've made way too many mistakes in Kitkat's past that lead him here. My eyes are now wide open!!! Thanks for allieviating this new small concern, cause I really do like the softclix... Every day is better
 
I’m so glad it is so much easier to test. I remember in the beginning telling you it would get much easier… and you were a non believer at that point:joyful: and thought I was crazy.
I always used the lancing device … was never comfortable with just freehand.
 
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