Lancet and lancet pen question

[CheeseheadNicole]

Hi all,

I had my first crash course in glucose testing last night. First time I test and it's a 36. I was only able to get blood my first two hours. After that, despite lots of great ideas and tips, I wasn't able to collect another drop. It could just be a learning process and I and/or Lily's ears will get the hang of this. But I'm just curious if my lancets/lancet pen could be better. The first two tries, I was using a 31G lancet in the ReliOn lancet pen but had to dial it to different positions and do multiple pokes. After that, I couldn't get blood with the 31G lancets nor 26G lancets, with the lancet pen nor by hand. Should I get different lancets or lancet pen to make it easier? Or is it really "practice makes perfect" and my tools are just fine.

Thanks.

 

[Wendy&Tiggy(GA)]

36 on an alphatrak is way way too low - hypo even!!! Anything under 80 on an alphatrak is too low.

If it was my cat I would be reducing that dose ASAP - Let me see if I can find a PZI user who can chip in here but you might want to call your vet too.

31g is too fine for a newbie testing. 26g is better. Also some people find that freehanding is easier. Here are tips https://docs.google.com/document/d/13c_CPZVKz27fD_6aVbsguadJKvjSrSAkD7flgPPhEag/pub

but the key things are

1. make sure the ear is really warm
2. have something hard behind the ear to press against - what did you use?
3. if freehanding go in at a 45 degree angle - you could try for the vein if need be at least to start. maybe 2 pokes beside each other.
4. treat even when unsuccessful

The ear does learn to bleed over time and practice does make perfect but read the tips and see if there are any other refinements to try.

Wendy

 

[Hillary & Maui (GA)]

With a 26 gauge lancet you should be able to get blood. The issue may be your technique AND teaching the ear to bleed.

Always use the warming sock -(do you know what that is)

If using the device - many people need to put it on the deepest setting in order to get it to work. In addition, try taking off the cap that covers the lancet as that may help too.

If free handing, be sure to poke at an upward 45 degree - ish angle - don't go straight in - like you would when piercing the ear.

Do like this:



Be sure to aim for the sweet spot - area between vein and edge of ear -



If you are poking front to back, you may want to try poking back to front. I always poked from the inside front of ear to back (same as putting on earrings). Some people do the opposite outside back of ear to front. Maybe something worth trying.