? Lantus time to start working

[zerovector]

About how long does it take for lantus to start doing anything? I started my cat this Sunday, and while I've only tested him 3 times (issue getting new strips) the numbers haven't budged. Also, how safe is it to keep jabbing their ears? Do they heal quickly or is there some other way to do this without running out of spots to extract blood?

 

[Bron and Sheba (GA)]

Here question answered on the Lantus forum
https://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/how-long-does-it-take-for-lantus-to-start-working.262244/

Also, how safe is it to keep jabbing their ears? Do they heal quickly or is there some other way to do this without running out of spots to extract blood?

Yes it is quite safe to keep testing. Sometimes when Sheba was very low I tested 14 times a day……not every day of course but I did test 7 times a day on average I would think.
Just hold onto the pricked area for 10 seconds afterwards so it doesn’t bruise.
I used both ears and tested up and down both sides of both ears.

 

[Hendrick Cuddleclaw]

it is good practice to rotate around the edge of the ear, and also alternate left/right ears so that the ears have time to heal. For example if we get blood from the lower edge of the left ear, next poke will be lower edge right ear, then middle edge left ear, middle right, and so on.

also, some people recommend a cool compress after a poke, for at least 10-20 seconds, to help soothe the ear and prevent bruising

are you avoiding the marginal vein? Some ear-poke guides say to use it, but there is no need all you need is a smaller capillary. hitting the marginal vein is more painful and will cause bruising. Let me find a Diane post brb

 

[Hendrick Cuddleclaw]

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

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
I find it better to see where I'm aiming
You can also put a thin layer of vaseline on the ear ,to help the blood bead up

Here is a video one of our members did
VIDEO: How to test your cat's blood sugar

 

[zerovector]

Thank you. Yes I've been hitting the marginal vein, as it was the easiest to get the blood from. But i alternate left to right and up and down.

 

[Hendrick Cuddleclaw]

Thank you. Yes I've been hitting the marginal vein, as it was the easiest to get the blood from. But i alternate left to right and up and down.

when we first started doing BG testing on Hendrick, we did as well -- it was how the vet showed us to get the blood. But with help of people here like @Diane Tyler's Mom we learned to avoid it, hit the 'sweet spot' and what used to be some bad bruising and reddish spots on Hendrick's ears cleared right up. So it's ok if you have been using the marginal vein but definitely best to learn to get the blood without hitting it, if you can. I thought it was impossible at one point, but I managed to get the hang of it...if I can, anyone can!

curious, are you using a lancet device or just freehand? We had to ditch the lancet device and go freehand and this worked wonders for us. Also using a headlamp for extra light, and always warming the ear up very well. Then just a tiny prick on the edge of the ear and a nice droplet forms.

 

[zerovector]

I use a headlamp and freehand the lancet, but when I try the "sweet spot" i got zero blood. I went for the marginal vein again but also couldn't get enough blood, went through 3 strips with errors before I had to let him go - he was starting to get agitated.

 

[zerovector]

Okay, finally got a sample and stabbed myself in the process! I might want to get a freestyle Libre....