Meters and testing..questions

[pteacher]

My mother was diabetic before she passed away, so we have her meter and supplies here. It is a Contour. I found out the strips have to be mail ordered, because I asked the pharmacist at WalMart where I could buy more.
One of my questions is what is the least amount of times you can test in a day and still be safe?
Also, is there any other device to use to get blood besides the lancets?
I know humans use a device that sort of automatically pokes the finger and draws blood. We are having trouble getting Rocky to sit still while we find the vein and actually get enough blood for the test. I know he senses that we are nervous and don't exactly know what we are doing. Hopefully this all will improve. The man in the You Tube video makes it looks so easy. NOT! I hate needles and don't enjoy having to do this at all, but I do know it's necessary. Rocky goes back for a follow up May 6 and I would like to have some numbers to share with the vet.

 

[MommaOfMuse]

If your meter is a Bayer Contour then you should be able to buy more strips at any place that carries human diabetic supplies, they shouldn't have to be ordered. I use a Bayer Contour for Autumn and I can go into Walmart and pick up strips anytime I want to, at least in Nebraska they are on the shelf with the other diabetic supplies they are just in little plastic cases that a cashier has to unlock for you.

The lancets actually go in those devices that human diabetics use to prick their fingers just some folks like doing it free hand for more control, personally I use a lancing device, if you have all your mom's supplies I bet there is one of the devices in there, because almost every meter I have seen comes with a lancing device. The one I have that came with my Contour is blue and white and says Microlet 2 on the handle.

It is only tricky to begin with but pretty soon you and Rocky will get into a routine and it will become just as easy as the guy in the video makes it look. I can now be sound asleep, roll over test Autumn, roll back over and go right back to sleep..well after she gets her treat...no sleeping until she has her payment for letting me poke her ear. :lol:

Mel, Maxwell, Autumn & The Fur Gang

 

[Deb & Wink]

One of my questions is what is the least amount of times you can test in a day and still be safe?

The minimum number of times I would want to test with one of my cats would be 2 times a day. Safe is a relative term. Your cat could drop during the day.

We always recommend testing at preshot. One preshot test in the AM, one preshot test in the PM. That is to make sure the number is high enough for you to give insulin. For beginners, we do not recommend shooting insulin if the BG is below 200. This number changes as you get more experienced.

A test at nadir, the lowest number in the cycle is good to have also. You may work and not be able to get this during the day. I have set my alarm clock to wake me up at night to get a mid-cycle test.

Do you know what insulin you will be using?

 

[pteacher]

I am already using ProZinc insulin, but only up to the one on the syringe (whatever that amount is). Rocky has been testing in the 300's. My husband is trying to get comfortable doing it, because I haven't tried yet. I know I need to learn, because I am actually home more than he is after work, but I am so scared!! nailbite_smile What kind of food items do you use as treats?

Rocky really misses his Friskies Indoor dry food, but I haven't given him any since being diagnosed. The vet sent him home with some diabetic dry food, but he isn't really fond of it.

I just want my kitty to get well and hopefully go into remission. cat_pet_icon

 

[Sue and Oliver (GA)]

If you want me to set up a spreadsheet for you, just send me a private message. (pm button at the bottom LH side of this post)

My cats liked Bonita flakes (freeze dried fish flakes) and Purebite (freeze dried chunks of meat). You can get both at PetSmart. You can also sprinkle it on top of the wet food to get him more interested. Some cats love Stella and Chewy's freeze dried dry raw. You could sprinkle it on top of the wet also.

If you can test at preshots and at least sometimes, midcycle, and he will eat something. I'd drop all the dry food. Some of the prescription dry is really high in carbs. When we switched from dry to wet, Oliver dropped 100 points overnight.

If we can get the spreadsheet set up and you can get some midcycle tests this weekend, we can help you if you think a dose change is needed. The preshots are vital to be sure your kitty is over 200 and it is safe to dose. The midcycle numbers (5-7 hours after the shot) let you see how low the insulin takes him and how well the dose is working.

 

[Deb & Wink]

I just want my kitty to get well and hopefully go into remission.

Oh honey, we all want your kitty Rocky to get well and start feeling better. Big hugs to you {{{{ pteacher}}}}

You'll be surprised how quickly some of those little signs appear. Playing more. Slowing down when eating food, because your kitty is not quite so ravenous anymore. Purring up a storm. Pee puddles getting smaller and smaller and then back to normal size in the litter box. Walking better as the BG's get under control and any diabetic neuropathy starts to heal.

I'm not surprised Rocky doesn't like the diabetic dry cat food your vet gave you. A lot of cats don't like it or if they eat it for a while, the novelty wears off and then you are stuck trying to find something your cat will eat. If it's one of the Hill's foods, they have a guarantee and you can take it back to the vet for a refund.

Lots of us are on budgets and have found that the canned Friskies pates, Fancy Feast classic pates, or Wellness grain free foods are low carb, under our <10% carbs preference. Also, there are a lot of flavors to choose from so you should be able to find a couple of flavors your cat likes. Have you seen this link yet with a food chart? http://www.catinfo.org/docs/FoodChartPublic9-22-12.pdfSelect anything that lists <10% in the 3rd column, which is the carb content.

What are you feeding Rocky now?

If remission is possible for your cat, it is more likely on an ultra-low carb food.

I'm not sure if anyone has given you the link to some wonderful testing tips or not. Here it is again: https://docs.google.com/document/d/13c_CPZVKz27fD_6aVbsguadJKvjSrSAkD7flgPPhEag/pub Warming the ear is key.

Keep us posted and let us know if you have any more questions. Just keep adding to the end of this post.

 

[pteacher]

Rocky has been acting normal pretty much from the first day. He did have a UTI and was given a shot for that, which seems to have helped him. He never was a big eater except right before diagnosis. He likes Fancy Feast, but I'm afraid he was really into the gravy ones and NOT the Classic (which I am now buying). I will try mixing in some of the things suggested above.
Hopefully we will get better at doing the testing and at least on the weekend be able to do a mid-day one. Since we both work, it just isn't that easy to get the mid-day one and since I am the "chicken" it makes it even harder. I was wondering if there is an easier device to use than the lancets or even another area than the ear since it is so thin and he really hates us messing with his ears.
I take him back to the vet on May 6 and don't want to change the dosage until then. They will be keeping him all day and doing some additional tests ($$$$$).
He walks fine, doesn't drink as much water as he was, purrs a lot and plays with my other cat. In other words, you wouldn't really know he had a problem now. His BG was in the 500's at the vet, but has been in the 300's since we've had him home.
Thanks for the offer of helping me with a spreadsheet. I will definitely be in touch. I am computer illiterate and need all the help I can get.

 

[Sue and Oliver (GA)]

Sometimes it is the texture of the pate types. If you mix some warm water with them and make a gravy, he may like them better.

Some people test on the paws., but I'm not sure it is easier. You can put some Neosporin plus pain relief on his ears after you poke. And be sure to hold the spot for a few seconds to minimize bruising.

If you don't want to spend the money at the vet, you can do a curve at home and send the results to the vet. The numbers are more likely to be accurate as most cats are stressed at the vet and stress raises bg levels.

 

[Deb & Wink]

I work also and am having trouble testing. Part of the trouble is I am so nervous about using the lancet. Is there any other device that is easier to use on a squirmy cat? Also, must it be done on his ear. The ear I know has a vein, but it is so small an area that it is hard for me to stick and get blood. Help!

Hi pteacher,

You posted this in someone else's condo but I copied it here to your own post where I thought you might check more often.

You're nervous about using the lancet you said. Are you using the lancing pen that came with your meter or are you freehanding the lancet? Personal choice, whatever makes you feel more comfortable is the right way. Or maybe I should say, whichever way makes you less nervous. ;-)

If using the lancing pen, hold the lancing pen tip flat on the ear and poke. If freehanding the lancet, hold the lancet at a 45 degree angle and poke.

When you are poking the ear you are actually trying to poke between the vein and the edge of the ear, in what they call the 'sweet spot'. This is an area of capillaries near the tip of the ear that should yield up a small drop of blood. Trying to do two pricks in close proximity can help. To do this, you need to keep the lancet close to the ear after the first prick and quickly do the second prick. If you flinch and draw your hand away from the first poke spot, which is very possible because this is new and scary, you will have a hard time finding exactly where you did the first prick. Makes it very hard to do a second poke close to the first poke.

if you are having a hard time seeing the vein, a small flashlight held against the ear can help you locate it. Also, if you have warmed the ear sufficiently with your rice sock or vigorous rubbing, the vein actually sticks up a little bit. If you have a dark haired cat, or a cat with longer hair on his ears like I do, you may want to shave the tiniest patch of fur off the ear. I did this when first starting out because I found it very hard to see that vein and know where to poke.

You do not actually want to hit the vein, but probably will by mistake a number of times. I sure did. You want to be aiming the lancet in the area between the vein and the edge of the ear. If you are having a hard time getting blood and absolutely need a drop of blood, then poke the vein. Be prepared with your test strip and be careful not to flood the strip with too much blood from a big drop. Barely touch the drop with the end of the test strip if you have a really big drop of blood.

I found it easier to get my meter to sip the drop if I held the meter so the test strip was more at an angle.

This whole process does get easier. The ears actually form more capillaries in the area you are poking, making it easier after poking a while to get a drop of blood.

You said your cat was squirmy. Have you read Kpassa's write up on ear testing psychology? This is really about making your cat more comfortable with the whole process. Here is the link to this great document: https://sites.google.com/site/michelangeloprofilefdmb/feline-diabetes/ear-testing-psychology

We really do tell people that it is important to take some deep breaths to help you relax before you do the BG testing.

Hope this helps. If you are still having issues, I'll have you write up your testing procedure of what you are doing and I'll review it to see if you have missed a step or can do something to make this easier for you and your cat.

 

[Deb & Wink]

Pteacher, I'm not sure how many other condos from other posters you are reading, so I wanted to make sure to pass this along to you. It was over in Work and Testing post by Nikki's Mom.

My vet's feline diabetes paperwork even directs people here!

Really??? That's fantastic that they tell new diabetes clients about us.

Keep asking questions. We want to keep getting those referrals.

My cat was just diagnosed last week when I took him to the vet because he wasn't eating. Turns out he was DKA so we went right over to one of the animal hospitals here in NYC, and they also directed me to this site as a resource.

I work also and am having trouble testing. Part of the trouble is I am so nervous about using the lancet. Is there any other device that is easier to use on a squirmy cat? Also, must it be done on his ear. The ear I know has a vein, but it is so small an area that it is hard for me to stick and get blood. Help!

I'm new here so my opinion is worth much less than everyone else's, but I have been having an awful time getting blood from the ear. I would say that two out of three sticks don't do it. Until tonight. I took a flashlight and slid an empty pill bottle over the end (my flashlight doesn't have a plastic lens on it so there was no flat surface, but that's the only reason for the bottle). I then held his ear against that (so the light was underneath shining through the ear up at me) and the vein was clear as day. One stick, instant drop of blood. I highly recommend giving that a try if you are having trouble. It's like a little light table for glucose testing.

And I can relate to the nerves. I hate needles and I hate the thought of doing anything that hurts him. But I can honestly say that it's only been 6 days and it is already much easier. I'm getting less edgy about it and he is getting more used to it as well. And even when I have had to poke him 3 times he doesn't react at all, so I can't imagine that it is really bothersome to him (he squirms because he hates being held, but that's it).

Hope any of that helps.