Needle Aid for Tucker

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Venita

Member Since 2009
Diabetic Cats in Need is working with an elderly woman with a newly diagnosed diabetic cat (his name is Tucker). We have tried to teach the woman to give Tucker Lantus insulin from the Solostar pen with a screw-on needle, but because she is blind and has crippling rheumatoid arthritis (having no sensation in her hands), she is unable to administer the insulin. The biggest problem is that she cannot insert the needle cleanly and straight.

We continue to investigate alternatives and found the Needle Aid product. Unfortunately, the manufacturer is no longer selling the product (although we have an email to the manufacturer to see whether it might have one left over).

Would someone here have a Needle Aid that is no longer being used and that you would be willing to donate for us to see whether it might be the miracle product that would solve this problem?

We are trying to keep Tucker at home with his 87 year old caregiver. They are truly the world to each other. We have a foster home that we can move Tucker to, but until we exhaust all our options, we are trying to avoid taking Tucker from his Mom, even temporarily.

Thanks so much.
 
We did look at those devices, Larry; thanks for the suggestions. However, we need something to guide the Lantus pen with the screw-on needle, not a syringe. This woman is blind and cannot load a syringe.
 
As to loading a syringe, there's the Count-a-dose for blind diabetics that works similarly to a pen (can only do whole units). Then, you can use the syringe-loaders, like the Autoject 2 and the Inject-ease that Larry mentioned.

There's a Syringe Support that looks to be used for pushing the plunger on syringes if she's having difficulty with that. if so, there's also the Safe Shot and the BD SafetyGlide that are similar, but I still think your best bet will probably be the syringe loaders with the Count-a-dose.


ETA: Just found this page that has a list of all sorts of helpful devices, including the ones I listed above.
 
wonder if a vet would get a better price? maybe one of us could explain the situation to their vet and see if they'd order one if so. if you think this is something that might work Venita, let me know and I'd certainly ask my vet to look into it or my customer that is a vet
 
I could make a Needle Aid out of wood if you like. Do you understand the purpose of the insert? I could use a pen cap for it. Also, how large is the bottom bell? I tried enlarging the photoson the site but they have few pixels and that did not help.
 
Larry

Thats a great idea! What she needs is something to measure the dose since she can't see. What about a tray the syringe could sit in, with tactile nubs to indicate how much has been measured by lining up the end of the plunger with the numb?

It might need to be specific to the syringe, since there may be subtle differences in barrel dimensions.
 
Venita want to use the Needle Aid with a Lantus pen and inject with the pen. Once you set the pens dose (integer increments only), you just press the button on the top,
 
OAh well, t'was an idea if you don't have a pen.

I'm working with a gal who has weakness in her hands (drops stuff a lot), plus poor fine vision, so trying to figure out ways to optimize stuff for her. And we're still tweaking the dose within what she can do.
 
Sorry I hadn't seen those past few posts and offers of help. With the Board not sendng emails when I subscribe to topics, I don't get the reminders I need to come back and check.

Thanks so much for the generous offer and the clever ideas.

We are no longer seeking a needle aid, and I'm not very confident it would have done the trick anyway. We are moving Tucker to DCIN rehab this weekend. His BG numbers are not coming down with SID shots, so we had to go to Plan 3.0. Wish him luck in quickly getting OTJ so that he can get back to his true Mama's arms.
 
Aw... I will be praying for Tucker and his journey to rehab. I will miss his inquisitive eyes and gentle acceptance of all the people who knocked on the door to stick his ear. His caretaker will be very sad and I hope we can find her a temporary foster to comfort her through the separation.

Venita - thanks for trying everything imaginable to keep them together. I think sending Tucker away for a little while is the best thing.
 
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