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Superroxie

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Hi I'm jen, I hace a 5 year old fixed female tabby that was diagnosed with diabetics end of Nov. We have her eating a combo of diabetic royal canin and fancy feast classic pate. She also takes lantas twice a day. I have had her sugar tested a few times and it was twenty, yesterday was 5.1. my question is testing even though I do exactly what was shown to me find the vein, warm up eat, poke the vein, squueze the sides of hole, get blood drop, but on strip. I can't get Roxie to bleed, you can see the hole but blood does not surface have tried the ear twice and paw pad. At demo yesterday vet got blood out using my machine so not the machine. However Roxie gets extremely anxious and tries to bite me and occasionally jumps when I give insulin.budget very tight so I can't afford to run to vet all the time. ( Live in Quebec) please help.thanks.
 
Hi Jen! Welcome! Hang in there :bighug: I'm sure other more experienced folks will be by but just wanted to drop off some reading:

Some tips for testing - it DOES get easier with time :bighug: - https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/testing-and-shooting-tips.85113/

As for food, Dr. Lisa's food list is a great resource - Fancy Feast Classic pate is a great affordable, low carb option - https://catinfo.org/docs/CatFoodProteinFatCarbPhosphorusChart.pdf -note, low carb is generally anything 0-10% carbs, medium carb is 11%-15% and high carb is >=16%.

Once get some readings, you'll want to record them in a spreadsheet (instructions here and explanation here). At a minimum, you want to be testing before every single lantus injection to help keep your Roxie safe. There are a couple of dosing methods for lantus that we can guide you to once you get up and running with the testing.

Hope that helps a little bit - at a minimum, my comment will bump up your post.
 
Superroxie said:
Hi I'm jen, I hace a 5 year old fixed female tabby that was diagnosed with diabetics end of Nov. We have her eating a combo of diabetic royal canin and fancy feast classic pate. She also takes lantas twice a day. I have had her sugar tested a few times and it was twenty, yesterday was 5.1. my question is testing even though I do exactly what was shown to me find the vein, warm up eat, poke the vein, squueze the sides of hole, get blood drop, but on strip. I can't get Roxie to bleed, you can see the hole but blood does not surface have tried the ear twice and paw pad. At demo yesterday vet got blood out using my machine so not the machine. However Roxie gets extremely anxious and tries to bite me and occasionally jumps when I give insulin.budget very tight so I can't afford to run to vet all the time. ( Live in Quebec) please help.thanks.
Click to expand...
Hi! Welcome! You actually don't want to aim directly for the vein, but between the vein and the outer edge. If your lancet is a 30 or 33, get a size 28 instead. The smaller the number the ticker the point. I have a video in my signature showing how I test my cat CC at home.
 
JanetNJ said:
Hi! Welcome! You actually don't want to aim directly for the vein, but between the vein and the outer edge. If your lancet is a 30 or 33, get a size 28 instead. The smaller the number the ticker the point. I have a video in my signature showing how I test my cat CC at home.
Click to expand...

Hi thanks I'll try doing it in middle thanks. I hope I didn't hurt her.....
 
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
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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 she won’t stand still, you can get the blood onto a clean finger nail and test from there
 
Hi no lancing device I using the needles only that using get put in the device free hand.i am using a one touch verio, had as a family member has diabetics.
 
Hi Jen.

Superroxie said:
Hi no lancing device I using the needles only that using get put in the device free hand
Click to expand...
Here is the testing method I used. Perhaps it might give you some ideas to add to your own testing technique.
  1. For most meters you can insert a test strip part way without switching it on. Once you've done the poke you can then push the strip the rest of the way into the meter to activate it. (Reduces the likelihood that the meter will time out before you can get the blood sample onto the strip.)

  2. Fold a sheet of kitchen paper in four lengthwise and cut it up into 1" strips. You will use these to cushion and support the ear during the test.

  3. Apply a thin film of Vaseline or Neosporin ointment (not the cream!) onto the edge of the ear to help the blood sample bead up instead of wicking into the fur. (Wipe off any excess.)

  4. To get a blood sample you need to increase the blood flow to the ear, so make sure the ear is really, really, really warm (but not hot) - especially in the early days of testing. (Note: With repeated 'poking', more capillaries form in the test area, so it becomes easier to get samples reliably.)

  5. Once you have the testing area of the ear well warmed, wrap a strip of folded kitchen paper round your index finger then place finger under the sweet spot area of the ear you're testing to support it during the poke.

  6. Use your thumb and middle finger to lightly but firmly grip the ear and paper strip in place so that the edge of the ear is taut but not overstretched; the little bit of tension will make it easier for the lancet to break the skin surface (and it helps to keep kitty's head from moving around too much).

  7. When using a lancet 'freehand', make sure the bevelled side of the lancet is facing upwards. Hold the lancet at a slight angle to the ear similar to the way you hold a pen when writing, not perpendicular (easier to see where you're aiming and also makes skin prick easier).

  8. When it comes to the actual poke, prick the sweet spot on the edge of the ear in a similar way to how you might quickly prick a balloon with the tip of a needle to make it pop. If you aim as close to the edge of the ear as possible you are less likely to hit the marginal ear vein.

  9. Keep hold of the ear while you're pushing the test strip into the meter to activate it. (Kitties are prone to shake their heads after a poke, sending your precious blood sample flying across the room. Holding the ear reduces likelihood of this happening.)

    Note: As you become more practised in testing, you'll be able to activate the meter just before doing the poke and still have plenty of time to collect the sample on the strip before it times out.

  10. When using the glucometer, bring the test strip to where it j-u-s-t comes into contact with the blood droplet and hold it there. The strip should then 'sip up' the amount it needs to run a valid test. Most meters beep or give a visual cue to let you know that enough blood has been collected on the strip.

    If your cat is a wriggler, try collecting the blood sample on the back of your (clean) fingernail and test it from there.

    If a test fails and you still have a lot of blood on the strip from the failed test, don't throw it away. Instead, you could pop another strip into the meter and test using the blood on the strip from the first test. (Saves an additional poke so also helpful for wriggly kitties!)

  11. After the test, fold the paper strip over the edge of the ear and apply gentle pressure to the test area for about 20-30 seconds to minimise bruising.

  12. Keep giving lots of praise throughout the process and reward with a favourite diabetic-friendly treat or favourite activity (e.g. brushing).
With a bit of time and practice you'll be able to work out a technique and a routine that works best for yourself and Roxie.



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See member Farmkitty's excellent pictorial tutorial for visuals of some of the techniques described above:

https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/hello-food-and-insulin-questions.240117/#post-2709047


Mogs
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hi she is on 2 ml twice a day. she ate at 10 am had, her meds right after, another bit of lunch at 12 and the test was done at vet at 2:30. she came home around 3 ish and ate again as she was shaking from cold.
 
Hmmm, 2U is a large-ish starting dose (the usual recommendation is 0.5-1U), so I'm very glad you are going to be working on home-testing!

To give you some landmarks, that reading of 5.1 is a great number on a pet meter, basically a normal (non-diabetic) BG, but it doesn't leave a big margin for error. Lantus (usually) peaks in action somewhere in the middle of the cycle, so with that reading at around +4.5hrs after the shot, she may have kept going down for a bit after that. It's possible that the shaking afterward was not from cold, but was a symptom of hypoglycemia, so well done giving Roxie a snack, that was exactly what she needed right then!

Keep trying on the testing. Sometimes it's just a matter of changing one thing (using a thicker lancet, warming the ear a little more, etc.) that seems to do the trick.
 
Welcome Jen and Roxie from someone in Quebec! Glad to see that you had a lot of help!

I can just say that testing was probably the worst part for me; when Ti-Mousse knocked at our door few years ago, he had ears so frozen that they were hard like rock and all curled up and many bits and pieces were missing.... To help getting blood I'm putting a damp washcloth in a zip microwaveable zip bag for a few seconds; testing on your wrist so it's not too hot like others said. Ears HAVE to be warm to bleed well. I swear it gets very easy.... and Roxie will get used to the routine! A little "healthy" treat after testing always helps!

All this is overwhelming at the beginning but you'll get the hang of it very quickly!! As you know, there's a SS to fill out with her numbers which is important for us to help you quickly. Of course we would love a picture of your little Roxie when you have time to set up your profile!!
 
Ti-Mousse said:
Welcome Jen and Roxie from someone in Quebec! Glad to see that you had a lot of help!

I can just say that testing was probably the worst part for me; when Ti-Mousse knocked at our door few years ago, he had ears so frozen that they were hard like rock and all curled up and many bits and pieces were missing.... To help getting blood I'm putting a damp washcloth in a zip microwaveable zip bag for a few seconds; testing on your wrist so it's not too hot like others said. Ears HAVE to be warm to bleed well. I swear it gets very easy.... and Roxie will get used to the routine! A little "healthy" treat after testing always helps!

All this is overwhelming at the beginning but you'll get the hang of it very quickly!! As you know, there's a SS to fill out with her numbers which is important for us to help you quickly. Of course we would love a picture of your little Roxie when you have time to set up your profile!!
Click to expand...
 
Hi thank you for all for the help. I am feeling a bit guilty hitting the vein three times, I hope no damage was done. The Insulin is the starting dose at this clinic in cases like Roxie she had lost 8 pounds, was not eating or drinking, her sugar was 20. We went though twenty types of food to get her to eat. Now she eats, drinks, bathrooms normally and even plays and jumps now. So I agree was high but I think needed to be?
 
I just want to confirm I'm not using a pet meter I couldn't afford it I'm using the one touch machine however the vet readings were all the pet ones. My meter needs their machine
 
Critter Mom said:
Keep hold of the ear while you're pushing the test strip into the meter to activate it. (Kitties are prone to shake their heads after a poke, sending your precious blood sample flying across the room. Holding the ear reduces likelihood of this happening.)

Note: As you become more practised in testing, you'll be able to activate the meter just before doing the poke and still have plenty of time to collect the sample on the strip before it times out.
Click to expand...

The other thing that I do is to “scoop” up the blood droplet on the top of my thumbnail so I can release my cat’s ear. Then I let the test strip suck up the blood droplet.
I crumble a piece of freeze dried chicken treat and let Freckles eat that when I test her. It distracts her and gives me enough time to get a blood droplet.

Superroxie said:
I just want to confirm I'm not using a pet meter I couldn't afford it I'm using the one touch machine however the vet readings were all the pet ones. My meter needs their machine
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I started out with a pet meter and soon switched since the price of strips was crazy! Stick to the human meter that you are comfortable with and you will be fine.

Also, dear hubby hit the vein once and it took me over 2 hours to stop the bleeding. The bathroom looked like a CSI scene!! Lol. There was no effect on Freckles although she couldn’t understand why I would not let go of her little ear! :cat:
 
ooh I learned for me to get the ear warm, I put some water on a wash cloth, microwave for 20 seconds, then fold the wet part in so the whole thing warms up a bit. then I wrap the medium warm portion on the ear (so it's not too hot or cool) and it helps so much! you may need to adjust for your climate, I'm in the cold rocky mountains so things chill off quick.
 
Superroxie said:
I just want to confirm I'm not using a pet meter I couldn't afford it I'm using the one touch machine however the vet readings were all the pet ones. My meter needs their machine
Click to expand...
Most people on here use human meters. It's fine, the scale is just different. The numbers will be similar on the lower range and farther apart at high numbers. Normal on a human meter is 50-120 and on a pet meter it's 68-150. So while a 50 on human may be a 70 on a pet meter, a 250 on a human meter might be a 300-350 on a pet meter. But either will let you know if he's too high or too low.
 
hi

i still havent had luck testing roxie going to try again, as vet wants me to do the 12 hour test here. The problem i'm on a limited income, so the costs are getting ifffy, right now i using my hubsands old meter, and roxie on lantas 2 ml twice a day, and a a combo of diabetic food and fancy feat pate. She is on a set diet of 171 i guess its carbs a day, but she always hungry. she is twelve pounds, 4 ounces. vet wants her to 10. i keep having to make choices of postponing a bill or roxies care, my credit card is getting insane. i dont want to give her up, but with all the special food etc, its getting tough.
 
she has her lantas , the needles, we have diabetic royal canin, dm and overweight in house(got a few off shelf as no cases in stock, cost me 50 dollars for 17 cans) and a combo of pate(some fish,, some beef, some chicken, some liver) as roxie refuses to eat same thing twice in a row.we also use the tidy cats litter system(amazon only) and the pee pads.
 
i had a sample from ear and paw even though she bite me but it wasnt enough after i had to attempt to stop her wiggling 50 times, not enough blood and she tossed the ear one.
 
Superroxie said:
i had a sample from ear and paw even though she bite me but it wasnt enough after i had to attempt to stop her wiggling 50 times, not enough blood and she tossed the ear one.
Click to expand...
What size lancet are you using? If you get a small drop try scraping onto the back of your nail and test from there
 

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