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Mirv69

Mirv69

Member Since 2021
Hi all
Good reads on here, I am really struggling to get any blood out of Sabies ear with the pen thing. I even struggle doing it free hand ! I’m wasting about 5 strips at a time as when finally get tiny amount of blood the alpha trak strip is not making machine beep or give reading. It then errors and need to replace strip. I’ve gave up with no reading this morning as he too stressed to hell , not surprised as I would be annoyed too if I was getting used as a pin cushion in my ear. I see all videos saying how easy but this is not the case with my placid boy. The wasting of the very expensive strips is another matter, £50 a pack here in the UK too. Not sure I would dare try his pad and losing the will to live as need to monitor as not sure his insulin dose is quite correct yet either. I’m only 5 weeks in with fortnightly visits to vets still but on 4 units he is almost back to normal behaviour and gained weight thankfully. Mind he still drinks a bit too much for my liking, is this normal now he is on insulin ? He is by no means guzzling and peeing to the extent he was pre diagnosis , sorry I sound useless here.
 
How many bg readings have you managed to get so far over the 5 weeks?
Do you keep them in a journal chart?
We have a Spreadsheet here, you download to Google Drive, and Edit in Kittie name, insulin type, and all other notes. Then you fill in day by day the tests.

You should read through this how to create a Spreadsheet here.https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/how-to-create-a-spreadsheet.241706/

Then you CHOOSE:-
If you are anywhere other than the US, please click on this link for the World Spreadsheet Template for PET METERS CALIBRATED FOR FELINE BLOOD (e.g. Alpha Trak):
World Spreadsheet Template for Pet Meters



This is important because then we can evaluate your day to day bg's versus your insulin.


Questions

1. what insulin are you using?

2. how much is the dose?


That's a good start.
 
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Hi and welcome to the forum to you and your kitty.
Being only 4 weeks in and on already 4 units of insulin is a huge dose. I am very concerned it is too much insulin.

I am very glad you are attempting to home test. It will get easier, I promise.
First of all, have you chosen a place and only testing there.
Also rub your kittys ears and give him a treat each time you do this.
Whenever you test, give him a treat, even if it is unsuccessful. He doesn’t know that and thinks he need a treat.

have you seen this link. Also links within the link.
https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/hometesting-links-and-tips.287/

I would also go and buy a human meter to replace the pet meter as the pet meter strips are very expensive. Keep persevering....you will be successful.

What as you feeding? Is it a low carb diet? If you are still feeding a higher carb diet PLEASE DO NOT CHANGE TO A LOW CARB DIET YET UNTIL YOU ARE SUCCESSFULLY HOME TESTING. Changing over to a ,ow carb diet can drop the BGs up to 100 points....or in the UK ....5 points and can cause a hypo.

Do you have a hypo kit...if not please get one set up today. Here is a link that will tell you what you need
https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/new-how-you-can-help-us-help-you.216696/


This is where you test on the ear, shine a torch from the back of the ear to see the veins. Test between the edge of the ear and the vein. Don’t hit the vein.
upload_2021-4-23_19-46-52.jpeg


Can you tell me what type of insulin you are giving please.?

Pleas keep asking questions. I think you need help to get all this sorted out.
 

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Hi the vets have increased from 0.5 to 1 to 2 then 3 units but was still reading 24.1 avg on alpha trak . He on 4 now and yesterday’s curve when finally got blood out was 21.1, 6.0, 21.4 so seems ok I think, this is his 6th week and he is 4.1kg and he never been more than 4.5kg. Before treatment he dropped to 3kg mad was really poorly drinking and peeing and hungry all the time. He not a greedy cat and has a general low carb diet anyhow, wet food, a few toppers and he doesn’t eat our other cats dry food. Today he is more active and exercising more as usual.
 
I had problems galore when I first started testing because the ear was so floppy. I then saw a YouTube where the person put a folded cotton cosmetic round underneath the ear to stabilize it and it made pricking the ear so much easier. I keep a supply of the rounds in my case with the strips & lancets. My cat likes to be on the floor and I kneel down behind him and he submits without any fuss. I hope this helps you.
 
Welcome to FDMB.

A couple of quick tips on testing. You can do a double poke -- poke twice in spots that are close together. That may help you to get the amount of blood you need. It can also help to scrape the blood drop onto your fingernail if your kitty is getting impatient.

I may have missed this but what insulin are you using?
 
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