new to feline diabetes and glucose testing

[sewoodward]

OK I'm a newby! I have a main coon diabetic cat, I THINK?! I took him to the vet about 1 month ago because he was urinating a lot, losing weight and not acting well. Well the vet did an indepth blood work on her and determined diabetes. Her glucose level was about 345. It has gone as high as 409 and as low as 28 (EEK!) I've been diligently giving the insulin shots and nurturing Sven. When I visited the vet this last Friday, they were going to do a glucose curve on her (testing 3 times that day). The first test, after not having any insulin for 13 hours and having fasted, her glucose read 134. The vet said you don't need to give any more insulin right now. I had told him that I wanted to get the necessary kit to do my own testing since I would be traveling more with Sven. So he told me to test Sven in 2 days and if glucose level was 150 or higher to call. Well, would love to do this, but having a hard time getting the blood sample. Can't find the tiny tiny blood vessel to prick. After trying multiple times on each ear, Sven finally said that's it! cat(2)_steam Any advise? Please!! :roll:

 

[Sue and Oliver (GA)]

You are really doing well, already testing to keep him safe. What size lancet? (the 30-31 gauge humans use os often too small at first. Try a 25-28 gauge.). Are you heating his ear? Sometimes in the beginning, their ears need to be very warm to bring the blood to the surface. Where are you poking? Take a flashlight and put it behind the ear. You're aiming for the small capilliaries that run off the vein that runs down the ear.

 

[emchic]

Welcome! Testing gets easier over time. Zoozey gave me so much trouble at first, and my hands and arms were covered in scratches the first few weeks.
I'm with Sue, try going with a bigger gauge first. And remember that there's more than one method to check bg on the ear. I watched a ton of youtube tutorials on home testing at first because I was not having much luck getting blood and eventually, I found a method that works well for me. And I can't speak for other people and their experiences with home testing, but Zoozey became much more cooperative over time.

Good luck!

 

[Beth_10]

Welcome to the board! I'm fairly new as well, Oliver was diagnosed a week ago and I started home testing on Wednesday. It definitely takes some getting used to and don't worry if you can't get a good sample the first couple of times. If you are having trouble, step back and take a breath--it'll be okay. Wait some time, give Sven lots of lovin', and try again in a different spot. I also agree with the flashlight to help see the main vein better. Poking in a bright room or next to a lamp can also help depending on how light colored Sven's fur is. Oliver is blonde so a can see his vein easily. Heating up rice in the toe of a sock (I use the toe of double-layered nylons) and petting his ear with that also helps to get the blood flowing. A lot of people also suggest to wipe a small amount of Vaseline on the spot where you are going to poke so the blood won't get soaked into the fur and will bead up on the surface. Once you do get the blood to come you can either put the test strip to the ear directly, or if he is fussy, gently transfer the drop to your clean fingernail and test from there. I like to use a cotton ball to hold on the opposite side of the ear I'm testing and then I use it to apply light pressure to his ear after poking and testing which helps to keep the ear from bruising.

Here are two links that I got from other members that helped me get started with home testing.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/13c_CPZVKz27fD_6aVbsguadJKvjSrSAkD7flgPPhEag/pub

https://sites.google.com/site/michelangeloprofilefdmb/felinediabetes/ear-testing-psychology

Don't forget that it's not the end of the world if you can't get a good sample! It will get easier, and the FDMB is right here if you need more help. laptop_smiley
Good luck!

 

[Elizabeth and Bertie]

Hello and welcome to FDMB!

Here is a good page of basic info and pics on hometesting:
http://www.sugarpet.net/bloodtst.html

My close vision is pretty poor, so I can't see the vein in the ear either. I use the lancet pen thingy, press it against the edge of my cats ear, put one of my fingers on the inside the ear to give a bit of 'resist' to the lancet, click the pen thingy, and hope for the best. This rather haphazard technique has served us extremely well for nearly six and a half years.

You will find a method that works for you. Honestly!

Eliz

 

[sewoodward]

Thanks so much to all of you for your gracious posts! It's so nice knowing there are people out there that care about other people's lives and pets. I want you to know that I successfully got the test done last night. I did use the pen instrument that holds the lancet (?)/needle and it worked terrificully. It was easier than I thought. When they did it at the veterinary clinic, they, of course, being the professionals, made it look so easy doing it manually without the pen--so I thought--I can do that! Unfortunately had to resort to the pen. They had told me the pen sometimes scares the cats and after watching videos, as you all have done, they said to release the pen by pet's ear a couple of times so they get used to the sound before actually performing the test. It also helped to do just after I fed her (I know this was also probably a no-no) but test result was good--had come down even more since visit on Friday when it was 128---It was 119. YEA!!! What a great feeling to know that I can now test her when I feel something's not right with her. BIG THANKS TO ALL OF YOU!!!!! And to Sue and Oliver----I'm so sorry about Oliver---that is always so tough--our animals are such friends!!!

 

[Deb & Wink]

It also helped to do just after I fed her (I know this was also probably a no-no) but test result was good--had come down even more since visit on Friday when it was 128---It was 119. YEA!!!

If you can get the test within about 15-20 minutes of feeding, the BG number will be ok. It takes time, usually about 30 minutes for food to impact the BG levels.

What a great feeling to know that I can now test her when I feel something's not right with her.

Yup, that is one of the other reasons we urge people to home test. So you can get a number when your cat just doesn't look right, or is doing something wonky and you want to reassure yourself that the BG is ok. Doesn't it give you a sense of relief you can do those tests and reassure your self that things are ok?

 

[Wendy&Tiggy(GA)]

Those blood glucose levels sound good. What food are you feeding? wet dry? type brand?

 

[BJM]

Magnifiers are a real help if your near vision isn't as good as you'd like it.

syringe magnifiers fasten on the syringe barrel to make the numbers more visible.

I used Carson Clip and Flip attached to my glasses and found them extremely helpful. Plus, I could flip them out of the way when I didn't need them.