? New to Glucose Testing - Questions

CarinaZ

CarinaZ

Member Since 2026
Shelly was newly diagnosed and we are waiting for her vet to assess her 4 day Libre 3 curve. We want to start home testing and do another curve on our own.

We purchased the AlphaTrak3 without knowing human monitors are sufficient or that the guidelines on here are based on those monitors.

I watched videos before 3 attempts this morning. I finally saw blood the last time (on my finger) but it was not enough to get a reading and I could not identify the source. I am not sure what I am doing wrong. I used a warm cloth prior. Any tips for beginners? Does the Vaseline tip help a lot?

We decided to return the AT and go for a less expensive human meter and are planning on getting the ReliOn brand.

We need to start at square one. Any thoughts or support are welcome.
 
are you using a lancing device? for the AT lance, be careful about untwisting the little blue tip. if you are too rough, it will bend the tip of the needle.

as for the location to poke, you want to do just a little bit next to the edge of the ear:

OIP (4).webp


the more you do it, the easier it will get. the body will be used to it & produce more blood there. i have not needed to use a cloth or vaseline. just a little piece of paper towel behind the ear so i dont poke myself.

after you've gotten the sample, hold the paper towel down on the wound for 20 seconds with a little pressure to soak up the rest of the blood & stop the bleeding.
 
Sounds like a good plan about the meter. Have you seen these two links?

Hometesting Links and Tips
Info - TESTING AND SHOOTING TIPS

Couple tips below that helped me with Pookey. There are other ways to do it but just my experience.
  • Pick him up, and then bring him down like straddling him between my knees to keep him from wiggling around
  • Sing or hum a song to keep things calm
  • Freehand with the lancet and ditched the lancing device and understanding the lancet does have a pointier end
  • Gently milk the ear like a pimple to get the bead of blood to come out
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Also taking a small sock filling the end with rice making a ball enough to fit in the inner ear, tie it cut the rest. this will help you have a better cupping and hold on the ear to use the lancet, most all members use the ReliOn Premier Human monitor and strips, (Walmart) or any other human meter, the strips are very inexpensive, considering that the Alpha Trak and other pet meters the strips are $1.00+
 
CORKY said:
This is how the sock is placed in the inner ear
Click to expand...
This is an amazing trick. Thank you!

Also: I think I was imagining that I had to take the sample from the other side of the ear (the inside side) - that angle is much more ergonomic and less stressful for everyone.
 
once a bit of blood comes out you can easily milk the rest out by gently squeezing from each side from the droplet, is a trial and error task so do not get discouraged if you do not get blood the first time, this is why is good to have plenty of strips handy, the Relion Premier strips are $9.00 for 50 and $17.88 for 100;)🫶
 
CarinaZ said:
This is an amazing trick. Thank you!

Also: I think I was imagining that I had to take the sample from the other side of the ear (the inside side) - that angle is much more ergonomic and less stressful for everyone.
Click to expand...
it just depends on what works for you. i take the sample from the inside. my cat's fur is too absorbent, so it doesnt work for me to do it from the outside.
 
If your kitty has dark hair like Corky, which I see he does I use a small flashlight and place it in my mouth while I prick to be able to see the droplet, by the way your kitty is beautiful
 
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