Not testing at home?

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pteacher

Member Since 2013
My husband has been testing Rocky only once a day. I finally did it for the first time on Sunday and again yesterday, but today no luck. We just aren't comfortable with this yet and wonder what if we just let the vet take care of the testing? He is due to go back to the vet on Monday May 6th. I presume for this "curve" that I've read about since she wants to keep him all day. I really don't think he will be very stressed except maybe about the car ride, but he is getting better about being in the car.
I know some have mentioned the expense. However, if it means less stress for me, I'm willing to pay. I have actually been having panic attacks even thinking about having to do the testing. I am fine with the insulin shots, but not the testing. I know everyone says it will get easier, but we all have fears and this seems to be mine. nailbite_smile
 
I used to almost pass out when I had to give my cat a shot of insulin let alone test her. I would break out in a sweat and I swear almost pass out at the site of the needle. It would have been much easier to do it to myself than the thought of giving this shot to my cat.
I learned after awhile to go ahead and draw up her shot, get out the testing supplies, let all the cats into the extra bedroom where I tested and gave shots. it seemed to calm her down having the others around.
I would then lay the shot down with the lancet and the meter, test, if all was well, give shot. All done together.
Edit: My cat was on Lantus which has different dosing than Prozinc.


Terri
 
The trouble is that the vet can't be there every am and pm before you shoot. You need to knowwhether the amount you are going to give is safe. There are dozens of times on this forum where a cat suddenly had a low number and the usual dose would have caused a hypo. There are some ways to test urine etc, but none of them can tell you if it's safe to shoot a given amount.

A couple ideas. Have we looked for someone who lives near you? Would you like us to try? Tell us, in detail, what you are doing and what is going wrong. Maybe we can help you tweak something.
 
Ps. linda Lee and Napoleon live in Marietta. They are long time members. Sometimes having someone just watch you can be a huge help.
 
Seriously, it does get easier. Many people have issues at first.. Takes maybe two weeks before you get used to it and the cats ears learn to bleed well. Just take a deep breath and keep trying. It's better to test yourself and before long you will be wondering what the fuss was. But I would also send a PM to those members near you and see if they can come out and sit with you and advise..
 
Both of my cats are pretty much afraid of "strangers". Therefore, I don't think having someone come to the house would be a good idea. They would probably hide and then if I tried to get them out of hiding, that would be stressful. A friend of mine has a diabetic cat and she says she has never tested and the vet didn't even mention her doing it at home. By the way, she is diabetic herself. She says she has never had a problem. I know all cats are different and I know something could happen, but I guess I'm just hoping the change in diet will take care of the problem and this won't be a long time event. For now...we are testing once a day and hoping for the best.
 
You won't find anyone queasier than me around blood or even discussion of medical issues. :roll: :lol: :lol: But I want to keep Zener safe and the only way to do that is to test his blood glucose. It is stressful at first, no doubt about that, but practice makes perfect and you will get better. Have you seen the YouTube video with Buddy? That helped us a lot. The name of the video is How To Test Your Diabetic Cat's Blood Sugar At Home.

I remember reading someone saying their kitty purred during the test and I thought, "oh, Zener will never do that". But, sure enough, he now purrs during his test rather regularly and we test him 6 to 10 times a day. He's a very bouncy boy so we have to do that to keep him safe. Hopefully, your kitty won't need that much testing.
Liz
 
Or maybe you can go to another members house and watch them. Did you read the tips and watch the videos?

What meter are you using? Are you getting any blood at all or no?
 
I am using the ReliOn Confirm. The first two times I used it, I did get blood, but the last two days nothing. I've watched the videos, warmed the ears, used Neosporin etc., but Rocky is now wise to all this and tries to get away and that only makes it worse. I'm sorry, but I just can't handle this. I will be taking him on Monday to the vet and will see what she says then. Until then, we will just have to hope for the best. His bg has been high so far, so I really don't think I will be overdosing him with insulin.
 
I'm sorry, but I just can't handle this. I will be taking him on Monday to the vet and will see what she says then. Until then, we will just have to hope for the best.
Click to expand...

I understand. If you are all stressed out about the home testing, Rocky will pick up on that and run away.

You already know our reasons why we like people to learn to home test. Sometimes it does not work out. Sometimes people try again later.

Wishing that Rocky remains well and safe until you see the vet on Monday.

I only have 2 questions for you.

When did you switch Rocky to the low carb wet food?
How much insulin are you giving him?
 
Yes we all have fears! You've got the shot part down - GOOD WORK!!!! Have you tried testing yourself? That might help...

BIG HUGE HUG!!!
 
Perhaps in time you'll get used to testing, but for now I would suggest that you keep a daily log, track food intake, water intake, how much urine there is, how the coat looks and feels (greasy, flaky, or a nice shine), Rocky's demeanor, whether he was starving or eating naturally, anything that can help you keep track of how your little man is doing.

That should help you see if he's acting off, which could mean a dose reduction/increase or something more serious and maybe you could test a little more at that time or go to the vet to have him checked.

I would also suggest urine sticks, they make some that check just sugar and some that check sugar and ketones, I'd go with the combo, Keto-Diastix. They can be purchased at any pharmacy. You could supplement home testing by checking the urine too. It takes hours for sugar to get through the body to the urine so the result you see does not equal what his current blood sugar would be, but it will help you see an overall picture in time.

When I test my kitties ears I don't use anything fancy, no neosporin, no rice sock, just me and my lancet. I play with Kiki's ear a bit, rub my fingers together on the ear to warm it slightly, then I place my pointer finger firmly behind her ear and use the lancet at a 90 degree angle, place it directly on the outer edge of the ear and click. There has to be something firm behind the ear or the lancet wont work, that's why I use my finger behind her ear. You may want to put a band aid on your finger if you're worried about the lancet striking your finger. I'm quite used it and don't notice if I hit my finger or not these days.

I prefer the spot further down the ear, right above the triangle flap, it seems to bleed best for me. Often, I will let Kiki shake her head after I use the lancet, this helps bring blood to the surface. I then milk the area, push gently from above and below and once I get a droplet, depending on Kiki's mood, I either put the test strip onto it and get the reading or I put the droplet on my finger nail and test from there. After a short time the ear gets trained to give blood. Or perhaps I just get really in tune with how to get the blood from that ear that it gets easier. I also always start a new kitty that I'm testing on the highest setting of the lancet and work our way down to the mid point.

I am not a vet or an expert, but I have been owned by 10 diabetic cats and have been testing cats for friends, shelters and on transports for years.
 
To answer you Deb...I have always given Rocky Fancy Feast (some of it low carb, some not), but now am using only the low carb flavors. He still prefers the fishy ones (won't really eat chicken or beef yet). I took away his Friskies Indoor dry food (he does miss it). I do have some dry the vet gave me Prescription Diet low carb.
I give him one unit of ProZinc twice a day.
 
Tuckers Mom: Yours was the best reply I've had so far and the least threatening. I was told by a friend (who also has a diabetic cat) to stay off this forum, because it has been upsetting me. I feel like a failure because I can't poke my kitties ear and get blood and because he runs from me when he thinks I am going to do this. I've decided to stop trying until after I see my vet on Monday. I will check into getting the urine sticks and yes...I am keeping a log book. He is doing fine. He's always been a lazy cat, so it's hard to say if he is sleeping more now that before. His eating, drinking and urine seem fine and he's still acting okay.
 
That's good news that he is feeling ok. Maybe your vet can help show you how to test or advise on your technique? Some cats are also very chintzy with blood. My Tiggy is a real bleeder which is great but bailey has cold ears and sometimes it's real work and I have been doing this over a year! I end up poking him literally 2-3 times in the same spot and he gets mad. Or aiming for the vein, or both!

And you are not a failure! Many new people have issues testing at first, it's really common and you are not alone. It's a case of both practice, technique and the cats ears really do learn to bleed.. They develop a few more capillaries or something in response to the pokes and then bleed better.

I don't know of BJ gave you this link with other monitoring tools that you can use instead for now? https://docs.google.com/document/pub?id=1r6ktdF7AMJCYHgPkVQWFUFy5Ag6OnbmfNfQqL3zX_88
 
The Secondary Monitoring Tips in my signature link list the kinds of things mentioned previously, with some specific details on urine monitoring.

Although not ideal, using these tactics and starting with a low insulin dose, it is possible to slowly regulate a cat this way. It isn't optimal, as you are dealing with very indirect measures, but you have to find what works for you. It is at the bottom of this document.
 
Hi,

I started out using 'alternative monitoring' methods (urine testing etc), and moved onto hometesting of blood glucose later.

I was pretty sure that my cat would be impossible to hometest. He was big and very strong, and did not like to be held or restrained in any way. And I didn't want to have to wrap him up in a towel for every test, 'burrito style', because I thought that would just make his life - and mine - too miserable.

At that time there was an experienced FDMB member who did not hometest. I think her cat was feral (?). So she became extremely adept at alternative monitoring. And her skill in catching cat's pee in a ladle was legendary! She was a great help to me in advising me how to monitor without blood testing. (In fact, back when I first joined FDMB in early 2007 there was, I'm pretty sure, even an 'alternative monitoring' forum on the site, but it got very little traffic.)

But although I was testing for urine glucose and ketones etc, and monitoring food intake, and pee output, and general body/coat conditon, and generally watching my cat like a hawk in case he started showing any hypo symptoms, I didn't rule out that maybe we could manage to hometest at some point. I'd set the test kit up and click the lancing device next to Bert's ear and then give him a treat. He very quickly started to come over to me if I started setting the kit up, in anticipation of treats. Then one day while he was eating the treats I thought 'what if I just try actually pricking his ear with the lancing device? What's to lose?' So I clicked the device against his ear, and I got blood! And he hadn't even noticed that I'd pricked his ear! And that was how I got my first blood test.

Now, of course, I'm absolutely passionate about hometesting. My cat has been a particularly tricky diabetic at times, and hometesting has saved his life many times over. But I do also understand that hometesting isn't for everyone...

I've said before that I'd quite like to see an 'alternative monitoring methods' sticky on this forum. As passionate as I am about hometesting I do think it's important to try to be inclusive and to support all people with diabetic cats, whether they are hometesting or not. If people really don't feel able to hometest then maybe they can at least start out with some other form of monitoring. They may then even move on to hometesting - just like I did...

Eliz
 
pteacher said:
Tuckers Mom: Yours was the best reply I've had so far and the least threatening. I was told by a friend (who also has a diabetic cat) to stay off this forum, because it has been upsetting me. I feel like a failure because I can't poke my kitties ear and get blood and because he runs from me when he thinks I am going to do this. I've decided to stop trying until after I see my vet on Monday. I will check into getting the urine sticks and yes...I am keeping a log book. He is doing fine. He's always been a lazy cat, so it's hard to say if he is sleeping more now that before. His eating, drinking and urine seem fine and he's still acting okay.
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Please do not feel that way. We realize that at first everything seems scary and overwhelming. But I can promise you it does get easier. When you see your vet, ask them if they can show you how to test. Or if your friend hometests, maybe he/she can show you.

Sometimes it takes time for the ears to learn to bleed. Massaging the the ear before testing often helps to get the blood flowing. Also, I found it easier to use the same ear most of the time, at least until you get the hang of it. Also, remember to always reward your cat and even yourself with a treat, even if you are not successful. The important thing is that you love your cat and are trying to care for his diabetes in the best way that you can.
 
Pteacher,

There are thousands of diabetic cat owners who never home test their cats blood glucose. There are many vets that either never mention home blood glucose testing or are not enthusiastic about it and either recommend against home BG testing or even actively discourage it. I am basing these statements on what members have been saying about their vets supporting/not supporting home testing.

Your not wanting to learn to home test probably puts you in the same category as most diabetic cat owners - the majority. I believe that we on this message board and the other two message boards that I know of, are in the minority of those that support home testing. On the other two message boards, I believe home testing is a requirement to follow the Tight Regulation protocol they follow.

Yes, here on the FDMB we encourage home BG testing but we do not require it to be a member.

How you treat your cat has been and will always remain your decision. The control is in your hands, not any of the people on this message board. Please continue to work closely with your vet on getting the glucose curves done at the vet. I think your vet will probably suggest a curve in-house every 1 to 2 weeks, possibly more frequently at the beginning, at a longer interval once the BG numbers become regulated.

If you have any other questions, please ask. We have a lot of detailed day-to-day practical experience from our many members here. There are likely to be several people that can help you with any question you might have.

Please continue to let us know how you and your kitty Rocky are doing as you progress in this sugardance. You're part of the FDMB family now and we care about you and your cat Rocky and would love to hear any updates on his progress.
 
I was very nervous about home testing Ferdinand. I still am a little nervous about it. Fortunately for me Ferdi is a VERY tolerant kitty and is extremely laid back. That doesn't mean though that it has been easy. I wasn't able to get a bg read on him this afternoon. After pricking his ears several times he was getting mad so I just let it go. It wasn't at a shot time so no big deal.

I'm just saying I understand your trepidation and like someone else had said most diabetic cat owners never test bg levels at home. I know a couple of people that have diabetic cats and they were shocked I was home testing and that my vet had actually required me to do so.

I'm sure you will find what works for you and your kitty. :) Good luck and best of health to your fur baby!
 
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