uber newbie needs help !

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BrianandSaber

Member Since 2010
Still training Saber to accept regular home testing.In 4 days I have had one successful test.Quickie consult with Dr. Lisa last night.She has cut his dosage of Lantus from 4 u per day to 2.Also she had me remove dry food and allow him to graze on canned food.Still having trouble getting blood from Sabers ears.Help please !
 
hi, guys! i'll let other with more experience help with the testing, cuz binks and i have weird rituals...but just want to let you know you're in the right place for help and support...

others will weigh in here...

celi & binks
 
hi there

no panicking k? unless you have a serious medical emergency, let's remove your 911, you'll get lots of support here in Lantus Land.
Lucky you - you are a Dr Lisa client too!

What is your kitty's name? Saber or Uber?
Do you have any recent numbers to share with us?
maybe from the past couple of days?
did you shoot this morning? 2units?
 
Some suggestions for testing: I'm sure there will be more.
Stay calm, and talk to your kitty, and let him know you have to do this, in a quiet voice.
Have you tried warming the ear a little, with a warmed up rice sock first?
I sit on the couch lengthwise. I put J.D. between my stretched out legs and with him facing away from me. I then press gently on his shoulders and/or bottom until he is laying down. I give him some lovings, scritches and pets first, and rub his ears a little before do the poking. I also, poke on the inside of the ear, where there is less hair to get in the way.
Remember to offer a treat and tell him what a good and wonderful kitty he is, after each attempt whether successful or not.
Others will be along to help you more.
You have come to the right place for support, guidance, and help. This place is The Best!
Welcome.
 
First, welcome to lantus land...Home testing can become very easy in time--
I give Moonie a treat like freeze dried chicken, real chicken, or turkey while I am testing her--you can use real cat food.
While she is eating I use lancet along edge of ear, get a blood drop, & put it on the strip--The act of eating distracts them, Just like the shot Brian...
You will find it easier to be calm as they also pick up our stress--I had the worst time testing Moonie ever!!
Now she hops right up there--
Lantus is very different than vetsulin--shoot every 12/12 hrs. and does need to be monitored by bg tests--Not to worry, you are doing just fine, like all newbies, it's hard at first--There are many members here to help you 24/7-Hey Dr.Lisa you lucked out!!
 
Forgot, Please read the Stickys on the top of the lantus forum page, they are full of info to help you!
I test outside of Moonie ear with her back turned to me--That way she doesnt see it coming :lol: --Much easier!
 
Good morning Brian and welcome to Lantus Land. I see you've also posted on the Health forum. That was a good idea. Traffic on both Health and Lantus Land can be a bit slow on a Sunday morning. The Health forum is also a good place to get oriented to the FDMB community. Since you're home testing, you'll also want to get a spreadsheet started. I've linked you to the instructions for getting a SS set up.

I would suggest that you mention in your Health post where you are located. If you mention your city/state/province, there may be an FDMB member in your vicinity who would be willing to come by and give you a tutorial in home testing.

In the meantime, could you briefly tell us what you are doing and/or what you've already tried so we don't suggest strategies that haven't worked. One quick suggestion is to use a lancet that is thicker. A lancet that is either a 28 or 29 gauge may make getting blood easier than a lancet that is over 30 gauge. Also, one ear tends to bleed easier than the other. So, try Saber's other ear and see if you have better luck.
 
Hi Brian and welcome to you and Saber! A warmed ear bleeds easier than a cold one so do try to warm the ear as Dyana said. usually approaching from the rear is the better way and do try to remain calm yourself.
They do pick up on our emotions.

It is good that you are eliminating dry food. There is a Janet & Binky food chart that we refer to and choose some low carb foods to serve at meals. http://binkyspage.tripod.com/canfood.html
Please read the starred stickies at the top of the page, beginning with "New to the Group" viewtopic.php?f=9&t=18139
In that sticky, there is a section on Hypos and the things you will need to have on hand, including some canned food that has gravy and that is >18% from the Binky food chart,. Please have that gravy food on hand as well as karo syprup.

We put all our data from testing on a spreadsheet that you can download and attach to your signature. Here are the directions: viewtopic.php?f=6&t=18207 We need to see the BG numbers that you have shown on this SS so please take a look at the link and work on that if you can.

This does take some time for both you and your kitty to get in the swing of this testing and shooting. When you switch from the dry food which is high in carbs to a low carb menu, you will see the BG numbers get much lower. You will need to be prepared for that with the High carb gravy on hand and your meter to keep track of the numbers, ok?

Please post any questions you have right here in this condo (thread) We look forward to seeing you and Saber each day...and to assist in any way we can. I hope others will be by to share other hints for the ear pricks. It is most important that you get lots of numbers so you can monitor Saber. Welcome! :mrgreen:
 
hello and welcome to the group!

i'm glad you cross-posted on the Health forum: http://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=29758.
it's the best place to introduce yourself to the community when starting out on the FDMB. you'll receive a proper welcome from our members as well as help with learning to hometest and the basics of how to manage feline diabetes.

have you taken a look at the Hometesting Links and Tips put together by Carolyn and Spot? there's a lot of good info, links to pictures and videos, and tips to successful hometesting.
 
Re: uber newbie needs help ! Cat is Saber

Thank you everyone :smile: I have tried warming his ear.He is praised and petted before during and after attempted testing.He also gets a treat.I only have one reading after 4 days of trying.Last night was + 9 , 425.I did a quickie consult with Dr. Lisa.Have switched him to canned food free feed per her instructions.Unable to get enough blood for a reading today.Repeated attempts this morning with no result.I am going to buy vaseline and nepsporin as soon as pharmacy opens.Dr. Lisa told me very specifically not to dose him without a reading. Located in Wimington NC. Thanks again !

Brian
 
Hi! First off, let me tell you that you are in great hands with Dr. Lisa. She is fantastic and helped my cat, Sue!!!

I never did do well with ear testing. I test Sue's paws, which isn't the preferred way, but it's what worked for me. Good luck and keep trying! Maybe paw testing would work for you. It's better than nothing. I hold Sue like a baby on his back in my arms and test one of his back paw pads.

Jenny
 
Good morning and welcome! I don't have much to add here, looks like everyone covered mostly everything, but I wanted to welcome you to FDMB. I'm glad you found this site, you will get lots of help.

Glad you are going to get the neosporin to help w/testing. I found that very very helpful on Spot. I am lucky enough to have a white eared kitty, so it's not that hard seeing the blood, but the neosporin helps to keep the blood in one place. I'm wondering, what type of meter are you using? Some meters require more blood then others. I use the Relion micro which only needs a very small amount of blood. Others need more. Short story: I'm very used to using this Relion meter. Offered to test, shoot, and feed and friends two fosters one day because she had to work an odd shift. She used a much different meter. I was at my wits end because the meter kept reading error....I tried and tried and kept getting the same message. I finally called her and found out that those meters required much more blood then mine.
Not sure if that helps or not, but just a thought.
Good luck on getting your next test.
 
Hi Brian,
Just wanted to add on the encouragement for testing. That was the hardest thing to learn, for me and Cosmo.

Some tips:
1) Warm the ear: I had several ways to do this. Using a warmed rice sock (first, I just used it to rub against Cosmo, so he got used to it, then I started pressing it against his ear smooshed up next to his head. then, i used it for counterpressure to the poke). Another technique is to rub the ear with your hand and fingers. A more passive way is to use the old fashioned light bulbs that give off heat? Plug one into a reading lamp and let Saber sit under that to warm up for a few minutes).

2) Patience. I can't emphasize this one enough.

3) what meter are you using? I've used toe One Touch Ultra and the Accucheck Aviva. Both have higher price points for strips (which is actually the expensive part of testing). But the accucheck was MUCH MUCH MUCH easier to get a reading than from than the OTU.

4) are you freehanding the poke or using a lancet device? are you using counter pressure?

5) give a low carb treat after, successful or not. I used a lancet device, and before I tried poking, I would click it in his ear and give him a treat.

good luck! you're in great hands here!
 
I also test via paw pad - I think it isn't preferred by most because their cats don't tolerate it as well? I couldn't seem to get a droplet of blood when I tried her ear so I switched to her pad and found it much easier. My cat is pretty tolerant about handling and doesn't mind being flipped on her back at all. I always follow up with some neosporin w/pain relief to help prevent infection...we haven't had any issues thus far.
 
Welcome aboard Brian,

I had the exact same problem when Curry was diagnosed. It took me a whole week of "ear poking" to finally get blood consistantly. I was posting every day about my "ear poking" challenges. She must have had 50 or more pokes until she finally started bleeding. I felt like a vampire.

There is a saying here.."the ear learns to bleed".....so what's up w/that comment.

I asked my Vet who calmly said that if the ear gets poked enough (over time like you are doing) it will become slightly inflammed and will bleed easier. Yikes...that just sounded horrific.....He also said that he's never seen an ear damaged by this home testing......

So you are on the right track with your persistence.

One thing that finally helped me....was getting close enough to Curry's ear w/my eyes....A good light on her ear too.....I had been standing over her to test.....and really wasn't close enough to it. So she is on the ottoman now w/me kneeling behind her...now I'm close and can "see" what I'm doing.

If her ear is cool to my touch or just neutral...I warm it up....Her ear in the afternoon is warmer and will bleed easier....Mornings she definitely gets the rice sock massage.

Let us know how its going for you and your kitty.
 
Yes he is bleeding much easier now that I have been poking his poor ears for a week.Also discovered that using the lancet freehand is the best way for me and Saber.The lancet pen just doesn't work.Working on spreadsheet now.Thanks to everyone here for helping and suggesting all the myriad things I have tried to make this happen.
 
BrianandSaber said:
Yes he is bleeding much easier now that I have been poking his poor ears for a week.Also discovered that using the lancet freehand is the best way for me and Saber.The lancet pen just doesn't work.Working on spreadsheet now.Thanks to everyone here for helping and suggesting all the myriad things I have tried to make this happen.
Click to expand...

we all felt bad about the ears when we started. just tell yourself it's for Saber's own good.

You can use a tiny bit of neosporin with pain relief if your'e really concerned. it helped Cosmo's ears a lot. otherwise, there's also the halo healing salve, which is also great for any skin or paw issues. and works great for you too!!

best of luck! and congrats on getting more tests! please post in the TECH forum if you're having problems with the spreadsheet. lots of people available and eager to help.
 
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