Update on Tobey

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Stephanie Montgomery

Stephanie Montgomery

Member Since 2016
Ok so I bet y'all aren't surprised I haven't started my cat Tobey on his insulin yet. I should have by now. I'm tired of waiting for the right time. There never is a right time. It's just all about me not getting good at testing or if he's so hungry I don't test. Then I delay the insulin start. He's been getting so thin and recently didn't want to eat much of any type of food yesterday but this morning was starving and ate some. So, when I get home I'll go ahead and test, hopefully get a good reading, and know if he needs insulin.


Wish me luck and courage.
 
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Not getting enough blood on my test strip, or he wants to eat right before I get ready to test(which I am happy to see him hungry so I don't stop him). I get error message saying "L7" or my only reading I ever had was "30 mgl" or something like that. I can't remember what it said but it did have a "30". I was reading the other thread "Trouble with Ear Prick" that someone else had problems like me and it helped to read it.
 
wait a second - 30mg/dl is low, i believe. i mean not too low, but close. 20mg/dl would come up on the meter as LO.

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i remember seeing you in another thread. i replied:

If you are getting the E7 (there is no L7) error, that has happened to me. And you said the blood isnt making it up to the horizontal part.

It just isnt enough blood. Get a new test strip (the error code strip wont work after you've gotten an error code). You need just a little more blood than the time you got the E7 error so that the strip wicks it up to the horizontal part.

I've got the relion micro, which only needs .3
The relion confirm also needs only .3

That being said, i have had times where my lancing didnt produce a drop big enough, or the blood got lost in the fur and i tried getting a reading anyways but it just wasnt enough. Thats when i get that error code.

http://www.manualslib.com/manual/455647/Relion-Confirm.html?page=67#manual

link is the page of the error code for relion confirm
 
Yes, I remember our thread from earlier. You have been a big help! I also get an error now that right when I insert the test strip and it had number with an "f"???But I can't remember. I threw them away. I think I need to get new test strips. Can you touch any part of them? And yes, the fur absorbs the blood. So frustrating!
 
Stephanie Montgomery said:
Yes, I remember our thread from earlier. You have been a big help! I also get an error now that right when I insert the test strip and it had number with an "f"???But I can't remember. I threw them away. I think I need to get new test strips. Can you touch any part of them? And yes, the fur absorbs the blood. So frustrating!
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i'm glad i helped but i'm more concerned about that 30 you got, if that was an accurate reading that is low and you would NOT want to give insulin at that number.
 
I definitely got a reading of 30. I don't know why it would be so low unless he is in remission now? But he is getting so thin and recently been picky about food.
 
Stephanie Montgomery said:
Yes, I remember our thread from earlier. You have been a big help! I also get an error now that right when I insert the test strip and it had number with an "f"???But I can't remember. I threw them away. I think I need to get new test strips. Can you touch any part of them? And yes, the fur absorbs the blood. So frustrating!
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put a little vaseline or neosporin ointment thin on the ear fur so the blood will bead and not be absorbed... or you can use your fingernail to scoop up the drop and then test off your fingernail.
 
Misterbeesmom said:
i'm glad i helped but i'm more concerned about that 30 you got, if that was an accurate reading that is low and you would NOT want to give insulin at that number.
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Yes, that is what my vet told me. Funny thing, my vet didn't think testing before shooting insulin is a good idea. She called it over kill. She just recommends staying at 1 unit for 2 weeks then doing the curve. And only test if he isn't acting right.
 
you can try testing the underpart/inside of the ear, along the sweet spot, where there is little-to-no fur. i have done that as well and that works fine. no blood gets lost in the fur that way.

i dont know if touching the test strips on the ends is ok or not, but to be on safe side, i fiddle with the strip from the middle and try not to touch the part that goes into the meter, or the part that pulls up the blood.
 
JanetNJ said:
put a little vaseline or neosporin ointment thin on the ear fur so the blood will bead and not be absorbed... or you can use your fingernail to scoop up the drop and then test off your fingernail.
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@JanetNJ stephanie says she got a reading of 30. that is very low, right? like way too low to dose, yes?
 
Stephanie Montgomery said:
Yes, that is what my vet told me. Funny thing, my vet didn't think testing before shooting insulin is a good idea. She called it over kill. She just recommends staying at 1 unit for 2 weeks then doing the curve. And only test if he isn't acting right.
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many vets are really horrible about diabetes, which is why so many people here feel strongly about home testing.
 
JanetNJ said:
put a little vaseline or neosporin ointment thin on the ear fur so the blood will bead and not be absorbed... or you can use your fingernail to scoop up the drop and then test off your fingernail.
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Oh yeah, that is a great idea with the nail! I tried neo but need to try again and again. I wont give up. I am determined and this bothers me so bad to not get answers.
 
Stephanie while you're learning, go ahead and test after Tobey eats. He'll be calmer and that will help you while you learn. After a few tries, I think you'll be ready to get some tests before food. What is the starting dose your vet suggested?
 
That's a good starting dose. When you get home this evening if Tobey is starving, feed him. Then get everything ready, take a deep breath and get that test! Post, the result or if you need support or help, I'll be watching for you- you can do this!!!
 
Sharon14 said:
That's a good starting dose. When you get home this evening if Tobey is starving, feed him. Then get everything ready, take a deep breath and get that test! Post, the result or if you need support or help, I'll be watching for you- you can do this!!!
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Thanks so much for the support. It really does make a difference and easier to step up to this rather than going alone and unsure.
 
When Callie and I started the sugardance, I would test her while she was eating. I would have everything ready to do the test, put her bowl down in front of her and she didn't notice I was testing her. Because I did the testing as she was just starting to eat, the food didn't affect her BG.
 
Tested Tobey and finally after too many pokes and stress my neighbor helped me and her meter is the purple one reading higher than mine. Why is that? The 2nd picture is after he was stressed. This is a Los after eating but not a lot of food.
 

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You did it! The pet specific Alpha Trak meter will usually be higher than a human meter. That's ok, we know that and are looking for trends so exact numbers don't matter. His numbers look pretty good!
 
Really? How are they good if it's so high? Or is it? Do I need to rely on mine or hers? My vet and my meter back a month ago were almost equal at 435. He's gone down asmnd this is after eating for today's plus also the 2nd reading you see he was already upset with the poking and got stressed so maybe why the higher on that 2nd reading..? Thanks.
 
You need to choose one meter and stick with it. We do not dose below 200 on a human meter or 250 on an Alpha Trak. On the Relion you got a 209 (very close to no shot number) and a 154 definitely no shot number. Keep practicing and start filling out the SS. Then come to the ProZinc Forum where @Sue and Oliver (GA) and @Rachel can help you with dosing.

ETA yes stress can raise the numbers
 
Sharon14 said:
You need to choose one meter and stick with it. We do not dose below 200 on a human meter or 250 on an Alpha Trak. On the Relion you got a 209 (very close to no shot number) and a 154 definitely no shot number. Keep practicing and start filling out the SS. Then come to the ProZinc Forum where @Sue and Oliver (GA) and @Rachel can help you with dosing.

ETA yes stress can raise the numbers
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My neighbor who I don't really agree with because she insist on using the vein and did nothing but irritate him without drawing blood. I had to convince her about sweet spot and got blood on my own both times. She told me some calculation of taking the difference between readings and adding about 50 to mine. Don't sound right at all.
 
There is no way to calculate the difference between the human and pet meters. Your meter is fine. Keep testing when you can and plug the numbers in your SS. Then Sue and Rachel will help you with dosing. You're doing great!
 
Hi Stephanie! Congrats on the successful testing! Let us know what kind of numbers you get and we'll be happy to help advise on dosing!
 
Good job getting the test! Start a thread on the ProZinc forum to get dosing help. Will you be around today to monitor?
 
Stephanie Montgomery said:
Yes, I remember our thread from earlier. You have been a big help! I also get an error now that right when I insert the test strip and it had number with an "f"???But I can't remember. I threw them away. I think I need to get new test strips. Can you touch any part of them? And yes, the fur absorbs the blood. So frustrating!
Click to expand...

The number with an f. Is the code. F-2 or F-3. It's the code of the strips that number should have a matching number on the bottle of strips. If so you ignore.

I think you need to 're-read the manual, get to know how your meter works. It is the most important thing to keep To bet safe and feeling well.
 
Hey Stephanie, so glad to see you've gotten to the testing! Congrats :D I'm in a routine now with Serena/Fluffy Face, but still struggling with dosing, knowing when to shoot (I've definitely shot when I'm not supposed to), and other things, as can be seen in my SS! Looking forward to seeing how you and Tobey do!
 
I'm gone as well for work, so I'm not there to monitor. I'm going to be much more careful about that in the future though. When I get home, she's perfectly fine...

I just posted an inquiry related to this on the other thread in ProZinc.
 
You're doing good, and getting great advice too. Blood testing is an art. Our turnips just don't like giving it. Lately Leo growls when it's test time. But I always reward him with affection and food afterwards.
 
Tobey was 214 about 845 last night then i gave him 1st shot. (Vet said to give only 0.5 unit, whi,have is half.) He wasn't eating much then about 3 hours later devours his food. This morning he was 53 and I left food out overnight that he or possible another cat ate but it was in his room so I am not sure, door wasn't closed. He only kicked his treat wet food but didn't eat. Of course I didn't give him a shot. Lowest I've ever seen. So scary.
 
Tobey's numbers for last day or so...Haven't had chance to figure out spreadsheet yet. He's not eating much and threw up because I tried a new food to entice him. Oh and ear pricking??? Got it down now...just need my boy to eat mike he used too onlt 2 days ago...

8/19 214 @ 8:45 pm
8/20 53 @ 7:30 am
8/20 157 @ 2:05 pm
8/20 272 @ 12:15 am
 
Well done Stephanie that's great, you will see a huge difference in him really quickly. Tempest now has a lovely silky coat and is playing like a kitten. Tobey will be the same I'm sure :)
 
He isn't doing well. Not eating and I can't start him on anything. He is down to 10 lbs now. Vet said because I have been changing foods a lot to try to get him to eat better has flared up his IBD symptoms and caused nausea and not wanting to eat. He was in the high 30o's and low 400's for BG level at vet. She said if he eats half of food then give him half of his insulin at .5 units. But hes nowhere near eating enough to give that. She said he ate at the vet when he was there all day yesterday so I am going to try that food and see. I am tired of trying all these foods and wasting it. My other 3 cats aren't even eating well because I have changed everything. I think I am gonna go crazy. I guess I am about to resort to syringe feeding. Is there a food that most cats will eat when feeling sick? He won't even eat his pure bite treats now. I am waiting on blood work results too. Other than the IBD and nausea, she suspects a UTI.
 
:bighug::bighug::bighug:

Read your posts and thought you could use a few hugs. You're really doing all you can. It does get overwhelming sometimes. Keep up the good work but take care of yourself too.

Sending healing vines your way.

Patsy & Ollie
 
Poor Tobey. Poor you! Sending positive thoughts and prayers your way. I'm not sure what to suggest about the food as I'm in the UK so it's different here. :bighug:
 
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