What meter needs the smallest amount of blood?

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Bruce Blount

Bruce Blount

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I have had much failure getting blood from Wicked. I do get blood, but it is a tiny amount - about the size of a pinhead. This amount result in a error code, saying I have too little amount of blood. So, I grab the lancet and try again - this sometimes five or six more tries. No wonder he fights me - all many ear pricks - that usually end in failure.
I figured it was an error on my part, I would learn and get better, but this morning was another failure. I am trying, really trying hard to get this. Maybe if I got a meter that required a smaller drop of blood? I am currently using a Relion Meter.

Anyone have any advice?
 
Bruce Blount said:
I have had much failure getting blood from Wicked. I do get blood, but it is a tiny amount - about the size of a pinhead. This amount result in a error code, saying I have too little amount of blood. So, I grab the lancet and try again - this sometimes five or six more tries. No wonder he fights me - all many ear pricks - that usually end in failure.
I figured it was an error on my part, I would learn and get better, but this morning was another failure. I am trying, really trying hard to get this. Maybe if I got a meter that required a smaller drop of blood? I am currently using a Relion Meter.

Anyone have any advice?
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The alpha Trak 3 uses 0.3 micro liter. I will try to see what relion uses so you can compare. The AT strips are expensive. But maybe until his ears get. Better at bleeding it could work
 
The relion uses 0.5 microliters vs 0.3 micro liter for AT; I’ll check centrivet—it’s also expensive strips but you can do glucose and ketones in it. Brb

Centrivet requires 0.8 microliter so more than the relion
 
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Bruce what size lancet are you using? Are you using it in a lancing device or using it freehand? I wouldn’t try 5-6 times in one setting if that can be avoided—as you guessed it just upsets you both after the second poke. How much insulin is he getting?
 
Do you have a neighborhood Google mail group or Facebook page? If not are you on the Nextdoor app? I’d try reaching out via any of those to see if there’s a pet parent of a diabetic cat who’d be willing to come help you a few times. Alternatively you may be able to pay a vet tech from your vets office or a pet sitter to come a few times. Not only will you get instruction but it will help give Wicked a sense of “oh, I guess this isn’t so bad” so he gets more relaxed about it.
 
The Freestyle Freedom lite is a human meter that only requires 0.3 microliters. Maybe others here also use human meters that need only a small amount. Idk what the strips cost for it
 
SmallestSparrow said:
The Freestyle Freedom lite is a human meter that only requires 0.3 microliters. Maybe others here also use human meters that need only a small amount. Idk what the strips cost for it
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With ReliOn Premier, all you need is a small amount as small as the point of a needle, also to see the blood I have a small flashlight I place in my mouth once I prick, I see the blood with no problem, I also had a hard time seeing the drop, hope this helps:bighug::cat::cat:
Happy Holidays!
 
CORKY said:
With ReliOn Premier, all you need is a small amount as small as the point of a needle, also to see the blood I have a small flashlight I place in my mouth once I prick, I see the blood with no problem, I also had a hard time seeing the drop, hope this helps:bighug::cat::cat:
Happy Holidays!
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I think he’s using the relion Maria—it requires almost twice as much blood as an alpha Trak or Freedom lite. Sometimes people have a lot of trouble getting enough blood in the beginning—everyone’s cat bleeds differently. :)
 
SmallestSparrow said:
I think he’s using the relion Maria—it requires almost twice as much blood as an alpha Trak or Freedom lite. Sometimes people have a lot of trouble getting enough blood in the beginning—everyone’s cat bleeds differently. :)
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you are right I just saw that, maybe is the fact that since his cat is black as he expressed is hard to see the blood, I gave him a suggestion:bighug::bighug:;):cat::cat:
Happy Holidays!!
 
Are you warming the ear really well first? Warmth helps the blood flow better so you get a good drop on the first poke. Most people use a "rice sock". If you're using a lancet device, try pressing the device firmly against the ear before poking. Adjust the depth setting until you find one that gives you a good drop. Start low and work your way up. Some lancet devices are just not very good so try a different one or just freehand the lancet carefully.

There are guides online that compare Human blood glucose meters including blood drop size. 0.3 ul is the smallest drop size some meters take.
 
squeem3 said:
Are you warming the ear really well first? Warmth helps the blood flow better so you get a good drop on the first poke. Most people use a "rice sock". If you're using a lancet device, try pressing the device firmly against the ear before poking. Adjust the depth setting until you find one that gives you a good drop. Start low and work your way up. Some lancet devices are just not very good so try a different one or just freehand the lancet carefully.

There are guides online that compare Human blood glucose meters including blood drop size. 0.3 ul is the smallest drop size some meters take.
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I do not warm the ear first just rub it a bit before inserting the lancet, If you PM me you email address. via PM message, I can send you a couple of videos on how to test without fail, even though I know each cat is different, and they each bleed different, cats have a mind of their own and love to keep us on our toes, but it might help, I feel really bad you are having so much trouble, and is so important to test especially before AMPS and PMPS:bighug::bighug::cat::cat:
 
I've recently done some checking on this. The Alpha Trak 3 (animal meter) requires .3 microliters as does the Freestyle Freedom Lite (human meter). The Freestyle meter is cheaper than the Alpha Trak 3, and the test strips for the Alpha Trak 3 are about $60 for 50 while the Freestyle Freedom Lite strips are about $40 for 50. The test strips are much more expensive than the Relion, and I was going to switch to a human meter, but I changed my mind because of the low sample size of the Alpha Trak 3.

Make sure to warm the ear very well and rub gently to get the blood flow going, AND make sure the "poking" side of the lancet is in the right direction (I didn't realize this for a while, and it makes a big difference). Have you watched the videos on the website, and are you poking in the correct zone on the edge of the ear?
 
Marielle said:
I've recently done some checking on this. The Alpha Trak 3 (animal meter) requires .3 microliters as does the Freestyle Freedom Lite (human meter). The Freestyle meter is cheaper than the Alpha Trak 3, and the test strips for the Alpha Trak 3 are about $60 for 50 while the Freestyle Freedom Lite strips are about $40 for 50. The test strips are much more expensive than the Relion, and I was going to switch to a human meter, but I changed my mind because of the low sample size of the Alpha Trak 3.

Make sure to warm the ear very well and rub gently to get the blood flow going, AND make sure the "poking" side of the lancet is in the right direction (I didn't realize this for a while, and it makes a big difference). Have you watched the videos on the website, and are you poking in the correct zone on the edge of the ear?
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The FreeStyle Libre’ strips are US $89.00 for 50 strips way too expensive if you need to test often due to low BG, I went to buy them at Walmart when Corky’s sensor stoped working, for someone that’s in a budget they are not feasible !
 
CORKY said:
Perhaps the price changes I used the Free Style Libre2 here in Miami Fl are $89.00 that's when I switch to the ReliOn Premier
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I think these may be two different meters. Freedom Freestyle Lite is not the same as the meter you used (libre2). The freedom freestyle lite and the Alpha Trak use less blood than your meter—your meter has less expensive strips. Those two things may be related as it probably costs more to design a strip that requires less blood—it is in the strip that the important chemical reaction takes place that gives an approximate blood glucose number on the meter. The strips are where the magic happens. Which by the way is why people should be careful how they store their strips, keeping them safe from temperature extremes and excess humidity
 
Marielle said:
The Freestyle libre meters, though, are continuous glucose monitors, not handheld monitor
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The dedicated readers for the Libre incorporare a regular BG/blood ketone meter.

The FreeStyle Libre 2 Reader uses FreeStyle Precision Neo Blood Glucose Test Strips and FreeStyle Optium β ketone test strips:
 
squeem3 said:
Are you warming the ear really well first? Warmth helps the blood flow better so you get a good drop on the first poke. Most people use a "rice sock". If you're using a lancet device, try pressing the device firmly against the ear before poking. Adjust the depth setting until you find one that gives you a good drop. Start low and work your way up. Some lancet devices are just not very good so try a different one or just freehand the lancet carefully.

There are guides online that compare Human blood glucose meters including blood drop size. 0.3 ul is the smallest drop size some meters take.
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Yes, I use a warm rice filled sock, talk gently, pet, etc.
 
SmallestSparrow said:
Bruce what size lancet are you using? Are you using it in a lancing device or using it freehand? I wouldn’t try 5-6 times in one setting if that can be avoided—as you guessed it just upsets you both after the second poke. How much insulin is he getting?
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I am using 30gage lancets - maybe too thin? Also, I am not using a lancing device - if I do, I never get ANY blood. Wicked is getting 3 units of proZinc twice per day.
 
Yes probably too thin. Try a thicker gauge. Since you're not using a device, you can buy any brand of thicker lancets. Don't be afraid to poke the lancet firmly onto the skin. You want to get blood, not just graze the skin and leave a tiny scratch.

It wouldn't hurt to warm the ear sock a second or two more and hold it firmly against the ear for a good minute. Then, hold the sock on the inside of the ear and use it as a firm-ish surface to poke the lancet against. Floppy ears are hard to get a good poke on.
 
Bruce Blount said:
I am using 30gage lancets - maybe too thin? Also, I am not using a lancing device - if I do, I never get ANY blood. Wicked is getting 3 units of proZinc twice per day.
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Get thicker lancets (lower number). I will find some links. Once you are getting blood more easily you can size down. He may feel it more but it will be one successful stick as opposed to you poking until you are both in tears. Have something behind ear so you don’t poke yourself and poke firmly, confidently and probably more than you’ve been doing. We don’t want to pierce the ear but it happens. A lot. That’s ok. Plus he’s got black ears so it’s harder to see blood on top. Always check the inside. Pharmacies may carry 26 or 28 g —you’d have to ask—humans are babies so they often just carry the very thin. Once his ears are used to being poked they will bleed more easily and you can switch to the thinner lancets

I don’t know prozinc)—I’d suggest you let you vet know you haven’t been able to home test his blood regularly so he can decide if the dose is appropriate if you aren’t yet able to monitor his blood reliably, and perhaps he can have you check his urine instead. He may also have thicker lancets he could sell you

Good luck!
 
Bruce Blount said:
I am using 30gage lancets - maybe too thin? Also, I am not using a lancing device - if I do, I never get ANY blood. Wicked is getting 3 units of proZinc twice per day.
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I listed some 21g but I’d recommend getting the 26g and trying those. 21g is pretty thick and Wicked may object and they may be too thick to easily hit the right spot. I think you will get good results with the 26. Or even 28 if you find them in a pharmacy
 
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