Shout-Out to Canadian Members Re: Meter Suggestions

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Robin&BB

Robin&BB

Member Since 2013
Can any of our Canadian members offer some guidance to our new member, @Sherri regarding good meter choices available in Canada? Sherri's kitty Shamus was just diagnosed and she's feeling rather overwhelmed (we all know that feeling:nailbiting:), so any help/moral support you can offer her tomorrow morning would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks, all!:) - Robin
 
@Sherri I got the Bayer Contour Next from Shoppers Drug Mart and I really like it. I bought the strips for about $80 and the metre came free. It's really slick looking!

EDIT: Including Sherri's tag.
 
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@Sherri - Welcome to the board from another Canuck in Ontario! Sorry you had to join us but you have come to the right place for lots of support, tips and tricks.

I believe the most economical meter available in Canada is the Bravo available here. The meter is free with the purchase of strips and the strips are $40.00/100. The only caveat to this meter is that the strips may only be available through the website....I don't know if they are available through any local retailers.

I use a Freestyle Lite and really like it because it uses a very tiny drop of blood and the strips can be loaded from either side making it easier to manage a sometimes less than totally co-operative patient. The Freestyle meters have previously been unpopular here due to issues with some readings on the older version but the current version has a very good accuracy report. The strips for the Freedom Lite are $76.00/100 at Walmart.
 
Thank you EVERYONE! I have been struggling with feeling overwhelmed at the diagnosis--and I appreciate all of this incredible feedback and support here. My Shamus is not a kitty that enjoys being held and I can already see him causing some grief and running for under the bed at all of the handling that is going to be required. I have no extra set of hands in the home to help keep him still either. Is there an all-in-one type of meter that eliminates the step of having to first prick, then get the blood on the strip--takes the sample WITH the prick? I am in Southern Ontario, and do frequent the US easily so if there is an option out of the US that is notable beyond what we have here in Ontario please don't be afraid to share those as well. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU! My fur baby isn't home from the clinic yet (having just been diagnosed and under the care of my vet for at least last night) but I want to be as prepared as possible.
 
Also, is there a simpler way to inject the insulin? I have heard of pens? Is this any different than a syringe? I tend not to do well with needles/blood on a personal level so I've had some concerns in this area too. :(
 
Sherri said:
Also, is there a simpler way to inject the insulin? I have heard of pens? Is this any different than a syringe? I tend not to do well with needles/blood on a personal level so I've had some concerns in this area too. :(
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I think that depends on the type of insulin you're using.
 
Sherri said:
Thank you EVERYONE! I have been struggling with feeling overwhelmed at the diagnosis--and I appreciate all of this incredible feedback and support here. My Shamus is not a kitty that enjoys being held and I can already see him causing some grief and running for under the bed at all of the handling that is going to be required. I have no extra set of hands in the home to help keep him still either. Is there an all-in-one type of meter that eliminates the step of having to first prick, then get the blood on the strip--takes the sample WITH the prick? I am in Southern Ontario, and do frequent the US easily so if there is an option out of the US that is notable beyond what we have here in Ontario please don't be afraid to share those as well. Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU! My fur baby isn't home from the clinic yet (having just been diagnosed and under the care of my vet for at least last night) but I want to be as prepared as possible.
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My sugar baby was also one that doesn't like to be held and I was extremely squeamish about the needle thing. I'm afraid there isn't an easy way to this, it's a learning experience for both of you. It takes a little time, patience and probably a few meltdowns, but you'll both be adjust and before ya know it, it'll be a breeze!
 
You can always prick kitty's ear and get the drop of blood on your finger nail and then use the meter from the drop on your nail. I know that doesn't get rid of the blood issue but it does deal with the moving target!

There is this option.
http://www.pepex.com/trio-blood-glucose-meter.html
I know this company was hoping for FDA approval mid 2014 and I assume they got it but whether this is available in Canada or not I don't know. More investigation needed.

So you have educated me today! Thank you! I can think of at least one other member who might find this very useful!

As for the injecting, you can use a pen injector but this is also going to be dependent on the type of insulin you are using. I believe there is a pen injector for one of the pet insulins but otherwise it's the human insulins we use that have pen injectors and they only inject full units which often doesn't meet our needs. Someone on the board (can't recall who just now) managed to figure out how to use one of the human pens for half units but I seem to recall that it took a lot of coordination to do so.
 
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Hi @Sherri,

Caninsulin can be dosed with a VetPen. Sounds good initially except:

1. Cats metabolise insulin very quickly. Caninsulin is classed as an intermediate-acting insulin and tends to drop blood glucose hard early in the cycle and also tends to wear off quite some time before the next dose is due. This can cause a real blood glucose roller coaster which some cats find physiologically tough going. It can be very difficult to regulate a cat on this insulin (although some cats do OK on it).

2. The VetPens dose in increments of 0.5 units making it very difficult to fine tune a dose. Also many cats need less than 0.5 units Caninsulin per dose. The VetPen is also much more cumbersome to use than a conventional needle and syringe. (I speak from personal experience, as Saoirse was first treated with Caninsulin.)

Longer-acting insulins such as Lantus, Levemir and Prozinc are gentler in their action and much more cat-friendly. I don't know anything about the pens that are used with Lantus, but I've yet to read here about someone using the pen to administer insulin. People buy pen cartridges of Lantus because they're more economical in use, and they use a conventional insulin syringe to draw up and administer the dose.

I do feel for you over the needle phobia. :( I have multiple phobias myself and they're very tough to contend with. I'm just fortunate for Saoirse's sake that I'm OK with the pointy things. That Pepex monitor sounds very interesting.

Hope you got some bit of rest last night. :bighug:


Mogs
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Welcome from another Canadian, I'm in Barrie, On. Pretty much every pharmacy in Canada will have some sort of deal associated with a free meter with a purchase of strips. I ordered a Bayer Contour NXT online and it was delivered to my door in 3 days. It came with 10 strips. Bayer does an excellent job in following up on your needs as well, I suspect they all do. Walmarts house brand meter is well reviewed but alas not available here.
If your an old fart like me you can buy the strips on shoppers drug mart seniors day(or get a friend or relative) Most everything is available in Canada (we did develop insulin).
 
I'm from Winnipeg. Initially, I purchased the Bayer Contour Next and it worked fine the first time. The next time, was a total disaster. Could not get enough blood even though we pricked Bangkok's both ears 4 times till he cried and we cried. So heartbreaking.

I just bought a Freestyle Insulinx from Costco. $74 for 100 strips, free meter. Used it today. Only needs a pin size drop so we managed to get it done. So far, I like it very much better than the Bayer. I've also ordered the Alpha Trax from Amazon.ca. That is a lot more expensive but is supposed to give more accurate BG numbers for pets.
 
I was just in Safeway today, and they have a special this week - strips for the Bayer Next are $60. Cheaper than the usual price.

I use the Arkray Glucocard 01 and it's strips, available via ADW. Same manufacturer as the Relion Confirm available at US Walmarts. But you have to ship it to a US address (or post box) and go across the border to pick it up. Savings more than pay for gas. Back up if I'm desperate is the Bayer. In 3.5 years, I've had to use it once.
 
Choo said:
I'm from Winnipeg. Initially, I purchased the Bayer Contour Next and it worked fine the first time. The next time, was a total disaster. Could not get enough blood even though we pricked Bangkok's both ears 4 times till he cried and we cried. So heartbreaking.

I just bought a Freestyle Insulinx from Costco. $74 for 100 strips, free meter. Used it today. Only needs a pin size drop so we managed to get it done. So far, I like it very much better than the Bayer. I've also ordered the Alpha Trax from Amazon.ca. That is a lot more expensive but is supposed to give more accurate BG numbers for pets.
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Winnipeg is my adopted home town, I immigrated there from Britain, it's a nice city to grow up in.
I have had no problems at all with the meter. Mine only requires a minute drop of blood. The readings are consistent and give me an indication that I'm within the required range. I had given the Alpha Trax a thought but when I saw what the vets were using I changed my mind.

The lancing device was sticking so I called Bayer, a new one was at my door within the week. I ordered control solution and ditto for that as well. I would imagine they'd send out a replacement PDQ should the meter malfunction. The new Contour Next was one of the top rated meters on consumerreports.org for this year (if indeed that means anything) The way the manufacturers are giving out the meters with a strip purchase, you can try out a new one every few months.
 
Wendy&Neko said:
I was just in Safeway today, and they have a special this week - strips for the Bayer Next are $60. Cheaper than the usual price.

I use the Arkray Glucocard 01 and it's strips, available via ADW. Same manufacturer as the Relion Confirm available at US Walmarts. But you have to ship it to a US address (or post box) and go across the border to pick it up. Savings more than pay for gas. Back up if I'm desperate is the Bayer. In 3.5 years, I've had to use it once.
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The exchange on the Canadian dollar is a tad over 25% , the strips are $74 (CAD) per 100 at Costco . You could always buy them at Shoppers Drug Mart on Old Farts Day (seniors) at 20% off. (If'n your an old fart or you know some that is)
 
Can someone please direct someone to my thread "Diagnosis for Shamus?" It is the reason this thread was started as well. I just made a post regarding this challenging night we are having. Could really use some responses. :(
 
Choo said:
I'm from Winnipeg.
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Hi there. I am also in Winnipeg. For test strips I find Shopper's the best, although prices can vary between different Shopper' stores. The one at Grant PArk charges $79.99 per 100 for FS Lite. I am not sure what the Contour Next are but the prices tend to be pretty close between the types. On senior day you can get the FS Lite for $63.99 with the 20% discount. Also next Thursday you can get a bonus $10 card (as a senior) with a purchase of $50 or more. Using all the discounts together it brings the price down to $53.99, plus you get your Shoppers Optimum points. So far this year I have been able to acquire $300 in free merchandise with the points and I don't shop much at Shopper's except for testing material and insulin. It is worth checking out, but as I said different Shopper's charge different prices. The Shopper's at Tuxedo Mall charge $10 more for the strips.


Edited to add: BTW Most places will give you a free meter with the purchase of 100 test strips. For the Shopper's senior discount you only have to be 55 and they have the 20% off on regular priced items every Thursday and usually once every 4-5 weeks they have the bonus $10 card with each purchases of $50 or more. I will buy 2 sets of test strips separately so I get one for $63.99, the second for $53.99 with the first $10 card and I have a $10 card left if I need lancets or ketodistix.
 
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Bonzo said:
The exchange on the Canadian dollar is a tad over 25% , the strips are $74 (CAD) per 100 at Costco .
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I was in a Safeway in B.C, Canada where I saw the cheaper prices. Cheaper than Shoppers Drug Mart by far here.
 
Hi!
I am in BC, and also quite newly diagnosed:) We ended up getting an Acura accucheck meter from London Drugs- free with 100 strips- $74. I like it- it doesn't seem to need too much blood- and doesn't give us errors:)

It is quite overwhelming when the diagnosis first comes- but it does get easier. We are getting on a roll here with testing and Trouble our cat is responding very well- he is on Lantus. He has gained weight- and has more energy than he has had in years. This group is great support!

Also- its good to know about the seniors day- I am not a senior, but my mom is and she is visiting soon:)
 
Hello @Sherri and fellow Canucks. Southwestern Manitoba here. I think I searched every store here, and it was discouraging to always find free meters with super expensive strips. I was considering ordering something like this (link below and thanks to Wendy&Neko above) and picking up at our local border service (an hour away). It's same as a ReliOn (Walmart rebrands same meters with the ReliOn name).

http://www.adwdiabetes.com/product/arkray-glucocard-01-blood-glucose-monitoring-kit_4044_53.htm

Then one Sunday on a whim, we just took a quick trip across the line for groceries at Walmart U.S., and I ended up picking up the ReliOn Confirm, 100 test strips, a lancet pen (not sure I'll use) and a box of lancets. The dollar was a little better then, but it all came to less than $50.00 U.S. I liked the reviews on here of the ReliOn (Confirm and/or Micro) and the small blood sample required, so one of those was my wish. I checked out the ReliOn 'Prime', but they are much more costly in the long run. They were sold out of the Micro, and I'm very happy with my 'Confirm' which is more manageable for me to hold, yet very compact. Now I just need to get up the gumption to use it! Also stocked up in a big way with Fancy Feast Pates and Friskies Pate. Much cheaper there.

Audrey is on Levemir and the vet supplied us upon diagnosis with our first Penfill type cartridge (which I draw from the rubber tip with a syringe). That tiny little cartridge was about $45 on the vet invoice. After that was done and I checked local pharmacies, I didn't care to buy a box of 4- 5? at a time (which is how they are sold OTC at local pharmacies), I lucked out and found our local Real Canadian Superstore Pharmacy will sell individual Penfill Levemir cartridges at around $22 and change. I was using the Novopen 4 (free at Superstore with purchase of co-ordinating needles), as Audrey is on a starting dose of 1 unit every 12 hours (no half increments as yet which the pen doesn't accommodate). Loved the pen for quite some time, but after 2 eventual pen failures, and feeling like I was wasting too much insulin priming the pen each time and making sure something is coming out the tip before shooting, I've just gone back to syringes out of personal preference. S-Store sells them fairly inexpensively. Audrey is such a piggy, I don't even think she knows she's getting the quick shot while she's horking down that food.

I haven't posted all that much, but I lurk the forums a lot and what a huge help these members are. I know, Sherri, you'll find the same welcoming hospitality, great links, valuable info, a wealth of experience and comforting advice.

PS: Hi Winnipeggers. Not far down the TC Highway west from you in Brandon, Mb.
 
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Hi everyone,
We are from Sherwood Park just outside of Edmonton.

I use the one touch Verio IQ. My vet said it was very accurate compared to when they did the curve. They used their glucometer and mine. I will probably get a contour Next monitor next time since you can reapply blood on the same strip. Sometimes I couldn't get enough blood and wasted a strip. Oreo was on caninsulin and fancy feast/Evo/wellness (wet food). He went into remission and has been diet controlled for 1.5 years now.
 
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