Suggested glucose meter

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Lynn & Prudence

Lynn & Prudence

Member Since 2016
This has probably been asked ad nauseam, but where do I find information on the best glucose meter? Should I go Amazon or Walmart way? My cat and I are new to this diabetes thing. Thanks in advance.
 
For me, Walmart was the easiest - we have a store less than 10 minutes from the house. Plus, their meters are fairly good value - around $15 or $16 for the ReliOn Confirm. The strips are the killer with a lot of meters - for the Confirm they run around $36 for 100 strips. The ReliOn Prime is cheaper to run, but needs a larger blood sample so you might waste more strips with that one. You can also buy replacement strips online at adwdiabetes.com - the Arkray Glucocard 01 is the same meter as the ReliOn Confirm so you can sometimes make savings on strips by buying from them.
 
Thank you. I was going to try Walmart first, but wasn't sure what to look for. Someone may have told me, but my head is swimming at this point. I'll write all this down. My little love is a black cat, too;-)
 
The Confirm and the Micro both take the same strips, so depending on what your local Walmart has in stock, either of those 2 take the same small amount of blood. The Prime, as far as I'm aware, works just fine - it's just that it needs twice as much blood which can be an issue in the early days until your cat's ears "learn" to bleed (cats are wonderful creatures and actually develop more capillaries in their ears in response to being tested). When you get a chance, please post a pic of your baby - I do love black cats and seeing pictures of other people's furbabies. :)
 
I have the prime and can confirm it has the cheapest strips but you do need to know how to make the ear bleed to avoid getting the error with the test strips. its not hard just takes some practice. do you have a list of what you should be picking up with the meter lynn?
 
No. I'm just shopping around right now. I thought maybe the Tru 2 Go as someone on Craigslist has 600 strips for $40.00. Not expired. Someone passed on in the family.
 
lynn hones said:
No. I'm just shopping around right now. I thought maybe the Tru 2 Go as someone on Craigslist has 600 strips for $40.00. Not expired. Someone passed on in the family.
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You can look at these links and switch to the confirm or micro. you wont need a lancing device if you can free hand it i got the lancing device anyway so i have something to grip with it i just remove the lid. also if you are doing wet food and going to walmart there are coupons right now for ff and sheba will post if u want them
the tru2go prices look about the same as my relion prime supplies
Meter & Supplies-

meter-http://www.walmart.com/ip/ReliOn-Prime-Blood-Glucose-Monitoring-System-Blue/20752266

strips-http://www.walmart.com/ip/ReliOn-Prime-Blood-Glucose-Test-Strips-50ct/20752265

lancets-http://www.walmart.com/ip/ReliOn-Ultra-Thin-Lancets-200-count/43184842

lancet device-http://www.walmart.com/ip/ReliOn-Lancing-Device/34129433

ketones-http://www.walmart.com/ip/ReliOn-Ketone-Test-Strips-50-count/33574014
 
Someone else is selling Tru Test strips for $25.00 for 500. They say they are not expired either. This is so complicated when trying to save money on this stuff. We've just spent $500.00 on different tests for her and I know it's not totally right, but I'm trying to save a buck or two while providing the best care possible. If someone has them on Craigslist for a lot cheaper, I guess I'll go that route as long as they aren't expired. Has anyone used those types of meters?
 
I have a nagging thought in the back of my mind that someone had said that meters that have Tru or True as part of the name may not be as accurate for cats. Hopefully someone can confirm that for you, but it would be worth checking before you buy.
 
lynn hones said:
Someone else is selling Tru Test strips for $25.00 for 500. They say they are not expired either. This is so complicated when trying to save money on this stuff. We've just spent $500.00 on different tests for her and I know it's not totally right, but I'm trying to save a buck or two while providing the best care possible. If someone has them on Craigslist for a lot cheaper, I guess I'll go that route as long as they aren't expired. Has anyone used those types of meters?
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I haven't used that meter before. Saving money is right. You need to be able to provide care. Testing supplies are pricey. My vet told me no home testing. I went ahead and bought the cheapest meter and supplies that were mentioned here and took it to my vet. They did there glucose test then mine with a meter to see how far apart the results were and they were close! The other thing is I couldnt return what i bought so i wanted to spend the least amount of money in case it didnt work out. I spent like 25.00 total on everything.
 
Only problem with buying them on Craig's list is when you run out. Make sure you can get strips reasonably and locally. I heard the thing about meters with the word tru in them being bad too.
 
Yikes. That doesn't sound good. If tru is in the name maybe I better do more research. I wonder if anyone else here has used tru meters of some kind? Should I start a new thread and ask?
 
Side note if you went with the Relion Confirm or Micro there are lots of deals on ebay for strips, like constantly.

I just bought 400 strips for $65 which is great because at Wal-Mart they are around $35.00 for 100ct. Granted they will probably only last me 2 1/2 months with using minimum 4/day but it's still saving!
 
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Now I'm leaning towards the Relion, if tru anything is not going to be accurate. Why bother if it's not giving good numbers. I need a spreadsheet simply to figure all this out. LOL
 
Erica & Carter said:
Side note if you went with the Relion Confirm or Micro there are lots of deals on ebay for strips, like constantly.

I just bought 400 strips for $65 which is great because at Wal-Mart they are around $35.00 for 100ct. Granted they will probably only last me 2 1/2 months with using minimum 4/day but it's still saving!
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did you see strips for the relion prime on there? can you link me to the seller on ebay?
 
scoobydoox said:
did you see strips for the relion prime on there? can you link me to the seller on ebay?
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That seller doesn't have any Prime left, only Relion Ultima 400 ct for $65.00. But I would just do a search because I can see a few good deals right now but I'm posting from my phone so it's harder to link.
 
Erica & Carter said:
That seller doesn't have any Prime left, only Relion Ultima 400 ct for $65.00. But I would just do a search because I can see a few good deals right now but I'm posting from my phone so it's harder to link.
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thanks i started searching some of them cost more than what i pay at walmart for same thing. although the bulk buys possibly but thats a little out of my price range right now
 
lynn hones said:
I thought maybe the Tru 2 Go ...
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A number of members have had problems using meters with 'Tru' in the name; the readings aren't reliable for a cat (IIRC). Might be a better idea to go for another meter.

The Relion Confirm and Micro meters get very good press here. They only require a very small blood sample; a big help in the early days. It might be an idea to start with one of those, even though the test strips aren't as cheap as the strips for the Prime. You could always swap to a Prime later when your kitty's ears have 'learned to bleed' * if you want to save a bit on test strips.


Mogs

* (As you continue to test, more capillaries will form at the test sites making it progressively easier to get a blood sample.)

.
 
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I think I'm going to go with the Relion Confirm. Sounds like the best meter for a newbie like me. I want a reliable read more than anything. I was watching some Youtube videos of a woman giving her cat a reading. It kept growling and biting her. Wrong video to watch. lol
 
lynn hones said:
I was watching some Youtube videos of a woman giving her cat a reading. It kept growling and biting her. Wrong video to watch. lol
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Most cats really, really don't react like that. I know there are a few that never really settle with the idea of testing, but for the vast majority of cats it becomes a routine they get into...especially when they know they get a low-carb treat afterwards. My Rosa is one of the most awkward cats to medicate that I've ever known (and given how difficult cats can be, that's saying something), but most of the time she's fine with being tested. She'll grouch occasionally, but the only time she ever lashed out was when my husband was testing her while I was at work and that's because she's a momma's girl...I got home an hour later and was able to test her with no trouble at all.

Good choice of meter BTW - I love the Confirm I have. :)
 
lynn hones said:
I was watching some Youtube videos of a woman giving her cat a reading. It kept growling and biting her. Wrong video to watch.
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Oops! :eek:

:D

Try this vid instead (Ignore the HUMUNGOUS blood sample drawn by the demonstrator; the Relion only needs a sample the size of a pin head.)




Mogs
.
 
manxcat419 said:
Most cats really, really don't react like that. I know there are a few that never really settle with the idea of testing, but for the vast majority of cats it becomes a routine they get into...especially when they know they get a low-carb treat afterwards. My Rosa is one of the most awkward cats to medicate that I've ever known (and given how difficult cats can be, that's saying something), but most of the time she's fine with being tested. She'll grouch occasionally, but the only time she ever lashed out was when my husband was testing her while I was at work and that's because she's a momma's girl...I got home an hour later and was able to test her with no trouble at all.

Good choice of meter BTW - I love the Confirm I have. :)
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Yes, from what I've been reading it seems to be the best choice. Really, thanks for all the help. I hope I can be helpful to someone else one of these days. Once I get over my own fright and discombobulation. I go to sleep and instead of sugar plums dancing in my head, it's test strips and glucose meters. lol
 
Critter Mom said:
Oops! :eek:

:D

Try this vid instead (Ignore the HUMUNGOUS blood sample drawn by the demonstrator; the Relion only needs a sample the size of a pin head.)




Mogs
.
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Now that was a heck of a lot easier to watch. And what a pretty little feline that was. Very calm. Prudence is calm, too. (Although she has her moments.) I hope she reacts as nonchalantly as that cat did.
 
lynn hones said:
Yes, from what I've been reading it seems to be the best choice. Really, thanks for all the help. I hope I can be helpful to someone else one of these days. Once I get over my own fright and discombobulation. I go to sleep and instead of sugar plums dancing in my head, it's test strips and glucose meters. lol
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You'll get there with it - I promise. We all start off here confused and scared, and often having not been given the best advice from our vets too. It really does get easier as time goes on - once you have a routine and a plan it all gets much less stressful. :bighug: :bighug: :bighug:
 
manxcat419 said:
You'll get there with it - I promise. We all start off here confused and scared, and often having not been given the best advice from our vets too. It really does get easier as time goes on - once you have a routine and a plan it all gets much less stressful. :bighug: :bighug: :bighug:
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Thanks for the hugs. This morning went so well. She runs to the kitchen when I get up. She meows and gets excited when I take the insulin out of the fridge. She knows a treat is not far off. Her coat is coming back and I swear she's put on weight. Now my other kitty is so upset with all the attention heaped on Prudence she is telling me she has diabetes, too. lol
 
lynn hones said:
Thanks for the hugs. This morning went so well. She runs to the kitchen when I get up. She meows and gets excited when I take the insulin out of the fridge. She knows a treat is not far off. Her coat is coming back and I swear she's put on weight. Now my other kitty is so upset with all the attention heaped on Prudence she is telling me she has diabetes, too. lol
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Which insulin are you using?
 
I'm using Prozinc. I just got back from Walmart and bought the Relion Prime because it was on sale for $9.00. I bought everything I need for $23.00. Relion is rolled back this week. My hands are shaking again!!!!!!!!! I hope Relion Prime is okay.
 
lynn hones said:
She meows and gets excited when I take the insulin out of the fridge. She knows a treat is not far off. Her coat is coming back and I swear she's put on weight. Now my other kitty is so upset with all the attention heaped on Prudence she is telling me she has diabetes, too. lol
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I don't think you're going to have any trouble at all with testing. She already associates her shots with a treat and she'll quickly learn to do the same with testing too. :) My Regan got very jealous for a while of all the attention Rosa was getting - we made sure we found time in the day for some special "Regan time" so that she didn't feel too left out.

lynn hones said:
I'm using Prozinc. I just got back from Walmart and bought the Relion Prime because it was on sale for $9.00. I bought everything I need for $23.00. Relion is rolled back this week. My hands are shaking again!!!!!!!!! I hope Relion Prime is okay.
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Prozinc is a good insulin for cats. And the Relion Prime is absolutely fine. It sounds as though you're all set to go! Just take your time and remember, if you don't manage to get enough blood for a test on your first attempt, wait a little while and try again - it's a new skill and just like anything else it takes time to learn. Usually we don't take more than 3 tries before letting a cat have a break for 20 minutes or so and then trying again - this is as new to Prudence as it is to you and we try to keep it as stress-free as possible.
 
lynn hones said:
I'm using Prozinc. I just got back from Walmart and bought the Relion Prime because it was on sale for $9.00. I bought everything I need for $23.00. Relion is rolled back this week. My hands are shaking again!!!!!!!!! I hope Relion Prime is okay.
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I have the relion prime there is a tiny bit of a learning curve. You need a bigger sample of blood instead of a micro sample like the others. Once you put the strip in the meter it stays on i think for two minutes. If you need help just ask. I only had about 10 points off from the meter and the glucose test the vet did.
 
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After taking me ten minutes to figure out how to set the date and time on the meter, I studied everything and felt confidant enough to prick her ear. I was nervous, she wasn't. I got a small amount of blood, but nothing was read on the meter. I guess it can't get blood on top of the strip? I will make another attempt later. Human daughter is going to prom and the group is coming over for pics. She jokes that I care more about the cat than her. Everyone is jealous of poor, diabetic Prudence. lol
 
You could always offer to test your daughter's BG for her!! A couple of tests on her and she won't be so jealous of Prudence any more! ;) The blood has to get on the very end of the strip so the strip can draw it up to get the reading. That said, getting any blood at all on your first attempt is a great start - another few attempts at it and you'll be testing like a pro! :) :bighug:
 
lynn hones said:
After taking me ten minutes to figure out how to set the date and time on the meter, I studied everything and felt confidant enough to prick her ear. I was nervous, she wasn't. I got a small amount of blood, but nothing was read on the meter. I guess it can't get blood on top of the strip? I will make another attempt later. Human daughter is going to prom and the group is coming over for pics. She jokes that I care more about the cat than her. Everyone is jealous of poor, diabetic Prudence. lol
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the edge of the strip has to suck the blood in if you look carefully you will see it go into the strip
 
I will take your advice and ask her if she wants me to check her BG. She'd probably say, "Sure, if you pay me." lol I chickened out on tonight's testing. I will get up bright and early and do it. It obviously didn't hurt her, just made me nervous. I think I'll need help with reading the numbers, though. They seem confusing.
 
lynn hones said:
I will take your advice and ask her if she wants me to check her BG. She'd probably say, "Sure, if you pay me."
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That sounds familiar...kids eh! :rolleyes: ;)

No worries on tonight's testing. Tomorrow is a fresh new day and a good time to start. :) Just ask as many questions as you need to - we're used to reading the numbers here. When you have a chance, maybe you could start recording your numbers on the spreadsheet most of us use - the link to setting it up and sharing it is here http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/fdmb-spreadsheet-instructions.130337/ and I'd be happy to help you if you're having any trouble with it. It does make it much easier for people to give you help based on numbers over several days rather than trying to base a decision on just one or two numbers. :)
 
manxcat419 said:
That sounds familiar...kids eh! :rolleyes: ;)

No worries on tonight's testing. Tomorrow is a fresh new day and a good time to start. :) Just ask as many questions as you need to - we're used to reading the numbers here. When you have a chance, maybe you could start recording your numbers on the spreadsheet most of us use - the link to setting it up and sharing it is here http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/fdmb-spreadsheet-instructions.130337/ and I'd be happy to help you if you're having any trouble with it. It does make it much easier for people to give you help based on numbers over several days rather than trying to base a decision on just one or two numbers. :)
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Can't get any blood from Prudence's ear. Too afraid to try her paw. Have tried warm cloth to warm it up. Poor thing took it for about five tries then made a bee line for safety from her maniac mother who was fooling around with her ears. Will try again tomorrow. Have yet to test her glucose. ARGH!!!! She seems better than she has in quite a while. Quite the little trooper. She was scampering around like a small kitten today. Made me so happy.
 
I find I do much better with the paw pad on Rosa some days - it really doesn't bother most cats at all. Did you get a lancing device with your meter? If you did, they work much better on the paw pad if you use the clear device cap rather than the colored one with the different settings on it. But yes, the key is just to keep trying...just a few attempts at a time. You will get blood from her with a little practice. Great report on her general behavior though - she must be starting to feel better already. :)
 
Another fan of pricking the paw pad, as well! I find the lancing device extremely awkward when it comes to the ear so if I have to do the ear I free-hand it.

However, Carter's pads bleed without any warming up and he sits and purrs in my lap, stress-free. He's not bad for an ear prick, but he is much more relaxed with the pad. Probably because it's over and done with so fast! There's where I've been consistently taking blood from, but all cats are different. I know a lot of people that have said they can't get the pads to bleed enough, and I thought the same thing until I tried, so it's worth shot.
 
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Erica & Carter said:
However, Carter's pads bleed without any warming up and he sits and purrs in my lap, stress-free.
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Agreed. :) I've never had to warm Rosa's paw to get a good blood drop from it. OK, I don't warm her ears these days either, but then her ears have had over a year's practice at being tested. I do find the paw pad much quicker and more guaranteed though especially if she's having one of her wriggly days.
 
Thanks guys. I'm going to give it another go round later this morning. I'll try the ear once and then the pad. Her pads are black, so not sure if that will make it harder to find the drop. Yes, she is a completely different cat. Her coat is shining again and she gets "frisky" as I like to say to her. I got so desperate to see if the lance was working I poked myself, and I'm terrified of needles. Ahh, the things we do.:nailbiting: Phantom, my other cat, is still insisting she has diabetes, too. lol
 
lynn hones said:
Her pads are black, so not sure if that will make it harder to find the drop.
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Rosa's paw pads are also black. But with no fur on them to get in the way, the blood is still easy to see especially if you can get into decent light to test. :)

lynn hones said:
Phantom, my other cat, is still insisting she has diabetes, too. lol
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You can always test Phantom once in a while. I test Rosa's twin every few months, just to make sure. Though she only seems have one reading no matter what time of day I test her (but that's probably not a bad thing).

lynn hones said:
Houston, we have a reading!!!!!!! 250. Not sure if that's good or bad. I'm just so excited to have one!!!!! Off to investigate before my next round of errands.
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Congratulations on your first successful test! :D 250 isn't perfect, but it's a long way from being bad too. :) That would explain why she's acting so much better - she must be feeling a whole lot better as well!! :)
 
Lynn,

Any chance you could add details of the meter you're using to your signature? (Helps us to understand the BG readings properly. :) )


Mogs
.
 
Changed my user name to include the patient. Also, hanging up the towel for tonight. She's avoiding me. I swear, I'm waiting for her to walk in wearing earmuffs. lol
 
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