? Different BG with different test strips. Help!

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Deena and Malby

Deena and Malby

Member Since 2016
Hello,
I use the AlphaTrak2. I did a lot of research on this site (and elsewhere) and started using the Freestyle Lite strips with my meter.
When I originally got the FL test strips, I did a comparison reading with the "sample blood" given in the kit. The readings were very similar.
AT2- 139
FSL-135
Okay so great great! Well today after testing my cat with the FSL strip, I got a good amount of blood coming out of his ear so I decided to grab an AT2 to do a comparison.
11:15 FSL- 431
11:15 AT2- 268!!!
WAY to big of a difference so I gave him a new poke for some new blood, grabbed another AlphaTrak2 strip and...
11:18 AT2- 375!!!
Now what am I supposed to think of this!? I know that he might get a little riled up around testing time and I do give him about a teaspoon of wet or less mashed on a plate to keep him focused while I test him, but I can't imagine it could jump from a 268 to a 375 on the AT2 within minutes from a lil food/stress. And what about the original FL reading of 431?!

What should I do? Which is the correct number and now I am worried about which strips I should be using. Help!

Deena
 
I would bet the 268 was just an "off" strip since the other two are so much closer

The best thing you can do is pick one meter to use and stop trying to compare them....you'll drive yourself stark raving crazy otherwise!!
 
Chris & China said:
I would bet the 268 was just an "off" strip since the other two are so much closer

The best thing you can do is pick one meter to use and stop trying to compare them....you'll drive yourself stark raving crazy otherwise!![/QUOTE
Hello,
Well I'm using the same meter. I use the AT2 however I started using the FS Lite test strips to save some money but every so often I like to compare and make sure the FSL is reading the same as the AT2 strips.
The AT2 read 268 and 375, the FSL read 431 (used the same drop of blood on the 431 reading as the 268 as his ear was bleeding a lot). That's why I'm so confused.
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I also wouldn't use the FS Lite strips in my AT meter. They are made by different manufacturers now, no guarantee you are getting the right numbers and I wouldn't risk my kitties health on it. If you want to use the FS Lite strips, use their meter.
 
Chris & China said:
I would bet the 268 was just an "off" strip since the other two are so much closer

The best thing you can do is pick one meter to use and stop trying to compare them....you'll drive yourself stark raving crazy otherwise!!
Click to expand...

I agree with this. I was driving myself crazy trying to compare #'s from AT meter & relion micro before finally sticking to just the relion.
 
Dez said:
I agree with this. I was driving myself crazy trying to compare #'s from AT meter & relion micro before finally sticking to just the relion.
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Hi everyone,
Thankyou for your responses everyone! I just want to clarify though that I am only using the AlphaTrak 2 meter.
I was told on this site that the FSL strips were made by the same manufacturer and that they would also work so I got the different results on the FSL strip and the AT2 strip. I would have assumed that the 268 was correct at first since I had gotten that BG with the AT2 strip but the second time around with a new drop of blood it was 375.
My concern on these numbers is how valid have all my previous tests numbers been? My cat is not on the correct dosage and I have been changing it up a bit with the guidance of my vet. The last thing I want is to present my vet with numbers that are possibly wrong and we change his dosage to the wrong amount.
I'm just frustrated because this is all new to me and I'm doing my best to test regularly but with results like yesterday, how can I assume that previous tests were valid.
Someone earlier on this thread said that FSL strips were made by a different manufacturer but the overall consensus I had got from previous members was that these were fine to use!? Now I'm not sure which to use? Especially with results like yesterday.

Sincerely,
A stressed out cat mom.
 
I have noticed that if you use two of the AT strips with the same drop of blood, there can be a big difference in the numbers. The FDA allows a 20percent difference in all glucose test strips or meters. That explains the difference in numbers, regardless of brand. I have been using the FS strips in my AT meter for quite a while. If I get a questionable number, I recheck using AT strips. If I am still not sure about the numbers, I use my back up meter and strips, It's an Advocate, a highly rated meter for pets that I got from Amazon for about $20.
 
You're going to get mixed messages here.....we have some people who use the FS Lite strips with their AT meter and swear by it...we have others who say it's not worth the risk to use the "wrong" strips in any meter

It will have to ultimately be your decision if you want to continue to use the FS strips or not

As for the differences in the numbers, you're going to occasionally have a strip give you a wonky number (which I still think that 268 probably was) and you're "overthinking" it.....it's not that far out of the ballpark from the other numbers you've been getting so I'm sure your meter is working fine and you can depend on the readings.

Your only other choice (other than to just believe what you see) would be to take your cat to the vet for testing several times a day for the rest of it's life. People here (and there have been thousands) have used personal meters on their cats for many years and they have done well. We can't replace "professional lab results", but we can keep them safe as well as watch for "trends" in blood glucose numbers......if your cats numbers are all remaining too high, it really doesn't matter if they're at 300 or 500....they're too high......when you start to see a downward trend in the numbers, you know you are taking your first steps toward getting better control
 
Chris & China said:
You're going to get mixed messages here.....we have some people who use the FS Lite strips with their AT meter and swear by it...we have others who say it's not worth the risk to use the "wrong" strips in any meter

It will have to ultimately be your decision if you want to continue to use the FS strips or not

As for the differences in the numbers, you're going to occasionally have a strip give you a wonky number (which I still think that 268 probably was) and you're "overthinking" it.....it's not that far out of the ballpark from the other numbers you've been getting so I'm sure your meter is working fine and you can depend on the readings.

Your only other choice (other than to just believe what you see) would be to take your cat to the vet for testing several times a day for the rest of it's life. People here (and there have been thousands) have used personal meters on their cats for many years and they have done well. We can't replace "professional lab results", but we can keep them safe as well as watch for "trends" in blood glucose numbers......if your cats numbers are all remaining too high, it really doesn't matter if they're at 300 or 500....they're too high......when you start to see a downward trend in the numbers, you know you are taking your first steps toward getting better control
Click to expand...
Thankyou for this response. You made a lot of good points!

Deena
 
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