Best Glucometer New Member
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Sarah&Soph
Member Since 2019
The freestyle lite also uses a 0.3uL sample. However the strips are very pricey from a pharmacy. They’re cheaper if you buy them online from somewhere like amazon or Walmart, but still not super cheap. Another option that’s widely used here is the ReliOn Prime which uses a 0.5uL sample. It does take a slightly larger sample, but I haven’t had issues with it and the strips are very cheap and widely available
Deb & Wink
Member Since 2013
What country do you live in? That makes a difference as to strip cost and meter availability.
The Contour Next One human meter (0.5 to 0.6 blood drop size - depedds on where you check) has inexpensive strips if you are in the US and order in quantity (like from Amazon). Plus, it has a handy feature that allows you to add more blood to the test strip if the first drop was not enough. Highly rated by CR and various human diabetic websites. Plus, repeatable accuracy is higher than the Relion Prime or Relion Premier line.
Alphatrak 2 is a very good pet specific meter. Test strips are more expensive, but it also takes a small 0.3 microliter blood drop. Pet specific meters are more accurate on cats, especially at lower BG (blood glucose) levels.
http://main.diabetes.org/dforg/pdfs/2018/2018-cg-blood-glucose-meters.pdf
chart is old, so all these meters are not available.
The Contour Next One human meter (0.5 to 0.6 blood drop size - depedds on where you check) has inexpensive strips if you are in the US and order in quantity (like from Amazon). Plus, it has a handy feature that allows you to add more blood to the test strip if the first drop was not enough. Highly rated by CR and various human diabetic websites. Plus, repeatable accuracy is higher than the Relion Prime or Relion Premier line.
Alphatrak 2 is a very good pet specific meter. Test strips are more expensive, but it also takes a small 0.3 microliter blood drop. Pet specific meters are more accurate on cats, especially at lower BG (blood glucose) levels.
http://main.diabetes.org/dforg/pdfs/2018/2018-cg-blood-glucose-meters.pdf
chart is old, so all these meters are not available.
Thank you. Just getting started and hoping to find a good one that needs only 0.3 uL and if possible least cost "wicking" strips. I read somewhere the freestyle lite often tests very low and was suggested not to get it.
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I'm in the US. Thank you for your reply. Sorry its taking me a while to even see how to reply. I will carefully read what you've posted and start checking. I didn't know the AlphTrac2 took only 0.3 drop. I just seems like the least amount of blood you have to have will be the easiest to get etc. Thanks for you help. And thanks for the chart.
Deb & Wink
Member Since 2013
This thread from over in the
Announcements & How to use the FDMB forum has a "Sticky" or pinned post at the top that has some helpful information.
Most new members simply blow right on past that forum at top speed, not even bothering to read what is there.
Look at the #2 post in this thread I've posted for you below, from over in the announcements forum on how to navigate a bit here. Really no different than learning to use a social media platform, like facebook.
Sticky HOW-TO USE THE FDMB: The Basics
Announcements & How to use the FDMB forum has a "Sticky" or pinned post at the top that has some helpful information.
Most new members simply blow right on past that forum at top speed, not even bothering to read what is there.
Look at the #2 post in this thread I've posted for you below, from over in the announcements forum on how to navigate a bit here. Really no different than learning to use a social media platform, like facebook.
Sticky HOW-TO USE THE FDMB: The Basics
Deb & Wink
Member Since 2013
Once you are here for a bit, we can teach you how to selectively quote someone else's reply. To focus on items of concern.
Sure would love you to take 60 seconds and put some helpful information in your User Id profile, including the "Signature" portion.
Go to the top right corner of the screen, click on your user name, a drop down list will appear, select "Signature" from that list. Start typing in the text box that appears and be sure to click on the "Save Changes" button at the end of the text box.
Information like your first name, your cat's name age and sex, DX: (diagnosis date), insulin used, meter used (when you get one), food fed, and then the SS (spreadsheet) link when you get that setup are so, so helpful to those of us responding to members. That signature information will be "magically" attached at the end of all your posts. Signature and other user profile information can be updated as needed.
Sure would love you to take 60 seconds and put some helpful information in your User Id profile, including the "Signature" portion.
Go to the top right corner of the screen, click on your user name, a drop down list will appear, select "Signature" from that list. Start typing in the text box that appears and be sure to click on the "Save Changes" button at the end of the text box.
Information like your first name, your cat's name age and sex, DX: (diagnosis date), insulin used, meter used (when you get one), food fed, and then the SS (spreadsheet) link when you get that setup are so, so helpful to those of us responding to members. That signature information will be "magically" attached at the end of all your posts. Signature and other user profile information can be updated as needed.
OK Deb thanks. Was thinking I might wait until it is 100% confirmed Ling Ling is diabetic. Have an appt tomorrow AM to have glucose rechecked. Took Ling Friday to Dental vet for cleaning. In pre cleaning BT her glucose was 338 and urinalysis ++500 glucose in urine. But she was highly stressed due to an hour car ride to that vet and they also found a urinary tract infection. I am still hoping that possibly the stress caused the spike in glucose. She doesn't have any clinical signs of diabetes. No increase drinking, urinating, has not lost weight. Only thing is she is pretty inactive but that is the way she has always been. Anyway, before starting her on insulin I want to have the glucose rechecked and will do that tomorrow morning.
Deb & Wink
Member Since 2013
Stress hyperglycemia does cause the BG levels to rise, and if I remember correctly, the BG's can stay elevated for anywhere from 4 to 9 hours on average.
Were there other symptoms that may have been from CKD (chronic kidney disease) or HypetT(hyperthyroidism) and has your vet ruled out those possible causes of the high glucose levels?
Unless your cat is very chilled out at the vet and the car ride there, the BG's (blood glucose) levels could be elevated again, due to "vet stress." Articles exist on this phenomenon.
Were there other symptoms that may have been from CKD (chronic kidney disease) or HypetT(hyperthyroidism) and has your vet ruled out those possible causes of the high glucose levels?
Unless your cat is very chilled out at the vet and the car ride there, the BG's (blood glucose) levels could be elevated again, due to "vet stress." Articles exist on this phenomenon.
Chris & China (GA)
Member Since 2013
Having a UTI (or any infection/inflammation or pain) can also raise the blood glucose plus the stress of the car ride and vet visit, so you're doing some good thinking in questioning the diagnosis of diabetes.
One way to rule out the stress part would be to just get a Relion Prime meter and strips from WalMart and test her at home. It will also help to test at home because as the UTI subsides, her numbers should come down too.
The difference between 0.3 and 0.5 really isn't that much and you can't beat the price of the Prime strips. The meter is $9 and the strips are $9 for 50/$17.88 for 100.
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Deb & Wink
Taking Ling Ling in for glucose recheck this morning. Hoping the local vet has a glucometer and won't have to draw blood. Haven't ruled out anything. She doesn't have any clinical signs. Now that I am worried and watching her every move I noticed she is grooming herself a lot on her belly with a big bare spot and does seem a little less active. Not sure about the lack of activity since she has always been that way. She is not drinking or urinating more and has not lost weight. Still hoping high blood glucose was from stress but glucose in urine is another concern. Hopefully will know more later this morning. Thank you for replyiing.
Taking Ling Ling in for glucose recheck this morning. Hoping the local vet has a glucometer and won't have to draw blood. Haven't ruled out anything. She doesn't have any clinical signs. Now that I am worried and watching her every move I noticed she is grooming herself a lot on her belly with a big bare spot and does seem a little less active. Not sure about the lack of activity since she has always been that way. She is not drinking or urinating more and has not lost weight. Still hoping high blood glucose was from stress but glucose in urine is another concern. Hopefully will know more later this morning. Thank you for replyiing.
Bron and Sheba (GA)
Member Since 2015
The vet may suggest the pet meter alphatrak, However the strips are $1 each and are very expensive to run. I would take Chris’s advice and get the ReliOn Prime. Good luck for the vet visit.
Thanks Chris & China. Good information. I don't want to wait much longer to start Ling on insulin if in fact she needs it but need to rule out the high glucose has any connection to the UTI and or stress. Also not sure why there is glucose in her urine at ++500. I hope the vet has a glucometer. If not and she has to draw blood I might ask her to do the "fructosamine" test. The Relion Prime sounds like a good one to have. Thanks for the blood drop size pic.
Dr Pierson's says the same about the alphatrak. Based on Chris's advice and other info I am planning on getting the relion prime. Thanks Bron.
Deb & Wink
Member Since 2013
The Contour Next One is also a good meter. Better accuracy than the Relion Prime.
Thanks Deb. Fructosamine test done yesterday morning indicates Ling's high glucose was due to stress. At least that's what we're hoping. We will have a urinalysis retest next week to see if the glucose in the urine is gone and was therefore hopefully caused by her urinary tract infection or possibly something else less severe than diabetes. The vet's opinion is that Ling is in "good control" right now and not diabetic which would be an answer to my prayers. We will see what happens next week. I'll be checking back in here then. I can quickly tell this is a great group.
Deb & Wink
Member Since 2013
Yeah! on the good fructosamine test results. Keeping our paws crossed that Ling's urine retest is clear and all is well.
We do handle general cat health questions for members in this forum - Feline Health (Welcome & Main Forum). Some knowledge about other cat medical conditions is part of our broad range of knowledge. I've even asked for opinions here about my non-diabetic (civie, civilian) cats.
We do handle general cat health questions for members in this forum - Feline Health (Welcome & Main Forum). Some knowledge about other cat medical conditions is part of our broad range of knowledge. I've even asked for opinions here about my non-diabetic (civie, civilian) cats.
Keep us updated. We wonder about members that join and then we never hear from them again. Plus we'd like to know that you and Ling are doing ok.
Deb I pray that Ling's urine is clear on recheck. She will have been on a two week antibiotic injection for 10 days at recheck. Hoping and praying her urine will be ok. I will definitely let you know! The fructosamine test done in house at the vet measured 235 which implied three possibilities...1 the cat has reverted to non-insulin dependent state 2 Good control...3...Prolonged hyperglycemia. The vet belies it is Good Control. Ling is not drinking or peeing more at all, has not lost weight, and had a UTI. Trying to get her somewhat "prepared" for the hour long stressful ride to the original vet I had given her 3 rides in the car during the two week period before the long trip. Hoping, since those rides would also have been stressful, and since they fall during the 2 to 3 week period fructosamine measures that her number would have possibly been a little higher. Love my kitties and I very much appreciate help from you guys. I will let you know more as I find out.
Bob
Bob
Deb & Wink
Member Since 2013
Hi Bob,
Was the antibiotic injection with Convenia by any chance? Meant for skin infections, but some vets use it off-label for UTI's. Hope it worked. Sometimes, you'll need to have a C&S (culture and sensitivity) done on the urine, to pinpoint the bacteria causing the UTI. Some UTI's are idiopathic, meaning they can't be traced to any cause.
Yes it was Covenia. I will ask the local vet doing the retest next week about a culture and sensitivity test if her UTI is not ok next week. Thank you so much for that information!
Deb & Wink
Member Since 2013
You mention something, and that gets the old brain trying to dig up some information and voila! More info than you ever thought you needed spills on out.
Ling and I very much appreciate the information. Thanks Deb!
I have great news I almost feel guilty sharing when i know so many here have deeply loved kitties suffering with diabetes. Yesterday Ling Ling had a urinalysis recheck. Results that she had no glucose in her urine and her UTI was gone! Just confirmed hopes and suspicions the high blood glucose was caused by stress from the long car ride and glucose in urine could have been caused by the UTI. My prayers were answered 100%. Was hoping and praying for that outcome but was worried and certainly not confident. I am so glad I researched feline diabetes and questioned the original diagnosis before starting her on the insulin I had purchased. Donated that to the vet for someone in need along with 100 syringes. Thanks to everyone here for your input and help. This is a great group. I wish everyone and their kitties the very best. I've already told some people, and will continue to let people know about the valuable resource the group here provides. Thanks again to all.
Deb & Wink
Member Since 2013
No glucose in the urine simply means the cat is below renal threshold, which is somewhere between 180 and 250, depending on the lab reference ranges.
Cats can still be diabetic and be below renal threshold, but have numbers higher than a normal cat.
Certainly hoping that your cat is not diabetic. Keep watching for signs of feline diabetes, excessive urination, excessive water consumption, losing weight rapidly, voracious appetite, dandruff or poor coat, walking on the hocks.
Cats can still be diabetic and be below renal threshold, but have numbers higher than a normal cat.
Certainly hoping that your cat is not diabetic. Keep watching for signs of feline diabetes, excessive urination, excessive water consumption, losing weight rapidly, voracious appetite, dandruff or poor coat, walking on the hocks.
I'll definitely keep an eye on her. She was under significant stress during the car ride to the vet. She does not drink or urinate more at all and is not losing weight. She is and always has been hungry. Her coat is good and doesn't walk on hocks so am hoping she is clear but I will definitely keep an eye on her. Supposed to repeat the fructosamine test in 2 months to be safe. Thanks for the information. One thing in her favor is that she has always eaten raw food. We rotate proteins and all have 1% or less carbs. I know cats can be diabetic even when they don't consume many carbs but hoping that's at least something in her favor etc.
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Deb & Wink
Member Since 2013
All that sounds good. The negative signs for diabetes. Raw food can be great for a lot of cats, for many different reasons and health conditions . Hope you are able to find the raw foods you usually feed, or the raw meats you use to make your own and the supplements to add to make the food nutritionally complete.
Some members on here that have cats with kidney disease make their own raw, lower phosphorus, no ground up bones.
Hope the fructosamine retest in 2 months is clear.
p.s. Have her thyroid levels been checked? T4 and Free T4? That can make a cat hungry all the time.
Some members on here that have cats with kidney disease make their own raw, lower phosphorus, no ground up bones.
Hope the fructosamine retest in 2 months is clear.
p.s. Have her thyroid levels been checked? T4 and Free T4? That can make a cat hungry all the time.
All that sounds good. The negative signs for diabetes. Raw food can be great for a lot of cats, for many different reasons and health conditions . Hope you are able to find the raw foods you usually feed, or the raw meats you use to make your own and the supplements to add to make the food nutritionally complete.
Some members on here that have cats with kidney disease make their own raw, lower phosphorus, no ground up bones.
Hope the fructosamine retest in 2 months is clear.
p.s. Have her thyroid levels been checked? T4 and Free T4? That can make a cat hungry all the time.
Ling Ling just likes to eat. Her T4 was perfect. I'm trying to get her to lose about 1/2 lb now. I always weigh their meals but was still giving her too much. Have her down from 1.4 oz per meal twice a day to 1.0 oz to now 0.9 oz. They all get a bedtime treat too. Usually from a home made turkey, sardine, chix baby food recipe from Dr Becker. I used to make cat food chicken, turkey, and rabbit following Dr Pierson's recipes but haven't for awhile. Sourced the organic chicken from Whole Foods, the turkey from fairly local farm, and rabbit from Hare-Today. I now feed them Answers chicken, Answers turkey, Vital Essentials rabbit, and some Quest Emu for a change. Hard to find frozen raw cat food that has no veges and is not high pressure pasteurized. If at some point the manufacturers I buy from start HPP I may have to go back to making my own. I love Dr Lisa Pierson's catinfo.org. She provides so much valuable information and at no charge which means I know she is first and foremost a kittie lover. I wish she was in IL if for no other reason than I could give her a big thankful hug!
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