2/7 New member - glucose meter question

[NicoleC46237]

Good afternoon everyone! I just started my recently diagnosed 9 year old Lou on 1 unit of ProZinc twice daily per the vet last night but of course the only mention of monitoring his glucose was to come back in on the 17th for a recheck. That seemed wrong to me so I found you guys I have 2 glucose meters here at home from my past (both misdiagnoses on myself) but I was hoping I could use one to test my Lou with to make sure I'm doing this all right. I have a Freestyle Lite and a One Touch Ultra. Is one better than the other for cats? They both need new strips so before I go buy them I wanted to get the best ones. Thanks in advance! I'm sure this is the first of MANY questions to come

 

[Deb & Wink]

Freestyle lite takes a nice small blood sample size, 0.3 microliter. Strips are pricey.
One Touch Ultra 2 takes a really big blood drop. 1.0 microliter. Strips are pricey too. You're going to have a more difficult time getting that large of a blood drop from your cat, especially at the beginning as you learn to home test.

Meters are inexpensive. It's the test strips that are going to cost you.
Go for the one with the less expensive test strips. Or even buy test strips for both, and keep the more expensive test strips and spare meter in your hypo toolkit. Or get yourself a new meter with less expensive test strips.

If your meters are more than a couple of years old, the meter could have been discontinued by the manufacturer and test strips may be difficult to obtain.

You might need fresh batteries for the meters too.
What country do you live in?

p.s. Don't worry, we're used to questions. We'll have some for you too.

 

[Wendy&Neko]

Hi Nicole, and welcome. Both meters are good ones to use (my vet used the Onetouch in her clinic), but the Freestyle probably needs a smaller drop of blood. Which will be easier for testing with Lou.

 

[NicoleC46237]

Freestyle lite takes a nice small blood sample size, 0.3 microliter. Strips are pricey.
One Touch Ultra 2 takes a really big blood drop. 1.0 microliter. Strips are pricey too. You're going to have a more difficult time getting that large of a blood drop from your cat, especially at the beginning as you learn to home test.

Meters are inexpensive. It's the test strips that are going to cost you.
Go for the one with the less expensive test strips. Or even buy test strips for both, and keep the more expensive test strips and spare meter in your hypo toolkit. Or get yourself a new meter with less expensive test strips.

If your meters are more than a couple of years old, the meter could have been discontinued by the manufacturer and test strips may be difficult to obtain.

You might need fresh batteries for the meters too.
What country do you live in?

p.s. Don't worry, we're used to questions. We'll have some for you too.

The Freestyle is 3 years old and the other is probably 5 years old and the batteries are dead. I'm in the USA. I'll look into pricing tomorrow and see if it's better to switch entirely or just get new strips and more lancets. Thanks I appreciate the info. Less blood is preferred for sure lol

 

[NicoleC46237]

Hi Nicole, and welcome. Both meters are good ones to use (my vet used the Onetouch in her clinic), but the Freestyle probably needs a smaller drop of blood. Which will be easier for testing with Lou.

Thank you! I feel like I'm swimming with one floaty on learning all of this. Just going around and around and around lol

 

[Sarah&Soph]

The Freestyle is 3 years old and the other is probably 5 years old and the batteries are dead. I'm in the USA. I'll look into pricing tomorrow and see if it's better to switch entirely or just get new strips and more lancets. Thanks I appreciate the info. Less blood is preferred for sure lol

If you are in the US, the freestyle lite strips are PRICEY! In person from a pharmacy, they are about $80-100 for 50. If you get them online from somewhere like Walmart or amazon, they’re a bit cheaper, around $25 for 50. The ReliOn prime is a popular one in the US. The sample size is 0.5 microliters and the strips are $9 for 50

 

[NicoleC46237]

If you are in the US, the freestyle lite strips are PRICEY! In person from a pharmacy, they are about $80-100 for 50. If you get them online from somewhere like Walmart or amazon, they’re a bit cheaper, around $25 for 50. The ReliOn prime is a popular one in the US. The sample size is 0.5 microliters and the strips are $9 for 50

Thank you so much!! That it's great information! I appreciate it!

 

[Wendy&Neko]

Also check eBay for test strip prices.

 

[Deb & Wink]

Looks like there are plenty of paws available for swimming.
Lancets get the one "for alternate site Testing" labeled on the box.

If you live near a walmart, they sell the relion brand of meters. Small blood drops, but very inexpensive test strips.