2020-02-06 New Member from Canada and need meter suggestions please
- Thread starter NancyF
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Sharon14
Member Since 2015
Welcome Nancy and George! Yes you can do curves at home and actually get better results than the ones done at the vet since George’s stress will be lowered. Here’s some info to get you started http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/hometesting-links-and-tips.287/
Check it out and ask any questions you have. We will be glad to help you and George along
Check it out and ask any questions you have. We will be glad to help you and George along
Deb & Wink
Member Since 2013
Hi Nancy and her kitty George. Welcome.
First, the 3 basics of treating feline diabetes are:
Overwhelmed? That is normal. Scared? That is normal too.
What else may we help you with?
First, the 3 basics of treating feline diabetes are:
- a good insulin for cats (prozinc, levimir, lantus)
- good low carb wet food (Friskies pates and Fancy Feast pates are simply 2 examples for USA members)
- home testing of blood glucose. It may sound hard, but we can help you learn how. Most people here use a human glucometer. The test strips are where you will have your greatest cost.
Overwhelmed? That is normal. Scared? That is normal too.
What else may we help you with?
NancyF
Member Since 2020
Thank you. I'm beginning to realize that there's more to treating Georgie than just giving him to shots a day. I feel confident about treating him and even being able to test his BG, but I'm terrified of learning how to read the results and give him the proper dose
NancyF
Member Since 2020
So a human glucometer is ok? I've been looking up the equipment I'll need and the price of the strips are so high! Is there a preferred glucometer? And a way to convert it for Georgie?
Deb & Wink
Member Since 2013
Yes, a human glucometer is ok. All the documents we use here were written with human meters in mind.
We don't use any sort of conversion when using a human meter for our pets.
The numbers you get using a human meter are what we are used to here. Readings depend on what country you live in, either mg/dL or mmol/L. Interpretation of those BG readings/levels/numbers/tests is a whole other subject. Depends on when the tests are done in relationship to when the insulin is given.
What country do you live in? So we can make some suggestions on food and meters.
We don't use any sort of conversion when using a human meter for our pets.
The numbers you get using a human meter are what we are used to here. Readings depend on what country you live in, either mg/dL or mmol/L. Interpretation of those BG readings/levels/numbers/tests is a whole other subject. Depends on when the tests are done in relationship to when the insulin is given.
What country do you live in? So we can make some suggestions on food and meters.
Deb & Wink
Member Since 2013
Never mind, I see from your profile that you live in Canada. I should have remembered to check that first.
So your glucometer will read in mmol/L.
So your glucometer will read in mmol/L.
Deb & Wink
Member Since 2013
I see you are from Quebec. This may seem like a silly question, but how are your English language skills? Are you mainly a French speaker/writer or are you also fluent in written English?
NancyF
Member Since 2020
I live in Canada. And I'm relieved that Friskies pate is ok since that's the food Georgie eats. I've completely stopped the dry food for him now.
Deb & Wink
Member Since 2013
Please, don't let your vet convince you your diabetic cat Georgie needs to be on one those special sold only at vet clinics "Veterinary Diet" foods. Friskies pates are just fine.
Good for you for removing the dry food from Georgies diet. You may need to feed more of the canned food to compensate.
Would you do something for me? Go to the upper right hand corner of your screen and click on "Thread Tools, Edit Title" Change the title of your post to include telling people you are from Canada and want meter suggestions. We have plenty of Canadian members and hopefully that will get one of them to come look and suggest a good meter available in Canada.
Good for you for removing the dry food from Georgies diet. You may need to feed more of the canned food to compensate.
Would you do something for me? Go to the upper right hand corner of your screen and click on "Thread Tools, Edit Title" Change the title of your post to include telling people you are from Canada and want meter suggestions. We have plenty of Canadian members and hopefully that will get one of them to come look and suggest a good meter available in Canada.
NancyF
Member Since 2020
Vet said Georgie is allowed to eat as much wet as he needs right now since he'd lost so much weight. My poor baby. And he prefers the wet, so I'm lucky there.
Just change the title of the thread. Thank you so much for your help with this.
Deb & Wink
Member Since 2013
Hi Nancy. Would you put some information in your user profile? Those little tidbits you see below our posts are what we call the "Signature." Information such as this:
Caregiver & kitty's name, DX: date, Name of insulin, Name of your meter, Diet: "LC wet" or "dry food" or "combo"
Any health issues for your cat. any medications your cat receives. DKA or ketones if your cat has had them(if applicable)
Spreadsheet link on the last line by itself (for quick access)
Caregiver & kitty's name, DX: date, Name of insulin, Name of your meter, Diet: "LC wet" or "dry food" or "combo"
Any health issues for your cat. any medications your cat receives. DKA or ketones if your cat has had them(if applicable)
Spreadsheet link on the last line by itself (for quick access)
Judy and Freckles
Member Since 2019
Hi Nancy,
I'm in Canada as well. I've been using the FreeStyle Lite meter and strips. I like that only a small drop of blood is needed for the monitor to read glucose levels. Here is the webpage to get a free meter when you purchase strips.
https://www.freestyle.abbott/ca/en/products/lite.html
Strips can sometimes be purchased cheaper on places like ebay... just don't bid against me! lol
Initially, I started using the Alphatrak monitor, but the strips were way too expensive (almost $2.00/strip) and not easily available. My vet was not aware of the high price of the strip but after I told him, he was fine with me using a human monitor. For the past 30 years, vets had no choice but to use human monitors on cats because that was all there was (this info is from a senior vet herself). Besides, the information and the spreadsheet on this forum is based on human monitors, so it is much easier rather than having to try and convert.
You will find the people on this board are very generous of their time and experience.
Deb has given you excellent advice to get you started. It can be overwhelming to start ... ALL of us have been there but dealing with Feline Diabetes is VERY doable. Welcome aboard!
I'm in Canada as well. I've been using the FreeStyle Lite meter and strips. I like that only a small drop of blood is needed for the monitor to read glucose levels. Here is the webpage to get a free meter when you purchase strips.
https://www.freestyle.abbott/ca/en/products/lite.html
Strips can sometimes be purchased cheaper on places like ebay... just don't bid against me! lol
Initially, I started using the Alphatrak monitor, but the strips were way too expensive (almost $2.00/strip) and not easily available. My vet was not aware of the high price of the strip but after I told him, he was fine with me using a human monitor. For the past 30 years, vets had no choice but to use human monitors on cats because that was all there was (this info is from a senior vet herself). Besides, the information and the spreadsheet on this forum is based on human monitors, so it is much easier rather than having to try and convert.
You will find the people on this board are very generous of their time and experience.
You will learn how to read the results and about dosing - because the people on this forum will help you. Just post and ask your questions. Many people on this forum have years of experience dealing with diabetic kitties (not me, but many have helped me out) and the knowledge surpasses the knowledge that many (not all) vets have on feline diabetes.
Deb has given you excellent advice to get you started. It can be overwhelming to start ... ALL of us have been there but dealing with Feline Diabetes is VERY doable. Welcome aboard!
NancyF
Member Since 2020
Thank you so much. I'm going to check that link out asap!
NancyF
Member Since 2020
I'm a little confused. You want me to do what? Name of my cat, his age, date of diagnosis, type of insulin and there you've lost me. Oof I feel so stupid
NancyF
Member Since 2020
Wow, I'm sorry I missed this one. I'm actually English though I do speak French as well
Deb & Wink
Member Since 2013
You've got some of that information in your Signature", so you figured it out! Good job. There is lots of information you can put in your user profile. You now have a "signature" at the bottom of every post.
Georgie knows who the "boss" is and it's not Bruce Springsteen.
What insulin are you giving "The Boss"?
p.s. We have members from all over the world. Had someone from France post the other day. She replied to me in French, and I had to use google translate to completely and fully understand her reply. We have a whole other language we speak, with lots of feline diabetes terms you may not know. So wanted to know/verify if you were an ESL member too. Also helping someone in Spain that does not understand any English, someone in Argentina (and his mom) that does not understand English well but can understand written English ok, someone from Italy only a day ago that told us he was giving his newly diagnosed cat 5-10 Units of insulin!!! When we get into the "nitty gritty" details of when to test and explain our + hour notation system to someone else, there can be misunderstandings.
Apologies for being a bit "less than clear" in my explanations on what the "Signature" was. But you did it!
When you purchase the glucometer, add that little bit of information to your "Signature" also.
Upper right hand corner, click on your user name, select the Signature from the drop down list, make your changes, save changes. 250 character limit? I think.
NancyF
Member Since 2020
Whew, thank you. And I will! I'll add the insulin info when I get home (I work night shift).You've got some of that information in your Signature", so you figured it out! Good job. There is lots of information you can put in your user profile. You now have a "signature" at the bottom of every post.
Georgie knows who the "boss" is and it's not Bruce Springsteen.
What insulin are you giving "The Boss"?
p.s. We have members from all over the world. Had someone from France post the other day. She replied to me in French, and I had to use google translate to completely and fully understand her reply. We have a whole other language we speak, with lots of feline diabetes terms you may not know. So wanted to know/verify if you were an ESL member too. Also helping someone in Spain that does not understand any English, someone in Argentina (and his mom) that does not understand English well but can understand written English ok, someone from Italy only a day ago that told us he was giving his newly diagnosed cat 5-10 Units of insulin!!! When we get into the "nitty gritty" details of when to test and explain our + hour notation system to someone else, there can be misunderstandings.
Apologies for being a bit "less than clear" in my explanations on what the "Signature" was. But you did it!
When you purchase the glucometer, add that little bit of information to your "Signature" also.
Upper right hand corner, click on your user name, select the Signature from the drop down list, make your changes, save changes. 250 character limit? I think.
That's incredibly kind of you to go through all the trouble helping people, especially those that don't speak English. But this is a whole new language to learn as well.
Oh yes, Georgie definitely rules the roost. I'm so lucky he's such a cuddly, mellow cat or all this could be so much more difficult.
Deb & Wink
Member Since 2013
Helping another person that works the nightshift. And she never knows her schedule more than a few days in advance.
Notes like that on your SS can be helpful.
Notes like that on your SS can be helpful.
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