? Advice on switching to Freestyle meter

[Mancat]

I have been using the AT2 meter that my vet recommended for awhile and the Freestyle lite test strips since they are much cheaper. However, lately I've been noticing that I'm having some trouble getting consistent readings and I wonder if that's why I can't get Nala regulated. She came in at 80 for PMPS today which is fantastic. Her dose was 2.8 but in light of that I backed it down to 2. She tends to jump up quite a bit, 100-150 points after eating. I just tested her at +3 and the first test came back at 321. I was worried that maybe she went hypo but I tested again immediately with a new strip and it came back at 226. It isn't the first time something like this has happened either. I'm considering just picking up a Freestyle Lite meter since I already have the strips. Can anyone give advice on if I should make the switch? Tips on coding since it's a human meter? Etc etc. Thanks again. Good luck on the basket entries too everyone!

 

[Sebastian & Kerry]

Hmm, I was just advised that Freestyle were a good and much cheaper alternative to use with the AlphaTrak meter, which is why I am searching the forums. Wish I knew more about how the strips actually work and how interchangeable they are.

 

[Carol & Murphy (GA)]

If you do a search of the forums, you will find all the threads on the subject- I've been getting some weird readings at times, and when I test the same drop of blood using both strips, the readings are almost identical. So I'm convinced, at least for me, the freestyle lite strips give a reliable reading. I"m sticking with alpha trak - sometimes when Murphy is running high (like now) I think the human meters would give me a false sense that he is doing better than he is (with the lower readings). I am not diabetic- and when I test my blood using the alpha trak, I get very high readings (~160) just showing the interspecies variability on the physiology of glucose readings in these meters. I really like knowing what the glucose would be if done at the laboratory, and that is much closer to alpha trak readings. I also check readings on both strips quite frequently and change out freestyle and alpha trak every so often. The strips are made by the same company (Abbott) and some think they are the identical strip. But you should do what you are comfortable with - and if I ever get very low or very high readings, I will test with the alpha trak strips

 

[Tuxedo Mom]

If you do a search of the forums, you will find all the threads on the subject- I've been getting some weird readings at times, and when I test the same drop of blood using both strips, the readings are almost identical. So I'm convinced, at least for me, the freestyle lite strips give a reliable reading. I"m sticking with alpha trak - sometimes when Murphy is running high (like now) I think the human meters would give me a false sense that he is doing better than he is (with the lower readings). I am not diabetic- and when I test my blood using the alpha trak, I get very high readings (~160) just showing the interspecies variability on the physiology of glucose readings in these meters. I really like knowing what the glucose would be if done at the laboratory, and that is much closer to alpha trak readings. I also check readings on both strips quite frequently and change out freestyle and alpha trak every so often. The strips are made by the same company (Abbott) and some think they are the identical strip. But you should do what you are comfortable with - and if I ever get very low or very high readings, I will test with the alpha trak strips

I also use the FS Lite strips in my AT2 meter and am comfortable with the results after doing many comparisons with AT strips and FS Lite strips. It would be useful if you have the test solution and can verify the meter. I have found that the FS Lite test solution works exactly the same as the AT2 test solution...same company etc etc,

The other thing is to make sure the battery is good. I try to replace my battery every 3 months since I do a lot of testing. The battery is rated for 1000 tests and there is "supposed" to be a warning light that comes on when it is getting low, but I never wait for that...I just replace every 3 months.

 

[Carol & Murphy (GA)]

The other thing is to make sure the battery is good. I try to replace my battery every 3 months since I do a lot of testing. The battery is rated for 1000 tests and there is "supposed" to be a warning light that comes on when it is getting low, but I never wait for that...I just replace every 3 months.

Thanks for that reminder - I have never changed the batteries - I will do that tomorrow

 

[Bobbie And Bubba]

The battery is rated for 1000 tests and

Good reminder for all meters. I have never changed mine and it's been 6 months. On my to do list. You don't want to be caught with a working meter for sure. The other thing is to test the strips with the control solution to make sure the strips are okay.

 

[Mancat]

Thanks to everyone for the advice. I have some solution on hand that I can use and see what's going on with the strips, if anything. I will also change the battery as well. I may pick up the FS meter anyway to have a back up and something else to test against since it doesn't cost much.