? Alpha Trak 2 Test Strips alternative for UK user

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Kate & Toby

Kate & Toby

Member Since 2019
Hello all,

I know this has been asked many times before so my apologies, but I've read many conflicting things on the historic posts.

I have spent £150 in a week on AT2 Test Strips....To be frank I can't keep doing that.... so I need an alternative, what do people recommend? I was about to order the Free Style Lite strips but then read on an old post that they were not recommended.

Any help or experience is welcome, thank you all in advance.
 
My opinion is, if you are not going to use the AT strips, just get a human meter and use the strips that are appropriate for it. The AT strips are batch tested so they can provide the appropriate dog and cat codes to use with each vial. So, if you are not going to use them, I don't see the point of using the AT meter. With any other strips, you are going to have to 'guess' at a code to use. Why introduce that variable of potential inaccuracy?
 
This is quite a common question! You might want to amend the title of this thread to say you're in the UK as otherwise you'll get replies suggesting xyz etc from places like Walmart which of course we don't have here. There are some compatible strips available here and I'm trying to remember who's used them and might help... I think Georgiana uses Alphatrak and she's very efficient so see what she says @Georgiana & Perlutz

Otherwise yes, I agree with the suggestion above to use a human meter - much more cost-effective in the long run.
 
Hi Kate,

I'm using the AT2 with Freestyle strips (I'll add a pic) that I buy from Boots/Lloyds Pharmacy for £29 but they're sold for as little as £20 online (haven't purchased online yet). I know this is a little controversial and I'm not saying this is 100% safe, but before I started using them as main strips, I compared them to the original AT and the readings were very close, something like AT 21.5 and Freestyle 21.2 and the biggest difference I got was 1 on a high 20. I did random testings with both strips for about a week before I was confident to make the change.

I don't change the code when I get a new box of strips, I leave it on the same 38 AT setting from the AT strips. But I do try to get a box of AT strips every now and then to check against the Freestyle ones as well as the control solution from AT so I can recalibrate the meter. Perlutz has had few fructosamine tests and they were in line with my readings.

However, I do agree that it's easier and safer to just use a human meter. The reason I don't do it it's because we didn't manage to get readings on it :banghead:The Accucheck I have requires more blood and we just struggled to get enough blood and then get the blood sucked in the strip (works a little different than AT) There were a lot of tries, strips lost, bruised ears and a very unhappy mr cat.

I work next door to Abbott and sometimes I wish I could go and shout at them for the extortionate prices on AT or at least ask for a discount :D
freestyle.PNG
 
Georgiana & Perlutz said:
Hi Kate,

I'm using the AT2 with Freestyle strips (I'll add a pic) that I buy from Boots/Lloyds Pharmacy for £29 but they're sold for as little as £20 online (haven't purchased online yet). I know this is a little controversial and I'm not saying this is 100% safe, but before I started using them as main strips, I compared them to the original AT and the readings were very close, something like AT 21.5 and Freestyle 21.2 and the biggest difference I got was 1 on a high 20. I did random testings with both strips for about a week before I was confident to make the change.

I don't change the code when I get a new box of strips, I leave it on the same 38 AT setting from the AT strips. But I do try to get a box of AT strips every now and then to check against the Freestyle ones as well as the control solution from AT so I can recalibrate the meter. Perlutz has had few fructosamine tests and they were in line with my readings.

However, I do agree that it's easier and safer to just use a human meter. The reason I don't do it it's because we didn't manage to get readings on it :banghead:The Accucheck I have requires more blood and we just struggled to get enough blood and then get the blood sucked in the strip (works a little different than AT) There were a lot of tries, strips lost, bruised ears and a very unhappy mr cat.

I work next door to Abbott and sometimes I wish I could go and shout at them for the extortionate prices on AT or at least ask for a discount :DView attachment 47874
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Hi Georgina, thanks so much for your honest reply! I knew this would be a hot topic when I asked, Haha!
Give them a shout from me when you're passing please, the cost is outrageous, I did look at a human meter but I never figured I'd get so hooked on testing and knowing what was going on with his BG, hence why the costs are kinda out of control, I'm getting through a pack of 50 in 6 days!
I'll definitely look into the strips you use, I guess the patterns are as important as the numbers (assuming we stay safe of course). Its all such a worry and is consuming my life. HrH is gorgeous by the way! What a babe! :-)
 
Kate & Toby said:
hence why the costs are kinda out of control, I'm getting through a pack of 50 in 6 days!
Click to expand...
I currently use 4 per day, so it takes me 12.5 days to use up a vial. Before Mia was so very well regulated, I used them up faster. I have been using them for over 2 years. I have never attempted to add up how many I've used, but my guess would be over 3700 strips. :eek:
 
Kate & Toby said:
Hi Georgina, thanks so much for your honest reply! I knew this would be a hot topic when I asked, Haha!
Give them a shout from me when you're passing please, the cost is outrageous, I did look at a human meter but I never figured I'd get so hooked on testing and knowing what was going on with his BG, hence why the costs are kinda out of control, I'm getting through a pack of 50 in 6 days!
I'll definitely look into the strips you use, I guess the patterns are as important as the numbers (assuming we stay safe of course). Its all such a worry and is consuming my life. HrH is gorgeous by the way! What a babe! :)
Click to expand...
I just finished reading your thread and OMG at that 1.9! No wonder you go through strips like crazy! We go through a box every 10 days or so if we don't need a lot of extra testing and honestly, wouldn't afford the AT strips at this rate :facepalm:

And yes, it's stressful and time consuming but our boys are worth it! It all seems overwhelming at the beginning but it's gets easier in time, it just becomes second nature, you'll see. And if I'm right to think that your parents can help you with testing and insulin should you need it, you're very lucky! I'm sure you've heard this already, but do remember to take care of yourself too. I thought I'll have a mental break down a while ago and it wasn't good for either of us, humans or HRH (I see this name might stick :smuggrin:).

Toby is a gorgeous boy and lucky to have you!
 
Georgiana & Perlutz said:
I just finished reading your thread and OMG at that 1.9! No wonder you go through strips like crazy! We go through a box every 10 days or so if we don't need a lot of extra testing and honestly, wouldn't afford the AT strips at this rate :facepalm:

And yes, it's stressful and time consuming but our boys are worth it! It all seems overwhelming at the beginning but it's gets easier in time, it just becomes second nature, you'll see. And if I'm right to think that your parents can help you with testing and insulin should you need it, you're very lucky! I'm sure you've heard this already, but do remember to take care of yourself too. I thought I'll have a mental break down a while ago and it wasn't good for either of us, humans or HRH (I see this name might stick :smuggrin:).

Toby is a gorgeous boy and lucky to have you!
Click to expand...
Georgiana & Perlutz said:
I just finished reading your thread and OMG at that 1.9! No wonder you go through strips like crazy! We go through a box every 10 days or so if we don't need a lot of extra testing and honestly, wouldn't afford the AT strips at this rate :facepalm:

And yes, it's stressful and time consuming but our boys are worth it! It all seems overwhelming at the beginning but it's gets easier in time, it just becomes second nature, you'll see. And if I'm right to think that your parents can help you with testing and insulin should you need it, you're very lucky! I'm sure you've heard this already, but do remember to take care of yourself too. I thought I'll have a mental break down a while ago and it wasn't good for either of us, humans or HRH (I see this name might stick :smuggrin:).

Toby is a gorgeous boy and lucky to have you!
Click to expand...
Totally worth it, I'm already seeing the improvements, well for a start we haven't been to the ER in 3 weeks lol! But he's putting on weight, eating so well, back to sleeping on my pillow, sitting on the toilet watching me shower waiting for me to get out! A the little things that he was too unwell to do.
From reading your posts it looks like you and Perlutz have been on quite a journey too, these boys always know how to throw us a curve ball just when we think we've figured them out!
Yeah my mum and dad help out, mainly pop in to check on Tobes, dad has been testing a bit for me but the other day he went through 5 strips to get one reading !
 
I'm glad Toby is improving and I hope his diabetes will be better behaved than Perlutz's :smuggrin:

As for your dad going through 5 strips, my boyfriend and I went through 10's of them before we finally managed :oops: So well done Toby's grandpa!
 
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