AlphaTrak 2 KIT

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Vicpug

Vicpug

Member Since 2022
Hi, the AlphaTrak 2 Kit comes with a pen lancet tool. You can set depth settings from 1 to 5. What depth to use for a cats ear? Are the lancets a one only use ? Or can they be sterilized and reused? Many thanks.
 
I always start at the hight depth setting , which is the highest number. I then reduce depth as necessary. For some cats I can reduce the depth but for other not.
 
OK, tried depth 5, puss was not overly worried by the jab, got a reading of 8.2.
 
She had her 1U on Lantus pen at 5am. This reading was taken 2pm. Due for a feed and another 1U at 5pm.
 
Ok. If the BG is under 200 (11) I would stall, don’t feed, and test again in 20 minutes.. and post and ask for help.
Are you going to set up a spreadsheet?
 
Also have you thought about using syringes instead of a pen? With a pen you can only go up or down in 1 unit increments but with a syringe you can go up or down in as little as 1/4 units or less. The syringe you need is U100 3/10 30 or 31 gauge 6 or 8 mm insulin syringe with 1/2 unit markings. If you live in the US Walmart has them or most pharmacies. You can use the pen to get the insulin out with the syringe so there is no wastage.
 
Syringes can be difficult to get in Australia. And I will need vials of insulin. Looking at how the Lantus pen dispenses the insulin via flow rate, I think I can regulate it to get close to .5U (via a quick removal !!). Freestyle Libre 2 was so easy to use, but only 14 days, expensive and tricky to apply and remove. She appeared to be well controlled back in Feb. So I am using the Alphatrak to see if any adjustments need to be made. Freestyle graph is attached.
 

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Vicpug said:
Syringes can be difficult to get in Australia. And I will need vials of insulin. Looking at how the Lantus pen dispenses the insulin via flow rate, I think I can regulate it to get close to .5U (via a quick removal !!). Freestyle Libre 2 was so easy to use, but only 14 days, expensive and tricky to apply and remove. She appeared to be well controlled back in Feb. So I am using the Alphatrak to see if any adjustments need to be made. Freestyle graph is attached.
Click to expand...

Victor, I live in Australia and the insulin syringes I mentioned above can easily be bought in Australia, the only thing is we can’t get the ones with the 1/2 unit markings. Any pharmacy that sells diabetic supplies will have them or can order them in for you. I used to get 100 syringes for around $30. Or you can buy online. They have an orange cap.
It is also extremely easy to get the vials of Lantus here.
Please don’t try and fiddle with the pen to get a smaller dose. You could inadvertently give the wrong dose. If the pen could dispense doses other than in 1 unit increments they would say so in the literature. That is a dangerous path to go down.
Cats needs change over time, and just because Penny was doing well in February it doesn’t mean she has the same needs now.
If you want to get her into a strong remission you are going to have to be able to give doses less than I unit…….right down to 1 drop.

Here is a diagram of how to use the insulin from a pen with a syringe.
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Wonderfull. I am onto it. Puss was fed at 5pm and given 1U . Tested at 7pm. 8.5 mmol.
 
OK, so I now have the .3ml syringes. I am confused. So a 1U dose on the Lantus Pen is equal to a 10 on the .3ml syringe??
 
Vicpug said:
OK, so I now have the .3ml syringes. I am confused. So a 1U dose on the Lantus Pen is equal to a 10 on the .3ml syringe??
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NO!
if you look at the syringe you will see they have markings on the side. The syringes you have should have marking 5,10,15, 20, 25 30.
Is that correct?
The 5 represents 5 units, the 10 represents 10 units.
If u look closely at the syringe you will see lines inbetween the numbers. Each of these lines is 1 unit. So you should be able to measure from 0 to 5 units on the syringe.

What dose are you giving at the moment?
I can’t see a spreadsheet, have you set up one yet?

The diagram on the right shows you how to measure the number of units.
Before you give the first dose with the syringe, I think it would be best if you could take a photo of the dose you have drawn up and copy and paste it into here so we can check it. Better to be safe than sorry as once it is given, it can’t be taken back out if it is the wrong dose.

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Ok, now I understand how this works, and I must admit I am more confused. I cannot see how you can accurately administer a .5 unit with this. I thought the syringe was a fine thread tiny capacity allowing accurate small dose delivery. Am I missing something? So far , kitty has been very resistant and unhappy with failed attempts to get a drop of blood from the ear.
 

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Vicpug said:
Ok, now I understand how this works, and I must admit I am more confused. I cannot see how you can accurately administer a .5 unit with this. I thought the syringe was a fine thread tiny capacity allowing accurate small dose delivery. Am I missing something? So far , kitty has been very resistant and unhappy with failed attempts to get a drop of blood from the ear.
Click to expand...
I used the syringes you have when administering insulin and I went right down to a drop of insulin the first time around.
I used a magnifying glass and a good light when drawing up the dose. Some people like to have a head lamp.
I am going to give you another attachment to have a look at at the bottom.

re the failed attempts to get a drop of blood…….are you warming the ear first with a rice sock?
Are you milking the ear towards the tip after pricking the ear?
Are you always doing it in the same place every time and giving a treat after each attempt.
Some people let the cat eat the treat as they are getting the blood….that’s what I did.

HOMETESTING LINKS AND TIPS

It would help if you could set up the spreadsheet. I can get someone to help you if you would like.

LINK TO FINE DOSING AND DRAWING UP THE DOSE

I would also have a look at Hendricks thread. Look in his signature at his pokey link at how Hendricks dad dies the BG.https://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/thr...-2-5-53-4-5-70-pmps-92-2-55-3-66-5-49.261868/
 
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