Bad test strips?

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Stacym20

Stacym20

Member Since 2014
As if this whole sugar dance isn't hard enough, has anyone ever experienced a lot of bad test strips? My Bud isn't regulated yet but his numbers have been improving. He hasn't been over 400 for a preshot in a almost 2 weeks! 1/20 I opened a new package of strips and he tested 430 at PMPS. I was so frustrated with the number that I tested him quickly before leaving for work. A half an hour after eating and his shot his BG was 377 so I'm thinking that 430 might have been a fluke. I test him tonight for PMPS and he tested 451. I immediately tested again and he was 359 and a 3rd test was 371.

So, I was just wondering if anyone has experienced this sort of thing before? Do you think I should take the strips back to the store? Would they take them back?
 
Human glucometer or pet glucometer? Does your meter require coding for a new batch of test strips? Some do (the pet specific Alphatrak does).

Remember that glucometers can read +/- 20% and still be considered accurate. So those readings are all within the 20% +/- range and really pretty close to each other.

No, stores will not take back an open package of test strips but you may be able to return them to the manufacturer for a refund.
 
If 1.2 * a lower number is greater than 0.8 * the higher number, the 2 numbers may be considered the same.
 
It's the ReliOn micro that does not require coding. I thought I added that to my signature, guess I forgot to save it. Boo. I understand there can be a +/- 20% range but I thought a difference of 92 between 2 consecutive tests was a little more variance than there should be. But yes, if his number was really 410, than I can see how those numbers are "acceptable" by the 20% rule. I guess more than anything, I just really don't want to ever see a number over 400 again! ;)

I did try a strip one time that had been left out of it's container for a while. It gave me a number of 48 at +3! Talk about panic! Lol tested again and it was 277 which was more in line with the numbers I've been seeing.
 
Check the meter instructions. There may be instructions in the test strip package, too.
 
3 consecutive tests on me just now were 169, 165 and 161. Yes I know that's high, I just had a brownie... :) so I don't know what to think. We'll see how the rest of this package of strips goes!
 
I would guess that yo do not have control solution for the meter?
Unless you are pre-diabetic, the 160's is too high for a human. Even for automatically coding meter, the test trips have code and when you insert the strip does the display show that code?
 
Ooh, that is high! When i tested myself, i had eaten nothing for a few hours and i got a totally non-high score.

I also tested my own pee on another occasion and i had just eaten cereal with raw sugar on it and a yogurt, but i had the lowest possible pee result (the colour did not change). Lol
 
After eating a high carb food, it is normal to get a glucose spike ... in humans, too.
Check your fasting morning glucose for a better idea of how you're doing. And if that is elevated, please check with your doc.
 
Stacym20 said:
It's the ReliOn micro that does not require coding. I thought I added that to my signature, guess I forgot to save it. Boo. I understand there can be a +/- 20% range but I thought a difference of 92 between 2 consecutive tests was a little more variance than there should be. But yes, if his number was really 410, than I can see how those numbers are "acceptable" by the 20% rule. I guess more than anything, I just really don't want to ever see a number over 400 again! ;)
Click to expand...

I'm the same way, so when Mikey throws me a higher number than I like to see (with him, it's anything over 300), I'll test again and cross my fingers that the +/-20% variance will give me a number under 300. ;) It's a mind game, really. Pretty much anything over ~250 is "too high" (above renal threshold) so it doesn't really matter if it's 305 or 298; it's not going to change how I dose him. :p
 
I tested 109 first thing this morning. I have been told before that I'm glucose intolerant, so essentially pre-diabetic. Guess that's the kick in the pants I needed to go back to counting carbs!

The code on the package is the same code that shows on the meter after inserting it. I don't have a control solution, maybe that is something I will look into getting.

And you're right @KPassa, over the threshold is over the threshold. I'm increasing his insulin as soon as I can grab some mid cycle numbers. I just saw it as a minor victory getting rid of the reds on the spreadsheet at least. One shot at a time...
 
Fewer reds, more pinks, a few yellows and blues showing up. All good signs.

Remember there is always the WCR (Whole Cat Report) to help assess how your kitty is doing. It's not always about the numbers, although they do tell us a lot.

Appetite in combination with the 5 P's (purring, preening, peeing, pooping, playing) give us the WCR. So how does your kitty's WCR look like today?
 
I think his appetite is good. He's not as voraciously hungry all the time like he was when he was first diagnosed. 4/5 of the P's are great, especially purring which he never lost actually. He was so matted before diagnosis too. I thought maybe he had gotten into something sticky outside when he was all matted. (Duh) Now his coat is so soft, shiny and silky and he's preening again. The one that could use improvement is peeing. I still find big clumps in the litter box, although his water drinking has decreased dramatically. So overall I'm very happy with where he is now compared to where he was! He was also scary skinny and he's gained some weight back. :)
 
Oh and to explain a little more, Bud is a dasher and could get outside when someone opened the door before you even realized what happened. He usually liked to go potty outside, sniff around a bit, and then he'd come right back in. There were cats next door that would always be in one window and he would go potty right under that window. Lol. We're in a new house now and he gets out way less often as we usually go out the garage and rarely open the front door.
 
See! Just walking yourself through the components of the WCR (Whole Cat Report) is telling you how much better Bud is doing. Keep it up Bud!
 
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