BG monitor meter would you suggest?
- Thread starter Richard P
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Kathy G
Member Since 2019
Being a newbie myself I listened to my vet and got a pet meter (Alphatrak 2). At $1 a strip I quickly realised that testing 6 or more times a day was going to bankrupt me. lol I just recently switched to the Relion Prime (Walmart). Almost everyone here uses human meters. Yes the numbers are off a little but at the lower end it's marginal and at the higher end it doesn't really matter if it's 400 or 500. The meter is under $20 and strips are $9/50.
Richard P
Member Since 2018
Thank you. I too wanted the Alphatrak 2. The meter is reasonable but the strips are outrageous. My goal is to test twice a day. My vet also wants me to do a curve.
I’m scared to death of doing this. My cat Big hid on me for 3 hours when I came home the other day and he has a long memory. I swear he’s more elephant than cat when it comes to this. Can’t imagine what’s going to happen when I start this much less I try to do the curve.
I’m scared to death of doing this. My cat Big hid on me for 3 hours when I came home the other day and he has a long memory. I swear he’s more elephant than cat when it comes to this. Can’t imagine what’s going to happen when I start this much less I try to do the curve.
Kathy G
Member Since 2019
Start conditioning him now. Have a set place you'll do the testing. Call or bring him there, message and touch his ear(s), then give him a low carb treat like 100% freeze dried chicken. The actual prick from the lancet doesn't hurt. It's usually the touching/holding of the ear that they detest.
Richard P
Member Since 2018
I feed him and give him shots on the bed. I'll do the testing at the same place. He feels comfortable there. I usually rub his head and play with his ears so that's good. He's not one for sitting still though. We shall see. I've been giving him freeze dried chicken this week to try to get him use to the treat response thingy. I'm super nervous about poking his ear. Practice makes perfect. This will stress me out but it needs to be done for my boy. Thank you for you advice. Much appreciated.
Erin & Scott
Member Since 2019
Relion Prime. People will tell you that you need a larger blood sample with this than for other meters, but given that after a few weeks of testing I almost always get a bigger bead of blood than I need, I don't see that as an issue. The big thing is, the strips are inexpensive enough that I can do frequent testing without breaking the bank. This meter is available from WalMart*, costs $9 for the meter, $9 for a box of 50 strips, and you can order online. I get 200 at a time for just over $35 to take advantage of the free shipping, and I've been using about 200 strips per month. I test a lot more frequently than a lot of folks, so that amount might last you twice as long, depending on how often you test. It is recommended that you get at minimum 3 tests per day, and a curve once a week, which would be just over 100 strips per month.
*I'm not a fan of WalMart; prior to Benny's diagnosis, I hadn't set foot in a WalMart for many years. But with the feline diabetes to deal with, I held my nose and purchased from them in spite of myself.
*I'm not a fan of WalMart; prior to Benny's diagnosis, I hadn't set foot in a WalMart for many years. But with the feline diabetes to deal with, I held my nose and purchased from them in spite of myself.
Tom & Thomas (GA)
Member Since 2018
If you don't want to go with the Relion Prime, another choice is the Bayer/Ascension Contour Next One or EZ. The strips cost a bit more, but you can get 100 for as little as $20 from some sellers on Amazon, though with slow shipping so you need to stock up in advance.
Did you get sorted out between syringe and pen? Note that we don't use the pen as intended but as a mini 3ml vial for use with syringes. That way you don't have to worry about a 10ml vial of Lantus perhaps losing potency after five or six months. You would buy either a single pen, or a 5-pack that will keep fine in the fridge. And continue to use your 1/2" needle, which is also what I prefer. See this stickie and the great video there that demonstrates using a syringe to draw both from a standard vial and from a Lantus pen.
Did you get sorted out between syringe and pen? Note that we don't use the pen as intended but as a mini 3ml vial for use with syringes. That way you don't have to worry about a 10ml vial of Lantus perhaps losing potency after five or six months. You would buy either a single pen, or a 5-pack that will keep fine in the fridge. And continue to use your 1/2" needle, which is also what I prefer. See this stickie and the great video there that demonstrates using a syringe to draw both from a standard vial and from a Lantus pen.
JanetNJ
Member Since 2016
I've been using an Alphatrak for 2.5 years and love it. Small sample size and same meter my vet uses. To offset the cost of strips I use freestyle insulinx strips in the alph. You can get them on amazon or I I usually get them on eBay. Recently scored 10 boxes of 50 strips for $100. Can't beat that.
Jake and Riley
Member Since 2019
I use the Pet Test Advocate, and am pleased with it.
ssblackcat Sophia & Susan
Member Since 2016
I’m so glad to hear this!
JanetNJ
Member Since 2016
Yes
Richard P
Member Since 2018
I purchased 5 pens and will use it with my half inch syringe. I need to get the rest of my testing stuff. The doctor wants me to do 4 units once a day for 2 weeks and to do a 12 hour curve 5 to 6 days in. I’m doing 4 units now of Novolin and it just isn’t doing anything. I’m starting Monday morning
Idjit's mom
Member Since 2018
Richard, please visit the LANTUS forum and read the stickies at the top of the page. You need to know how this insulin works and get advice from the experienced Lantus users. My vet also told me to inject once a day, but I learned that Lantus works best when given 2 times a day, 12 hours apart. That's a big dose to shoot once a day and since you are not testing yet, you can't see how the insulin is affecting him. Start a new thread in that forum so that the Lantus users can help you out.
Please create your signature so that we have Big's info right there when you post, instead of trying to page back through previous posts for important information.
light grey text under a post). Here's how:
click on your name in the upper right corner of this page
click on "signature" in the menu that drops down
type the following in the box that opens: kitty's name/age/date of diabetes diagnosis/insulin you're using and dosage amount /glucose meter you're using/what (s)he eats/any other meds or health issues (s)he has. You can add your name, and a geographic location (sometimes the time zone matters) Be sure to SAVE when you are finished.
Another thing that will help us help you when you start BG testing at home is to set up a spreadsheet like the one we use here. We can all see it and look at it before offering advice:
http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/fdmb-spreadsheet-instructions.130337/
http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/understanding-the-spreadsheet-grid.156606/
If you are unable to set up the spreadsheet or have trouble, let us know. There are members who can help.
Please create your signature so that we have Big's info right there when you post, instead of trying to page back through previous posts for important information.
light grey text under a post). Here's how:
click on your name in the upper right corner of this page
click on "signature" in the menu that drops down
type the following in the box that opens: kitty's name/age/date of diabetes diagnosis/insulin you're using and dosage amount /glucose meter you're using/what (s)he eats/any other meds or health issues (s)he has. You can add your name, and a geographic location (sometimes the time zone matters) Be sure to SAVE when you are finished.
Another thing that will help us help you when you start BG testing at home is to set up a spreadsheet like the one we use here. We can all see it and look at it before offering advice:
http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/fdmb-spreadsheet-instructions.130337/
http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/understanding-the-spreadsheet-grid.156606/
If you are unable to set up the spreadsheet or have trouble, let us know. There are members who can help.
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