Can't Remember What the Normal Glucose Level Should Be - Home Testing

[Casey Warner]

Back in 2018-2019 I had a diabetic cat and was using Walmart's Relion Confirm meter. I still have some unopened, still good test strips. I used one to check my questionable cat who may or may not be diabetic (more on that below) and his result was 53. What's the normal range for that meter and strips? I know the meter was discontinued. The last I heard was that the Arkray strips would work, so I don't know if anyone is still using that meter.

The normal range for a cat is 80-120, correct? So does that mean his glucose is too low? He's not on insulin.

I also did an at-home urine test and his urine glucose was + or ++. His protein was ++ or +++. This is also what the vet found when they tested him a month ago. They thought it was stress so I did an at-home test. It shows the same thing.

 

[Chris & China (GA)]

The last I heard was that the Arkray strips would work, so I don't know if anyone is still using that meter.

You can still buy the Arkray Glucocard01 strips from ADW

The normal range for a cat is 80-120, correct? So does that mean his glucose is too low? He's not on insulin.

On a human meter, it's 50-120 so 53 is perfectly fine! I have a civvie that occasionally tests in the mid to upper 30's

 

[Sarah&Soph]

For a cat not on insulin, 53 is a perfectly normal number

On insulin, normal range is 50-120 for a human meter but I believe that is just to leave some wiggle room so the insulin doesn’t take their blood sugar too low. If you’re concerned about the meters accuracy, you could always pick up a ReliOn Prime as a backup. The meter itself is $9 and you can get 25 test strips for $5

 

[Casey Warner]

Thanks. Although I'm still a tad confused. So if the meter is showing 53, is that actually what his glucose is, or is it likely to be a bit higher?

He's never been diabetic or on insulin. His blood glucose was around 120 last month when he was checked at the vet clinic. So that's not strange or anything?

The meter should be accurate. It's the cat that's the problem. His urine glucose and protein are both high. His T4 (thyroid) is abnormally low. His BUN was borderline high, his potassium was borderline low, but everything else was within normal. They even did that special heart test (ProBNP , I think it's called) and SDMA test and they were within normal.

The vet doesn't know what's going on. Something is going on, it's obvious.

 

[Sarah&Soph]

Thanks. Although I'm still a tad confused. So if the meter is showing 53, is that actually what his glucose is, or is it likely to be a bit higher?

He's never been diabetic or on insulin. His blood glucose was around 120 last month when he was checked at the vet clinic. So that's not strange or anything?

The meter should be accurate. It's the cat that's the problem. His urine glucose and protein are both high. His T4 (thyroid) is abnormally low. His BUN was borderline high, his potassium was borderline low, but everything else was within normal. They even did that special heart test (ProBNP , I think it's called) and SDMA test and they were within normal.

The vet doesn't know what's going on. Something is going on, it's obvious.

If the meter showed 53, that is his accurate, non diabetic blood glucose 120 is on the upper limit of what’s considered normal, but if that’s what it was at the vet clinic I would say that’s a great number, considering it was probably higher there with the vet visit stress!

Poor guy, sounds like he’s had a crummy time lately I’m not sure of other reasons why glucose would be spilling into his urine, but based on your numbers it doesn’t appear to be because he’s diabetic.

 

[Casey Warner]

I've got a problem.

I tested a few other cats with my meter and their glucose was around 50 two hours after a meal.

Nearly every veterinary resource indicates a cat's normal blood glucose range is between 72-175.

Then I found this info, "Glucometers made for humans are generally accurate using feline blood except when reading lower ranges of blood glucose (under 80 mg/dl–4.44 mmol/L). At this point the size difference in human and animal red blood cells can create inaccurate readings."

So, if my cats were tested with a blood test designed for cats (including a traditional lab chemistry test) would their glucose reading actually be a bit higher, like 84?

Because I'm wondering if my vet is concerned about the low readings I've given them (between 50-70). I wonder if they're thinking Tony is hypoglycemic. Idexx lists the normal range as 72-175 on their lab tests.

 

[Sarah&Soph]

In general, human meters are going to read a little lower than pet meters. On this board, for a cat on insulin we say 50-120 is normal range for a human meter and 68-150 is normal for a pet meter. Depending on what company they use for blood work, vets may have a slightly different range.

There is really no direct conversion between the two or way to compare the values, but in general yes, his blood sugar would likely be higher on a pet meter or on blood work using feline specific values so it’s possible your vet might think his blood sugar is a little low.

 

[Casey Warner]

Ok. That makes more sense.

But since the other cats have glucose levels similar to Tony, we can assume that they're actually all normal and not too low, correct?

It sounds like what I should do is the next time he has lab work, to take a glucose test before he goes to the vet, then take one after he gets home. Then maybe take one after he's had time to calm down a bit, maybe an hour later. Then compare those tests to the lab results.

Has anyone here ever done that? I would love to know what the results were.

 

[Sarah&Soph]

Correct, they are not too low or diabetic, perfectly normal numbers. Non diabetic cats can regularly test in the 40s or even 30s on a human meter. There’s really no such thing as “too low” in a non diabetic cat unless there’s some other underlying issue causing low blood sugar. If they tested in the 20s I would probably be concerned.

I haven’t done exactly what you described, but while she was in remission my cat would test in the 80s or 90s at home and in the 200 or 300s at the vet.

If they’re wanting pet specific numbers, maybe ask if they have a meter you could borrow to test at home? I have heard of some vets doing that, I’ve also heard of others trying to charge owners to borrow a meter.

 

[Wendy&Neko]

Upper 40's and low 50's are common civvie numbers here too, on human meters. I had one civvie test around 220 at the vet clinic (he was super stressed, it was a Sunday emergency so not his usual vet, and a male vet to top it off!). Vet called me the next day to talk about diabetes. Home test said 53, I said thanks but no to the vet.

His urine glucose and protein are both high. His T4 (thyroid) is abnormally low. His BUN was borderline high, his potassium was borderline low, but everything else was within normal.

With high protein in this urine, I'd get a urine protein creatinine ratio test done. It can be early signs of kidney disease. Did you get an SDMA blood test and urine specific gravity test done too? Were the rest of the tests done at a lab or in house at the clinic?

 

[Casey Warner]

The SDMA was borderline high, but it was marked as within normal. Urine specific gravity was around 1.044 at the vet clinic, and was around 1.010 at home a few weeks later. Although, the reagent strip I had was difficult to read so it could've been 1.015. Both urine tests (at vet clinic and home) were 2+ for glucose and protein. pH was 7.0 at the vet's and either 7.0 or 7.5 at home.


I'm just thinking that the vet probably thinks the blood glucose is too low because of my meter. So I need to call and explain that. Ugh!

I'm just not sure what tests I need to get done. The vet is so clueless, many are, sadly. I don't have a problem paying for tests that are legitimately needed, but I don't want to pay for things that aren't. Like, I don't need blood work that includes FeLV/FIV. I told them the cat doesn't have that, he's already been checked. Why get it done again? That's crazy!

They don't even know to run a phosphorus check on cats with kidney disease! I just can't even understand that. It's not just one vet, it's several.

I do agree about the urine protein creatinine ratio test. I was hoping to do a home test, but the kits ship from the UK and the estimated delivery date if I order today would be around July 5. Those kits are about $10 for 5 tests and are designed for pets. If I got that test at the vet clinic, I think the price would be $40-$85.