feline specific blood glucose tester

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snickers100

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My cat has just been diagnosed with diabetes and the vet feels strongly that I should use a feline specific blood glucose tester, which costs around $200! In roaming around this site I see the mention of inexpensive human glucose testers being used. Any feedback?
 
Hi, welcome.

Yes, most of use you the same glucometers human diabetics use.

You will probably get a variety of opinions but since the cost of the strips can be a huge factor, that is something you will need to consider when selecting a meter.

The Relion meter from Walmart is popular and reliable, and the strips are reasonably priced.

I use the One Touch Ultra mini - but also have a few others as back-up meters.

Most meters can be found free or about 10 dollars or so. Shop around online - see which one fits your budget.

Best,
Pam & Layla
 
cheapest is relion from walmart. micro or the one that begins with a c. I always forget. do not get the ultima. this one takes a larger blood sample and is a real slow sipper
 
Hi,
I'd be more worried that if you used a feline specific blood glucose meter that you would not always get the best advice on this forum (or from other Internet sources). While feline and human meters read about the same at high readings, they won't at lower BG levels where it really matters. Confusion over which meter you are using and the fact that very few people use feline-specific meters could well result in you taking bad advice for your cat with potentially negative outcomes.

The University of Queensland, Centre for Companion Animal Health does provide information on managing feline diabetes for both human BG meter users and feline BG meter users:
http://www.uq.edu.au/ccah/index.html?page=41544
But most sites (including this one) just seem to assume all readings are from human BG meters.

Human for sure -- but you need to make this decision in consultation with your vet.
-Craig
 
If you really, really, want a pet-specific meter, do a Google Search for vendors. They can be had for roughly $40-$50 less than $200 ... then add shipping. and add in the inability to get strips in the middle of the night when you are frantically checking your cat for signs of hypo. You'll be better off with the Relion, or possibly the one which can check for blood ketones.

Personally, I'd print out the info from Queensland. Dr Rand has done lots of work with ghe German DiabetesKatzen board, using data based on human glucometers. The referance values appear to differ by about 30 points.
Ex. the low value for dose adjustment &/or warning to monitor for signs of hypoglycemia
50 on Relion
80 on AlphaTrack
 
All meters have a +/- of 20% so really there isn't that much difference between a human and pet specific. In fact my own vet uses a human meter for testing their diabetic patients.

I personally use the ReLion mini with a One Touch as a back up meter. It worked well enough for me to know my diabetic cat Max was in remission.

I don't think it really matters which meter you test with as long as you ARE testing before every shot. If you have the funds and want to go with the pet specific then great go for it. But if money is an issue then a regular human meter is going to give you enough information to base dosing advice on.

Mel, Max & The Fur Gang.
 
The article I read said there is only about an average twelve point difference between alpha track and human glucose meters. One of the prevoius members made a very critical point; If you have to get the strips from your vet or have to special order you might run out unexpectedly. If you are a more common human meter you can go to almost any store and get them. You don't want to have your cat go hypo and have only one test strip left. It happened to someone here this week!

If you do decide to go with the feline meter, you can get a human meter as back up. You never know when a meter battery might die or some naughty kitty breaks it!
 
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