first attempt at home testing are testing strips faulty??

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SweetAngel

SweetAngel

Member Since 2014
My vet demo-ed the glucometer for me yesterday and it didn't look too scary. It was useful because we found out it reads lower than the alpha track. At the vets yesterday 3 hours after his shot his blood sugar was uk16/us290 on alpha track, uk12.8/us230 on mine so he said not to give Angel his shots if it is below uk8 on mine. I finally got up the courage to try it out with mixed results.

Angel was so good and so calm, I got a lovely big drop of blood, but then it got on the wrong bit of the test strip and I got an error message 1, then I wasted 2 more strips, I must not have put them in the machine properly as I got error message 2 By then the blood had soaked into his ear so I decided not to try again tonight. It has really reassured me how calm he was, hope it's not a one off. He really is an 'angel', purring away when he gets his shots. I feel so guilty, he couldn't have been better behaved and I messed it up, I feel like I've let him down.

I am so determined to get this right though. Today I found out my French friend Michelle lost her cat 'Davis' yesterday, when I asked what happened she said he was only 10 and he had been a sugar cat since last year. I just wish she had known about this board.

Well, wish me luck for next attempt!! I am going to try pre shot in the morning, poor Angel!!! Now I have my diva cat Lianna 'shouting' at me as it is time for her meds (in her favourite food, that's why she's shouting!!). She's had HCM since 2008 and was 18 in August, she's a miracle and just hope Angel is too!! (all my cats are my little miracles of course!)

Cassandra and Angel xxx
 
Re: first attempt at home testing

Welcome to the best place to help you sugar kitty. I was a newbie one time and they got me over it. Home testing is scary but once you get the hang of it ...no worries and just for your info Cats don`t mind it as long as you are not stressed about it....they do pick up our moods. So take deep breaths and say ok a little pick and there all done here is your treat ...Thank you for helping. Always tell them what you are doing and why .....seriously they do understand and will help you get it done. Sending tons of healing green light for a quick road to remission....If you have or need advice put ?? or advice in subject for a quicker answer. Best of luck to both (((((Angel & Lianna))))))))))))))) Kath
 
Re: first attempt at home testing are testing strips faulty?

Thanks Kath.

Well this morning's was kind of similar, I put the strip in but by the time I'd got blood the glucometer had turned off. So I turned it on again and got an error for the blood sample then tried a couple more testing strips and got error messages. When I read the instructions again it was saying to replace the cap on the test strips immediately, I hadn't done that and maybe they are contaminated now? Luckily it was the pack of 10 that had come with the glucometer, and I have 100 that I'd ordered. Angel was really good again.

He's just been sitting on the sofa with me so obviously I'm forgiven. Such a good natured cat, he is 'extra sweet' in every way!

xx
 
Re: first attempt at home testing are testing strips faulty?

Hugs and healing green light (((Angel))) what a good boy!! ~O) :smile:
 
Re: first attempt at home testing are testing strips faulty?

Hi Cassandra,

Well done you, for trying to hometest. :thumbup
And how wonderful that Angel was, well, 'an angel'...!

Very few folks manage to get a good test the first few times they try it. So don't worry.

Which meter are you using?
Does it have a 'user's manual' that shows what the error messages mean?

Eliz
 
Re: first attempt at home testing are testing strips faulty?

Great job for hometesting. :RAHCAT It is not hard to do, but sometimes takes a little trial and error before you get the hang of it. Keep on trying.

What type of meter are you using? What error code are you receiving?

Most likely, you either have too little or too much blood on the strip. By knowing which meter and error code you have, we can probably help you determine what the issue is. When your meter is ready to test, it probably will have either a blood drop symbol or something displaying on the screen to let you know it is ready to read the blood. When you put the strip to the blood drop, let it sip up the blood and do not cover the end of the strip with the drop.
 
Re: first attempt at home testing are testing strips faulty?

Success!!!!
Thanks to extra sweet Angel for being amazing, and the lovely people on this board for encouraging me!
My glucometer is by 'codefree', I got it from Amazon UK after loads of research and reading loads of reviews, plus the strips are more affordable..

Well I re read the instructions and it said the strips must be used within 3 minutes, no wonder I was getting errors. Still not sure about the first lot of test strips, so opened the new ones.

So Angel's ears were nice and warm, I inserted the test strip, clicked with the pen, nothing. Tried again, still nothing. Felt the pen, couldn't feel the lancet, tried again and again (Angel didn't mind as I was massaging his ears). By then I was feeling ready to give up for tonight, but as he didn't seem stressed, I carried on testing the pen away from him and trying to feel for the lancet. Finally decided the lancet may have got slightly curved, so changed the lancet, back to Angel, and got a perfect blood drop first go. Realised strip had been in meter over 3 mins, so quickly changed the strip and miracle, it counted down and gave a result. 15.1 uk 270 US but I know compared to the alphatrak it's a low reading. So I know it was 100% safe to give him his jab, plus now I can try reducing his carbs some more. I think tomorrow I won't do anything drastic, just test pre shots and hope it goes as well as tonight.

I'm so, so glad I didn't give up, I know it may be beginners luck and it will take time, but I've done it once so can do it again, thanks to my Angel and everyone here.

C xx
 
Re: first attempt at home testing are testing strips faulty?

Great job. Many of us find it easier to use the lancet freehand without the pen. I feel like I have more control that way.

If it is longer than 3 minutes, all you need to do is pull out the test strip and reinsert it. You should not have to throw it away. The 3 minutes is the time the meter expects to read the BG levels. So if you reinsert it, the countdown starts again.
 
Re: first attempt at home testing are testing strips faulty?

Thanks Lisa.

I had to miss Angel's pre shot test this morning due to my own health problems. (nothing life threatening and it shouldn't happen much) I'm going to test at what should be his lowest point, and then again pre shot this evening. I should get the results of the fructosamine test tomorrow and if that's not great maybe I can get another type of insulin for him. I'd never miss a pre shot test if he was already on the ultra low carbs, I'd find a way, but he's transitioning. I pick up the purina d/m wet tomorrow, which should be better than the Hills dry.

I have another attachment for the pen for alternative site testing, maybe that would be better. Not sure I could use the lancet freehand although I have no problem with the syringes.

xx
 
Re: first attempt at home testing are testing strips faulty?

Awesome you are on your way to being a purrrrfect hometester welcome to the vampire club!!!!! Hugs (((Angel))))tons of healing green light surround you.... ~O) cat(2)_steam ;-) you got it!!!!!!
 
Re: first attempt at home testing are testing strips faulty?

thankyou so much Kath.

Angel was so loving and chilled out today, I decided to just test pre shot tonight. It's been pretty hot up until today and he's been out a lot, but today he was sitting by me on the sofa and I didn't want him to associate that with having his ears done!!! Anyway tonight pre shot, first time, perfect drop of blood and reading with no errors. It was pretty high, above 380 US on a human glucometer, plus after his fructosamine results the vet said to increase his dose to 3 units. As it's pretty near bedtime I didn't want to risk anything happening overnight so I've given him 2.5, tomorrow I'm going to work on reducing his carb intake more and get bloods during the day. He's such a laid back cat, he's made it easy for me.

BTW that's him on my avatar, the friend who took it had a professional camera.

Vampirella and Angel!
xx
 
Re: first attempt at home testing are testing strips faulty?

You're doing a brilliant job of testing, Cassandra.
If you want help to set up a spreadsheet with Angel's BG numbers on then I'm sure there are some smart techy people here who can help you with that. (I'm SO not one of them... :lol: )

SweetAngel said:
BTW that's him on my avatar, the friend who took it had a professional camera.
Click to expand...
He's absolutely gorgeous!

SweetAngel said:
Vampirella and Angel!
xx
Click to expand...
:lol: :lol: :lol:
 
Re: first attempt at home testing are testing strips faulty?

thanks Elizabeth, strange co incidence, I was just attempting the spreadsheet as you were sending this post.
I think I've managed it. Yes he is gorgeous, inside and out. Is that lovely black cat your Bertie?
Am going to do another post with spreadsheet numbers as they are a bit weird xxx
 
Re: first attempt at home testing are testing strips faulty?

Oh, that was fast! Crikey! :lol:

I'm unable to access the spreadsheet though, Cassandra (I get a page saying I need to 'request access'). I think you need to click a box somewhere to 'share' the page (or something like that.....)???

Any update about the RVC remission thingy?

Eliz
 
Re: first attempt at home testing are testing strips faulty?

Looks like you fixed the permissions Cassandra, to share your SS with us. Good job!

How is Angel doing today? How are the 5 P's (peeing, pooping, purring, preening, playing) and her appetite?
 
Re: first attempt at home testing are testing strips faulty?

hi Deb,

Thanks for asking. Angel is doing great in himself, so loving. Having problems again home testing but will start a new thread. xxx
 
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