Most of the supplies needed to manage feline diabetes at home are inexpensive and easy to obtain. This list was developed by FDMB members based on years of experience helping diabetic cats.
Written by @Mary & Jude.
Product links are provided as examples only. Equivalent products from other sources are generally acceptable.
Getting Started Shopping List (USA & Canada)
1. Blood glucose meter:
The Walmart ReliOn Premier (~$10) is inexpensive and readily accessible in the US. There are several other human meter options but be sure to check how much the testing strips are for the meter. Some meter strips (like the Alpha Trak animal meter) are ~$1 each, and must be ordered online, so they are both expensive and not readily available if you run out. You want to have a good supply of testing strips on hand and be able to afford to test at least 3-4 times a day (and a lot of us test more than that).
It is strongly suggested that you have a back-up meter and matching strips--meters can and do fail from time to time. Also, always have on hand spare batteries that fit your meters.
ReliOn Premier at Walmart
ReliOn Premier at Amazon
Ascensia Contour NEXT GEN at Amazon
Canada:
If you are in Canada and can get to a US Walmart regularly (or have friends/family that can ship you supplies if you need them), the ReliOn Premier is an option.
Other meter options:
2. Testing strips:
Walmart ReliOn Premier strips are $18/100. Strip prices will vary depending on the meter. If you're using the Contour or One Touch, check Amazon/Ebay for better prices.
ReliOn Premier Test Strips at Walmart
ReliOn Premier Test Strips at Amazon
Ascensia Contour NEXT GEN Test Strips at Amazon
3. Lancets:
Used to poke the ear to get blood. New members usually start with a larger gauge lancet (25g to 30g) until the ear learns to bleed. (Usually marked “For alternate site testing").
Optional - lancing tool (about $2-$10 for lancets, $5 for lancet device ...not required if you can freehand poke).
28 Gauge Lancets at Amazon
30 Gauge Lancets at Amazon
Lancing Device at Amazon
Canada:
One Touch; Contour Microlet; Accu-Check
4. Ketone urine test strips and/or ketone blood meter:
A blood ketone meter, Ketostix (urine only), or ketodiastix (test urine and blood but more expensive and unnecessary if you're already testing BG) - Important to check ketones when blood glucose is high, kitty isn’t eating, or acts like they’re not feeling well. Check online for purchase sites.
Ketostix at Amazon
KETO-MOJO Blood Ketone Meter at Amazon
KetoBM Blood Ketone Meter at Amazon
Canada:
Keto Mojo - https://shop.canada.ketomojo.com
Novamax Plus - https://novamaxplus.store/
Freestyle Optium Neo / Precision Neo
5. Treats for the cat:
Low carb tasty treats (chicken pieces, freeze dried protein (protein only), etc.) to reward kitty during testing sessions.
6. Syringes:
IMPORTANT that you get syringes with half unit markings (if possible)!
Depending on the state you live in, syringes may be purchased online or at pharmacy departments. Some states require a prescription to purchase syringes.
List of States in the US and their syringe laws: link here
All these syringes have half unit markings (very important when you're doing microdosing) and are the correct syringes for U100 insulin (Glargine, Lantus, Basaglar, Semglee) and are available from ADW online (ADWdiabetes.com).
UtiCare: ADW pricing, UltiCare Syringes at Amazon
Monoject: ADW pricing
Carepoint: ADW pricing, Carepoint Syringes at Amazon
Sure Comfort: ADW pricing, Sure Comfort Syringes at Amazon
B/D: ADW pricing, BD Syringes at Amazon
Syringes are also available at Walmart if you have one near you. Their ReliOn brand 3/10ml, 30 or 31 gauge, or 6mm insulin syringes all come with half unit markings and are only ~$13.00 for a box of 100.
ReliOn Syringes at Walmart
For U-40 insulin’s like ProZinc and Vetsulin, American Diabetes Wholesale has several different brands of U40 insulin syringes that have half unit markings. You’ll want to get 29 gauge, 3/10cc insulin syringes with half unit markings. ADW pricing, U-40 Syringes at Amazon
Canada:
Price of insulin depends on province and pharmacy
U-100 Insulin Syringes:
BD / Embecta
SOL-M
Advocate
Easy Touch
U-40 Insulin:
ProZinc - ProZinc (protamine zinc recombinant human insulin) 40 units/mL Vial
Cannnsulin - Caninsulin (porcine insulin) 40 IU/mL Vial
U-40 Insulin Syringes:
Pet Test - Shop All - Syringes - U-40 Syringes - PetTest Canada
Care Point Vet - https://petsdrugmart.ca - Can be purchased on Amazon (seems more expensive)
Elimedical Veterinary - https://petsdrugmart.ca - Can be purchased on Amazon (seems more expensive).
7. Sharps container or a needle clipper:
To dispose of wasted syringes and lancets. Needle clippers are great because you just clip the sharp needle and you can throw the rest of the syringe in the trash. The clipper will hold about 2 year’s worth of "clippings."
In some countries, a free sharps container replacement plan is implemented by pharmacies. Also, check with local city ordinances regarding disposal of lancets/syringes; in some locales, all that is needed is a large hard plastic container (like a Clorox bottle or laundry bottle) to hold and then dispose of wasted syringes/lancets.
Sharps Container at Amazon
Canada:
Most pharmacies provide a free sharps container and will replace them with a new one when you return the full one for disposal. They are available at veterinary clinics as well, but they may charge a fee.
8. Hypo tool box supplies:
Karo syrup/corn syrup or honey: for hypo emergencies to bring blood sugar up fast.
High carb wet food: A couple of cans of fancy feast gravy lovers (not pate) or other high carb gravy food—for hypo emergencies to bring blood sugar up fast.
Other important supplies for the hypo tool box: hypo tool box supplies.
Print out the How to Handle Low Numbers guidelines.
9. Cotton balls/cosmetic pads (optional):
To go under the ear as you poke and used to stem the blood after the poke.
Gauze Sponges at Amazon
10. Vaseline (petroleum jelly--optional):
Helpful to get blood to “bead up” instead of wicking into fur.
Vaseline at Amazon
11. Mini flashlight (optional):
Useful to help see the ear veins in dark cats.
Mini Flashlight at Amazon
12. Insulin vial protector case (optional):
Protects insulin vials from breaking if dropped. Be sure to get the correct protector for your specific insulin vial.
Vial Protector at Amazon
Written by @Mary & Jude.
Product links are provided as examples only. Equivalent products from other sources are generally acceptable.
Getting Started Shopping List (USA & Canada)
1. Blood glucose meter:
The Walmart ReliOn Premier (~$10) is inexpensive and readily accessible in the US. There are several other human meter options but be sure to check how much the testing strips are for the meter. Some meter strips (like the Alpha Trak animal meter) are ~$1 each, and must be ordered online, so they are both expensive and not readily available if you run out. You want to have a good supply of testing strips on hand and be able to afford to test at least 3-4 times a day (and a lot of us test more than that).
It is strongly suggested that you have a back-up meter and matching strips--meters can and do fail from time to time. Also, always have on hand spare batteries that fit your meters.
ReliOn Premier at Walmart
ReliOn Premier at Amazon
Ascensia Contour NEXT GEN at Amazon
Canada:
If you are in Canada and can get to a US Walmart regularly (or have friends/family that can ship you supplies if you need them), the ReliOn Premier is an option.
Other meter options:
- One Touch
- Contour Next
- Accu-Chek
- FreeStyle Lite
2. Testing strips:
Walmart ReliOn Premier strips are $18/100. Strip prices will vary depending on the meter. If you're using the Contour or One Touch, check Amazon/Ebay for better prices.
ReliOn Premier Test Strips at Walmart
ReliOn Premier Test Strips at Amazon
Ascensia Contour NEXT GEN Test Strips at Amazon
3. Lancets:
Used to poke the ear to get blood. New members usually start with a larger gauge lancet (25g to 30g) until the ear learns to bleed. (Usually marked “For alternate site testing").
Optional - lancing tool (about $2-$10 for lancets, $5 for lancet device ...not required if you can freehand poke).
28 Gauge Lancets at Amazon
30 Gauge Lancets at Amazon
Lancing Device at Amazon
Canada:
One Touch; Contour Microlet; Accu-Check
4. Ketone urine test strips and/or ketone blood meter:
A blood ketone meter, Ketostix (urine only), or ketodiastix (test urine and blood but more expensive and unnecessary if you're already testing BG) - Important to check ketones when blood glucose is high, kitty isn’t eating, or acts like they’re not feeling well. Check online for purchase sites.
Ketostix at Amazon
KETO-MOJO Blood Ketone Meter at Amazon
KetoBM Blood Ketone Meter at Amazon
Canada:
Keto Mojo - https://shop.canada.ketomojo.com
Novamax Plus - https://novamaxplus.store/
Freestyle Optium Neo / Precision Neo
5. Treats for the cat:
Low carb tasty treats (chicken pieces, freeze dried protein (protein only), etc.) to reward kitty during testing sessions.
6. Syringes:
IMPORTANT that you get syringes with half unit markings (if possible)!
Depending on the state you live in, syringes may be purchased online or at pharmacy departments. Some states require a prescription to purchase syringes.
List of States in the US and their syringe laws: link here
All these syringes have half unit markings (very important when you're doing microdosing) and are the correct syringes for U100 insulin (Glargine, Lantus, Basaglar, Semglee) and are available from ADW online (ADWdiabetes.com).
UtiCare: ADW pricing, UltiCare Syringes at Amazon
Monoject: ADW pricing
Carepoint: ADW pricing, Carepoint Syringes at Amazon
Sure Comfort: ADW pricing, Sure Comfort Syringes at Amazon
B/D: ADW pricing, BD Syringes at Amazon
Syringes are also available at Walmart if you have one near you. Their ReliOn brand 3/10ml, 30 or 31 gauge, or 6mm insulin syringes all come with half unit markings and are only ~$13.00 for a box of 100.
ReliOn Syringes at Walmart
For U-40 insulin’s like ProZinc and Vetsulin, American Diabetes Wholesale has several different brands of U40 insulin syringes that have half unit markings. You’ll want to get 29 gauge, 3/10cc insulin syringes with half unit markings. ADW pricing, U-40 Syringes at Amazon
Canada:
Price of insulin depends on province and pharmacy
U-100 Insulin Syringes:
BD / Embecta
SOL-M
Advocate
Easy Touch
U-40 Insulin:
ProZinc - ProZinc (protamine zinc recombinant human insulin) 40 units/mL Vial
Cannnsulin - Caninsulin (porcine insulin) 40 IU/mL Vial
U-40 Insulin Syringes:
Pet Test - Shop All - Syringes - U-40 Syringes - PetTest Canada
Care Point Vet - https://petsdrugmart.ca - Can be purchased on Amazon (seems more expensive)
Elimedical Veterinary - https://petsdrugmart.ca - Can be purchased on Amazon (seems more expensive).
7. Sharps container or a needle clipper:
To dispose of wasted syringes and lancets. Needle clippers are great because you just clip the sharp needle and you can throw the rest of the syringe in the trash. The clipper will hold about 2 year’s worth of "clippings."
In some countries, a free sharps container replacement plan is implemented by pharmacies. Also, check with local city ordinances regarding disposal of lancets/syringes; in some locales, all that is needed is a large hard plastic container (like a Clorox bottle or laundry bottle) to hold and then dispose of wasted syringes/lancets.
Sharps Container at Amazon
Canada:
Most pharmacies provide a free sharps container and will replace them with a new one when you return the full one for disposal. They are available at veterinary clinics as well, but they may charge a fee.
8. Hypo tool box supplies:
Karo syrup/corn syrup or honey: for hypo emergencies to bring blood sugar up fast.
High carb wet food: A couple of cans of fancy feast gravy lovers (not pate) or other high carb gravy food—for hypo emergencies to bring blood sugar up fast.
Other important supplies for the hypo tool box: hypo tool box supplies.
Print out the How to Handle Low Numbers guidelines.
9. Cotton balls/cosmetic pads (optional):
To go under the ear as you poke and used to stem the blood after the poke.
Gauze Sponges at Amazon
10. Vaseline (petroleum jelly--optional):
Helpful to get blood to “bead up” instead of wicking into fur.
Vaseline at Amazon
11. Mini flashlight (optional):
Useful to help see the ear veins in dark cats.
Mini Flashlight at Amazon
12. Insulin vial protector case (optional):
Protects insulin vials from breaking if dropped. Be sure to get the correct protector for your specific insulin vial.
Vial Protector at Amazon
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