Glucometer test strips question

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LILandKIT

LILandKIT

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My Bayer Breeze 2 is the first glucometer that I've ever used, and honestly, the first I've ever actually "seen". I dont have any family members who are diabetic, and my Walmart doesn't carry the ReliOn. So when I had to purchase one, I grabbed the one that required the smallest blood sample...guess I already envisioned Kitten driving me bonkers trying to get blood (now I know that bonkers is kinda an understatement lol).

Anyways, I was wondering.....

With the Bayer Breeze 2, there is a 10 test-strip pack that you insert into the meter. Then when you have a sample, you pull the lever and one test strip comes out...you suck the blood and a reading is taken. The problem that I'm having is that Kitten is absolutely terrified of the meter! I think its cuz when you pull the lever, the noise scares him (no clue why the lancet doesn't, and the actual poking...). So I tried a bunch of times to have the test strip out already, so that when I get my sample, I dont have to go through the process of pulling the lever. BUT...I am frequently running into the problem that I can't get a blood sample quick enough. If a sample isn't gotten in a specific amt of time, the meter shuts off. Problem comes in that when you just turn it on, you can't use that test strip that is out already and have to "relaunch" a new one....thus wasting a test strip.

So...i'm thinking, that b/c Kit is such a scaredy-cat this is definitely not a good meter. Are the other meters, such as the Contour (i've seen those at our Walmart) different? Since these other meters I'm seeing you have to insert the test strip individually yourself could you insert a test strip, and then possibly use the same one if you didn't get a sample the first time?

Hope that makes sense and I'm not gibber-gabbering in circles....just trying to see what will make things easier! That and I am wasting a great deal of test strips...
 
Could you snap the strip into place before you pick up the cat, so that it doesn't scare her? If you get the sample quickly, it shouldn't time out.

Also, American Diabetes Wholesale ships to Canada. The Arkray GlucoCard 01 Mini is the same meter as the Relion Micro. You can get the meter + 100 test strips for $38.99 US, and 250 strips are $70 US, the best deal I could find on any brand. Arkray manufactures the Relion for Walmart, so this is the exact same meter minus the Walmart brand name, so if you want the Relion, especially for the cheaper strips (and I love it because the size makes it SO easy to work with with a squirmy cat!)

Here's a link to the meter and strips deal: http://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=61010
 
It tends to time out most of the time for me.....I'm still not very good :( I will look at that meter that you recommended. It definitely is 1/4 of the size of mine judging by the picture, which I think will help tons by itself!!! Thanks so much for the advice! :)

I just hate wasting all these test strips :(
 
I scoop the droplet of blood off Poopy's ear onto my fingernail and test from there. Here's our normal routine:

Poopy on lap getting lovings
Paper towel to ear with grip
Grab lance and poke
Massage ear, if needed for larger droplet
Scoop up blood
Tell Poopy what a good boy he is while "pinching" (not really a pinch but holding the spot where I drew blood) to staunch spot
Release Poopy (sometimes he stays to watch me)
Put strip in meter (in your case, turn meter on to get strip)
Strip sucks up blood and gives reading
Give Poopy his treat

Easy peasy. :smile: Also saves me from the "ear flick spatter". :-D
 
That stinks that you have to waste a strip if you time out. With the contour (the only meter I've used), you put the strip in and it makes a fairly soft 'beep' noise as it powers up. You then have 3 minutes to do your test. If it times out, you can just remove the strip and reinsert it to power it on again, no wasted strip. The contour also needs a little less blood, 0.6uL compared to 1.0 uL of the breeze.

If you have a costco membership, you can get the contour+100 strips for $74, cheaper than the walmarts near me. Strips can be had for less online, but I think the ReliOn from the US is cheaper. I couldn't find it or the Arkay version locally so I went with the contour (local strip availability was important to me in case my own poor planning caused a strip shortage in an emergency, also I wanted a meter asap).

In case you haven't picked up more lancets yet, here's a coupon for $2 off a box of 200 microlets (it's good all year) http://www.bayerbreeze2.ca/en/specialoffers/
 
This was definitely one of those OMG moments. I made a HUGE mistake when buying my meter and just realized now (THANKS BRIAN!). We had both the Contour and the Breeze 2 in our hands and instead of reading 0.6ul and 1.0ul...i read the breeze as 0.1ul...so i bought it thinking "wow, that's like barely anything!". I agree with you Brian about being able to buy strips locally if there is an emergency...peace of mind kinda thing. Now realizing that the Contour requires pretty much half the blood sample, things may become a LOT easier. Just now, attempted to test again, and got 2 "error, not enough blood" reading. I just can't believe how I read it wrong that first time. darn!

Plus I love the fact that you can re-insert the strip. It has been beyond frustrating to have to throw away half the strips because of either not being able to get a sample in time.

Time for Take Two in my mission to be able to home-test. Take One hasn't been much of a success.
 
Happy to help:). I should have also mentioned that with the contour you can also partially insert the strip so it's ready to push the rest of the way in and activate it when the time comes.

It will get easier to get a large enough sample, my cat bleeds much better now than at the start. I'm sure you've already read this, but it's so important- be sure to heat the ear up well. Rubbing just didn't do the trick for me. I used hot water in a coffee mug at first (press the ear to the outside of the mug) with good results, but have converted to using 2 microwaveable bags, one with rice and one with whole wheat grains. The wheat grain bag doesn't get as warm, so I start with it and ease him into the warmed up ear before turning to the rice. I've also found it helps to be able to wrap the bag around both sides of the ear.

Good luck with Take Two!
 
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