Hello from Pumpernickel and her mom

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Atomika

Atomika

Member Since 2021
Hi there,

Posting for my baby Pumpernickel, Pumpy, the Pumpster Dumpster, the lovebug

TL;DR (too long; didn’t read summary): good glucometer available in Canada? How is the Advocate Pet Test? Did I break the Lantus? How long can we wait to do a glucose curve? Why did my vet say Pumpy’s glucose reading is over 30 and should be 10, when other numbers I’ve read on here about glucose levels are much higher?

Sorry in advance for the long post, I guess it’s a bit of a vent, I don’t know anyone else who understands what I’m going through.

8yo female calico, overweight until Jan 2021. Weight has dropped off to only 5lbs, diagnosed Aug 4, 2021.

I have a bunch of questions, and have been doing a bunch of research as well, and am having trouble determining what glucometer to get. (I’m in QC, Canada, about 40 mins from a town). The one from the vet is $180, special ordered, but did not arrive in time for today, which is supposed to be her first curve. When I was leaving last week, the vet tech ran out and said it wouldn’t arrive in time but I could borrow the vet’s, which when it came time to pick up yesterday, no one knew about this, I was told I had to rent it for $150, and then that it wasn’t even available.

I borrowed a human one from a neighbour, but kept getting an E3 error, which means the glucose level is too high, so I’ve given up for today.

The vet also hasn’t specified what meter they ordered, and how many test strips it comes with. It looks like the vetmate one I think.

I got a coupon from one touch for a free Verio Flex or Reflect with the purchase of 100 strips, but every pharmacy around either has neither or only one, canceling out the coupon :/ I haven’t seen much info about those being used here though.

I’ll also mention I’m at the cottage, and bringing Pumpy in for the curve will 1- cost as much as the machine and 2- is a very stressful trip, 10 minutes by boat and another 35 minutes drive.

I hate that finances are so limited right now but I’m trying my best and want to make sure Pumpy gets the care she needs so she can get better.

Ok, questions: what is a good machine available in Canada? The Relion isn’t here, I’ve also looked at the Advocate Pet Test, which will still take time to ship. Can we wait 1-2 weeks? Should I tighten the belt and do the glucose curve at the vet’s? (Vet said if the reading is high they’ll stop the curve, and I have a sneaking suspicion it will be, bc she’s still got all these symptoms, so that’s money wasted and extra stress on my baby)

Vet also said her reading was 30-32, and should be 10, but I’ve been seeing very different numbers listed with the other posts about glucometers, like 50 is low for a human, 64 for a cat, 120-200 is good? And 300-600 is possible?

Also I dropped the Lantus about 3” to the counter a few days ago, which is when she started to drink more. I can’t see the floaters or stringy stuff, but how delicate is it?

I’d like to get a meter ASAP, as Pumpy gets sooo horribly hungry, she’s still drinking a ton of water and her pee clumps have gotten bigger since starting on the insulin.

Right now she’s on 1.5 units of Lantus per meal.

Thank you so much in advance, and I’m so grateful this resource is here <3
 
Waving from Ontario. Welcome. I'm sorry it has taken so long for answers to your questions.

Atomika said:
Ok, questions: what is a good machine available in Canada?
Click to expand...
A lot of Canadians use the FreeStyle Lite. It uses the smallest drop of blood. You can use your PC points to buy the strips or have a senior handy for Seniors Day at Shoppers Drug Mart. Strips run about $0.80/strip which is a lot cheaper than strips for a pet meter.

A few use the Bravo meter (https://diabetesexpress.ca/products/bravo-meter). The downsides are 1) it takes the largest drop of blood and 2) strips are available only through the mail. You would have to have 3-400 strips on hand. In the event of a hypo, you will go through more strips than you can imagine and you won't be able to run out to a pharmacy to get more.

A few people use a strip subscription service called OneDrop. I'm tagging a few people for more information.
@Sue and Luci @Butters & Lyla @KittenTheCat

Atomika said:
Can we wait 1-2 weeks? Should I tighten the belt and do the glucose curve at the vet’s?
Click to expand...
It would be best to wait as little as possible before you start testing. A curve at the vet only gives you one day's worth of information. Hometesting gives you the overall picture.

Just in case, the hypo instructions:

And power outage tips considering you are at the cottage:



Atomika said:
Vet also said her reading was 30-32, and should be 10, but I’ve been seeing very different numbers listed with the other posts about glucometers, like 50 is low for a human, 64 for a cat, 120-200 is good? And 300-600 is possible?
Click to expand...

This forum has a lot of members from the US and uses US numbers. Canada uses World numbers. You multiply x 18 to get World numbers.
50 in US numbers (= 2.8 World) is the take action number. You don't want your cat going below 50.
On a pet meter, the number is 68 (3.7).

120-200 (US) is good. 300-600 (US) is too high.

Atomika said:
Also I dropped the Lantus about 3” to the counter a few days ago, which is when she started to drink more. I can’t see the floaters or stringy stuff, but how delicate is it?
Click to expand...
As long as the glass vial did not shatter, the vial should be fine. While it should never be shaken, a drop should not affect the efficacy of the Lantus.

And if you are out shopping for a glucometer, pick up some 26G or 28G lancets. Most glucometers come with much thinner lancets. A thicker lancet is easier to learn with.

And half unit insulin syringes. Vets tend to go up by whole units and that usually means going right past the optimum dose. On this forum, increases and decreases (unless told otherwise by an experienced member) are no more than 0.25 units.

@Roxy450 and @Ti-Mousse and Pepe live in the Montreal area and may know which stores have the best deals.

Ask more questions. This forum is the best place you never thought you would be. And again, Bienvenue.
 
Welcome to FDMB!!

I think the only thing that @Red & Rover (GA) didn't cover was how to set up a spreadsheet and your signature. This is a post on helping us to help you and has the information on setting these up along with some other helpful information as you're getting started.

Please let us know how we can help. The members here are very generous with their time and information.
 
Bienvenue @Atomika and Pumpy! Sorry I did not answer sooner, I didn't see @Red & Rover (GA) tag. I'm in Mirabel; looks like you're far up North!

I use a FreeStyle Lite meter because it's the one that takes the smallest blood sample and my little Ti-Mousse is not bleeding much; the meter is about $40 at Jean Coutu or at some Walmart. A few years ago, I got mine for free with the purchase of strips at Walmart; they have such a deal sometimes so make sure you ask.

The strips are sold for about $75 for 100 at Walmart but prices are not the same depending on store location.
The lancets are not very expensive : $12/100 (Walmart or Jean Coutu)

Walmart drugstores are independant so shop to find the one that gives you the best prices. I know the one in Blainville is good but I don't know where you are. There is always online shopping if you have a good and trusty supplier.

Don't forget to get some treats for Miss Pumpy, it helps when you test! (freeze dried chicken or fish at Mondou depending what she likes)

It's a lot of things to take care at the beginning, but once you'll know where to get your supplies and when your routine will be all set up, everything will go smoothly.

Keep posting whenever you need help !
 
Super delayed on my response but I highly recommend onedrop! If you are looking to make it the most cost effective, definitely sign up. You can stock up on the unlimited strips and then put the membership on hold until you need a refill. You’ll have to upload the data to their app but it has saved me hundreds of dollars in strips. If that’s not your thing, I used diabetesexpress before and would order bravo strips and the freestyle lancets and would order the free shipping minimum to make it more cost effective. I think it’s $200 and so I order 21 boxes of $10 lancets when I made the onedrop switch. I get my lantus insulin at Costco for $100 for 5 x 3 ml vials
 
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