JL and Chip
Member Since 2009
I've noticed that I can get notably different readings on my AT based on the size of the blood drop and how well I "hit" the magic spot on the side of the test strip. I find the AT harder to use than my One Touch Ultra human meter. With the AT, there's no "windowpane" where I can see the blood being sucked up, so I often don't know how much blood the AT strip is getting.
It doesn't sound like there's anything urgent about having a curve done on exactly Friday. In other words, it's a nice target date, but does it warrant $300-500 for results that might be artificially inflated due to vet stress, being locked in a cage, and perhaps eating differently than at home? What solid data is that really going to give you? If the cat were going to live at the vet clinic, then it would make sense. If a curve at the clinic is your only option, then so be it. But given that you're successfully home testing, just having problems with the meter, I might consider waiting a few more days and trying to sort out the meter issues before defaulting to a curve at the clinic.
We usually find that the best results are obtained by doing a curve at home in the cat's natural environment, with the cat doing whatever it normally does, eating whenever it normally eats, sleeping and playing as usual. More than one cat has been overdosed because the BG values obtained at the clinic don't reflect "real life."
I might also suggest you pick up a human meter and strips. It will read generally lower than the AT, but it will still give you a clue about what is happening AND you can test with both meters if you want to (just don't be overwhelmed by what we already know will be differences in expected values). I know the feeling well of doubting the accuracy of a meter...and it's stressful. I can't tell you how many meter comparisons I did in my early years of feline diabetes!
I love my One Touch Ultra meter because it is reliable, rarely gives me wonky results, and because it runs "middle of the road" ... lower than the AT but not crazy lower like some of my other meters. Other members here have different favorites. And I often used my AT as a reality check, cuz even all these years later I still need one occasionally.
Just my two cents.
It doesn't sound like there's anything urgent about having a curve done on exactly Friday. In other words, it's a nice target date, but does it warrant $300-500 for results that might be artificially inflated due to vet stress, being locked in a cage, and perhaps eating differently than at home? What solid data is that really going to give you? If the cat were going to live at the vet clinic, then it would make sense. If a curve at the clinic is your only option, then so be it. But given that you're successfully home testing, just having problems with the meter, I might consider waiting a few more days and trying to sort out the meter issues before defaulting to a curve at the clinic.
We usually find that the best results are obtained by doing a curve at home in the cat's natural environment, with the cat doing whatever it normally does, eating whenever it normally eats, sleeping and playing as usual. More than one cat has been overdosed because the BG values obtained at the clinic don't reflect "real life."
I might also suggest you pick up a human meter and strips. It will read generally lower than the AT, but it will still give you a clue about what is happening AND you can test with both meters if you want to (just don't be overwhelmed by what we already know will be differences in expected values). I know the feeling well of doubting the accuracy of a meter...and it's stressful. I can't tell you how many meter comparisons I did in my early years of feline diabetes!
I love my One Touch Ultra meter because it is reliable, rarely gives me wonky results, and because it runs "middle of the road" ... lower than the AT but not crazy lower like some of my other meters. Other members here have different favorites. And I often used my AT as a reality check, cuz even all these years later I still need one occasionally.
Just my two cents.
