Help with getting started on home testing

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sotto1031

Member Since 2015
I am bringing home my diabetic foster cat from the animal shelter tomorrow. Based on what I've read here so far, I know it's important that I do home testing to monitor her glucose levels. Would appreciate your recommendations on what type of glucose meter to use (it sounds like most of you use a human meter and somehow convert the number?)... Thank you!!
 
There is no conversion the accuracy of the metters is +/- 20%. The human meters tend to read a little lower than pet meters/vet lab equipment.
A popular meter is
WalMart ReliOn Confirm or Confirm Micro, aka Glucocard 01 or 01 Mini from American Diabetes Warehouse
 
Hi @sotto1031. We don't typically convert the numbers (I had the same question a few months ago!). We use the number of below 50 on a human meter is hypoglycemic and 50-120 with no insulin is a healthy "OTJ" (off the juice) range. When talking with your vet just be aware that their numbers are 30-40% higher on their pet meters.

The Walmart Relion meter is cheap and their strips are cheap, which is where the cost adds up. ADWdiabetes.com sells the same meter as the Walmart one under the name of Glucocard or Mini. The Relion strips are called Arkray strips on the ADW site.

@Chris & China, can you post your tips for home testing?

It boils down to the following but Chris has a better summary of it:

Warm the ear
Coat the ear with a thin layer of Vaseline or Neosporin ointment (the clear stuff not the white cream) to help the blood bead up, otherwise it spreads into the fur
Poke and test
Give the kitty a low-carb treat every time

Also, here's the link to the "how to test" FAQ which is full of tips and tricks and videos:
http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/hometesting-links-and-tips.287/

Good luck bringing her home and getting her settled!
 
Walmart's Relion is easy and seams to fair well for home testing. More cost effective too. Warming the prick site will certainly help to dilate the blood vessels and provide adequate blood for testing. I don't use the vaseline until after I have obtained the blood and held pressure so no lumps appear. The vaseline keeps the site supple and soft and non-tender. You can do it!!! It's pretty much trial and error until you adapt to the equipment and your confidence rises. Good luck from Jane and Stewey
 
Here's what I've written up for others on home testing, but there's plenty of other tips on home testing throughout the message board...and another vote for the Relion Confirm or Micro from WalMart...it's only about $15 and strips are $35.88 per 100. It uses the tiniest sample size too which is really good for "new" ears.

It can be really helpful to establish a routine with testing. Pick one spot that you want your "testing spot" to be (I like the kitchen counter because it's got good light and it's at a good height....it also already blocked 2 escape routes due to the wall and the backsplash) It can be anywhere though...a rug on the floor, a table, a particular spot on the couch...wherever is good for you. Take him there as many times a day as you can and just give his ears a quick rub and then he gets a yummy (low carb) treat. Most cats aren't objecting so much with the poking..it's the fooling with their ears they don't like, but once they're desensitized to it and learn to associate a certain place with the treats, they usually start to come when they're called! Or even when they hear us opening the test kit!

You also have to remember...you're not poking him to hurt him...you're testing him to keep him safe and understand what's going on inside his body. There's just nothing better than truly understanding what's going on inside your kitty's body and with this disease, the more knowledge you have, the more power you have against it. The edges of the ears have very few pain receptors, so it really doesn't hurt them. Also, if you're nervous and tense, it's going to make your kitty nervous and tense too. As silly as it might seem, try singing! It forces you to use a different part of your brain!

It's also important to make sure his ear is warm. A small sock filled with a little rice and microwaved or a small pill bottle filled with warm water (check temp against your wrist like you would a baby bottle) works well

Finding the right "treat" will be a great help too! Freeze dried chicken, bonito flakes, little pieces of baked chicken...whatever low carb treat you can find that he really enjoys will help him to associate the testing with the treat! China's Achilles heel was baked chicken, so I'd bake a piece, chop it into bite sized pieces, put some in the refrigerator and freeze the rest to use as needed. It didn't take long for her to come any time I picked up the meter!

You can also "scrape" the blood drop onto your fingernail and then test from there!
 
It's important to aim for the "sweet spot", the area between the vein and the outer ear.

I thought CJ would end up hating me for poking her. But she now looks forward to being poked and sits on command!

One of these days I might just get really lucky and be like Chris and get the ears to bleed by looking at them! So far, only Chris has that special power!;)

Between the ReliOn Micro or Confirm, I personally prefer the Micro because it's smaller and simple to use. Both cost the same price. The meters come with 30 sized gauges but starting out, we suggest using a 26 or 28 gauge. The lower the #, the thicker the needles but the easier and faster to draw blood. The thicker needle doesn't hurt your cat.

Which insulin is S-Jen on?
 

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I just wanted to drop by to wish you a warm welcome to FDMB (the "Clan of the Sugar Cats";)) now that you're bringing your beautiful kitty home from the shelter tomorrow! How exciting!!! I had followed your marvelous adoption story in August and was so touched by it.
Wishing you the best of luck on home-testing & treating She-Jen; I have no doubt that you'll do just fine! :bighug: - Robin
 
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