Hi, I'm a newbie here.

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Elizabeth A

Elizabeth A

Member Since 2013
I am going to try to do sampling from the ear and a glucose curve at home tomorrow for the first time. I'm nervous. I have a basic question, so basic I can't find the answer! I have the monitor the vet loaned me, and strips, and lancets. Once I know I can do this I will buy my own. But what is the sequence of events, here are the choices: turn the unit on, put in the right code, put in the strip, prick the cat, anything else I don't know I need to do like push some special button. No instructions in the little pouch, so I sure hope someone can help. It is an Alphatrak 2 and has 2 buttons on the front, one says M and one says C. And yes, they didn't really explain much of anything at the vet @-) Thanks very much! Leia thanks you too!
 
With the Alphatrak 2, you need to turn on the meter and a code will pop up. This code should match the code on your container of test strips. If it does not, you need to reprogram it for the correct code.

Here is a link to the quick user guide instructions for the Alphatrak. http://www.alphatrakmeter.com/static/cms_workspace/pdfs/AlphaTRAK_2_Quick_Users_Guide.pdf

Here is a link to the full user guide: http://www.alphatrakmeter.com/alphatrak2-setup-and-use.html

You should try that now before you are ready to test tomorrow. You don't want to be having to program the meter while you are trying to get blood.

ETA: I would not recommend the Alphatrak meter as one for you to purchase. It costs $100-130 plus the test strips cost $1-3 each.
Instead,go to your local Walmart if you are in the US and purchase a Relion Confirm or Micro (test strips 0.36 each, 0.3 uL blood drop needed) or a Relion Prime ( test strips 0.18 each, 0.5 uL blood drop needed)
 
I have printed out the quickie guide, thank you! Yes, she's been on insulin almost a year. It was okay going to the vet's for the curve, she doesn't seem to mind being there, but really expensive and she is just too changeable, I think checking her more often will be better for her. She does eat dry food and wet food, unfortunately my one cat makes crystals and has had corrective surgery but can't eat anything but these certain dry foods or else. Most wet foods are too rich for Leia's system anyway, her wet food now is tuna in water. Leia's diabetes is probably a result of being on prednisolone for many years, cortisones can do this. She is 13, and has had serious IBD since I got her as a kitten. If she had not been on the drugs she wouldn't be here for us to discuss this, it was a known risk. She is also a cancer survivor, she's had liver and breast cancer. I joke that her insurance checks have paid all the others premiums every year. The vet is pretty set that the insulin she is on is good for her, Lantus, reading around I see other suggestions.
 
I checked the code and it's good, and it's already programmed with the date and time. The vet's office did say they found the pet monitors better because they go up higher than the people ones, Leia's had a reading around 600 before. I agree about the cost though, I am sure thinking about it. I may get the one you suggested and compare to the vet's at my house to see how close they are, next week after I think I know how to do this at all, haha!
 
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