Home Test With Human Equipment/Supplies?

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CatCouple

CatCouple

Member Since 2015
I am Buddy's Dad and I am a Type II diabetic. My primary question is: Can I use my human equipment/supplies to test Buddy's BG? I use the following on myself to test my BG:
  • Precision Xtra meter
  • Precision Xtra test strips with 0.6 sample
  • BD Ultra-Fine II 30 gauge lancets
Once I get a reading, do I have to adjust or somehow convert these numbers because Buddy (despite what he thinks) is not human? Do I have to use test strips specifically designed for cats with my human meter?

And please . . . feel free to answer questions I did not ask.
 
The majority of people here use human meters to test their cats. The cost for test strips for pet specific meters are very pricey, especially if you test frequently. Many people here use the ReliOn confirm or micro from Walmart. The reason for using those ReliOn models is that they only require a 0.3 μL sample size instead of the 0.6 μL sample that your meter requires. The test strips are also very inexpensive. That being said, I'm pretty sure that you can use your meter and your current test strips

A rough conversion from human glucometer to pet glucometer numbers, as well as advice on when to dose or not dose, can be found in board member @BJM's Glucometer Notes. Being that you're already diabetic, I bet you're already practiced in getting blood samples (you'll use your cat's ear or paw) and in injecting insulin.

You can post an introduction message on the introduction board to let us know more about your cat (http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/forums/welcome-to-the-group-post-an-introduction-here.41/). You can also start keeping a spreadsheet of your cat's readings, using a standardized spreadsheet that you'll link in your signature, so others can see what's going on with your cat if you have questions. Instructions for the spreadsheet and linking it to your signature can be found here.
 
the one thing different is if you use the lancet device....
most of the human ones ( especially newer) have a much finer stick.....
you want 28 gauge or 27 for a cat.... especially until their ears learn to bleed.

I had a hard time learning what gauge they all are.... they don't share that info easily....
the one I use is the accu-chek plus lancing device....it's a 28 g.
 
So let me see if I got this right. It is OK to test with using human equipment/supplies BUT those readings must be compared to the correct reference ranges. I looked at board member @BJM's Glucometer Notes. If I use his first set of numbers for human meters as the reference range to track Buddy, will I be monitoring correctly?
 
Yes.
Also, you use the ProZinc protocol to guide how you are using it.
The protocol is located in the ProZinc/PZI forum here.
 
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