interpreting numbers between human meter and Alpha Trak

[storm]

I use the ReliOn Prime meter for daily testing and Alpha Trak 2 for curves .. because of this, my vet is asking me to either take readings with both meters daily or to convert the human meter numbers to what they would read on the Alpha Trak .. I have no clue how to interpret the difference in the numbers especially when the AT meter always shows a higher number than the Prime meter ( anywhere between 26-109 point difference). I think they are doing this to get me to switch over to using the AT meter for all testing but I cant afford to buy AT strips every week. I told my vet this and was told they like the spreadsheet with detailed notes and how I'm keeping track daily but without coming out and saying it, I got the impression that unless the numbers come from the AT meter they consider the numbers from the human meter to be useless and mean nothing to them, like the numbers from a human meter are a foreign language to them

 

[MrWorfMen's Mom]

There is no formula you can use to convert human to AT2 readings or vice versa. The difference you are seeing is normal with the difference between the human and AT2 readings getting larger the higher the BG. All your vet needs to know is what is normal for a cat using a human meter. Tell your vet that while 70 to 150 would be considered normal on the AT2 meter, the human meter equivalent is 50 to 120. With that information, your vet should be able to evaluate how Cinnamon is doing.

The only other info your vet would need is to know that 50 on a human meter is the point where you would intervene to prevent hypoglycemia. On the AT2 the equivalent point is 68.

Hope this helps. I used the AT2 meter for quite some time to be able to communicate with my vet effectively. The strips are ridiculously expensive and I switched to a human meter this year. My vet is OK with it having been given the reference numbers with which to evaluate readings on the spreadsheet.

Hope that helps you smooth the waters with your vet. I'd also tell the vet why you are switching because my theory is any meter is better than no meter.

 

[storm]

i did explain what the normal range for a cat would be on a human meter, they still insisted on the AT meter for curves and keeps telling me they dont know how to have the time to interpret the numbers from a human meter .. as i said i think they are just being hardheaded to get me to use the AT meter all the time as when i first started testing they at first didnt want me to test at home at all, but when i insisted that i would regardless if they approved or not, that's when they started pushing for me to get the AT meter when i refused to use it for daily testing because of the cost of the strips they then said to use it just for his curves because the software they use is only calibrated for the AT meter, i will remind them of the difference of the numbers again

 

[MrWorfMen's Mom]

My vet looked at me like I had horns growing out of my head when I first mentioned using a human meter to her. Fast forward and she emailed me for reference numbers for the human meter because she had another client who wanted to use a human meter. I cannot understand why, with the appropriate human meter reference numbers, the vet cannot assess how Cinnamon is doing. Your vet should work with you and be happy you are interested in looking after Cinnamon so well rather than berating you for using a human meter. Human meters were used for cats long before the AT2 meter was even available. I feel for you but perhaps it's time to look for another vet who will work as your partner rather than as a dictator.

 

[storm]

well i have been using this vet since i moved to NH in 2007, they really do have the best bedside manner with their patients in the area plus they are willing to work with owners with payment arrangements and such .... none of the other vets are even willing to do that.

 

[MrWorfMen's Mom]

Sometimes it's a catch 22 situation. Your vet offers a lot of good qualities so I can understand why you would like to stick with them. Hopefully with a little negotiating you can convince them to alter their position on human meters. Perhaps in the meantime you could do a week's worth of AT2 readings before a visit to meet them in the middle to keep costs down and satisfy the vet's requirements.

 

[storm]

Sometimes it's a catch 22 situation. Your vet offers a lot of good qualities so I can understand why you would like to stick with them. Hopefully with a little negotiating you can convince them to alter their position on human meters. Perhaps in the meantime you could do a week's worth of AT2 readings before a visit to meet them in the middle to keep costs down and satisfy the vet's requirements.

yes i can do that, they want me to do a curve after he has been on the dose increase 7 days, unfortunately that's next Wednesday, in the middle of a work week, so i cant do one until next weekend but maybe what i can do is use the AT meter this week, starting sunday, and use it through until i have his curve done. I will test with both meters and put the Prime readings in the notes so i have them as reference.