Can anyone tell me the if the Relion Micro meter reads higher than the Alpha Trak or lower....?? I was using the Alpha trak until I ran out of the strips..it was cheaper for me to just buy the Relion meter and the strips than to buy any more Alpha strips. However, I was going to save an Alpha strip to compare my readings but I ended up using the last one......so......I dont know if I should be adding 20% or maybe subtracting it??? Please help....????
Meter differences?
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Monique & Spooky
Very Active Member
There is no need to do any converting or add/subtract. There are differences between all meters (ie. no two meters will give identical results) the essence of measuring BG and treatment is not about absolute accuracy but rather "ranges" like the colors on our spreadsheets indicate.
As with any scientific data collection experiment it is always best to try and limit the number of variables, which is why we say pick a meter, use it, and don't try to make comparisons or adjustments. Accuracy is not as important as precision (accuracy is how close a value is to the actual "truth", precision is the degree to which repeated measurements under unchanged conditions show the same results. Things can be accurate but not precise, precise but not accurate, neither, or both. You trust the speedometer in your car most of the time but it is likely not 100% accurate, it should be precise though. When you are actually driving 58 MPH your speedometer always shows 55MPH, it is not accurate but it is precise and for that reason almost every measurement device has an industry accepted allowable varience or error margin. You won't get a ticket for speeding when the police radar measures 58 MPH in a 55 zone, speedometer varience is allowed as well as the fact the radar is as well not 100% accurate.
I don't know which insulin you are using but the protocol for Lantus and Levemir specify ranges and dosage changes based on BG results measured on a human meter (eg. Relion, Freestyle...) The Alpha Trac is not more accurate than any other meter, though it is calibrated for felines it does not make it "better" or more reliable. It is significantly more expensive and therefore less useful (when you afford to test often enough, or have difficulty purchasing strips), using a human meter with which you are comfortable with and can afford and good availbilty of strips etc. is going to better than worrying about any "differences".
I suggest you use the Relion, make a note on your spreadsheet that you changed meters and don't worry about making any comparisons, your data collection begins anew with the meter change. If the number was 393 it's to high period, does it really matter if it's 350 or 450, in either case the cat needs insulin!
As with any test a single measurement is useless, rather it is accurate or not, more important is the trend of repeated measurements over a short or long period of time. In treating diabetes we are more interested in being in the right "zip code", not the exact " house number" ;-)
ETA: The way to improve accuracy is by increasing the sample number (more test results) this will correct any possible "error" values.
If I average the numbers 50+100+450and divide by 3, I get 200
If I have a larger sample 50+100+450+75+90+110 and divide by 6, I get 145 which is both more accurate and more precise.
As with any scientific data collection experiment it is always best to try and limit the number of variables, which is why we say pick a meter, use it, and don't try to make comparisons or adjustments. Accuracy is not as important as precision (accuracy is how close a value is to the actual "truth", precision is the degree to which repeated measurements under unchanged conditions show the same results. Things can be accurate but not precise, precise but not accurate, neither, or both. You trust the speedometer in your car most of the time but it is likely not 100% accurate, it should be precise though. When you are actually driving 58 MPH your speedometer always shows 55MPH, it is not accurate but it is precise and for that reason almost every measurement device has an industry accepted allowable varience or error margin. You won't get a ticket for speeding when the police radar measures 58 MPH in a 55 zone, speedometer varience is allowed as well as the fact the radar is as well not 100% accurate.
I don't know which insulin you are using but the protocol for Lantus and Levemir specify ranges and dosage changes based on BG results measured on a human meter (eg. Relion, Freestyle...) The Alpha Trac is not more accurate than any other meter, though it is calibrated for felines it does not make it "better" or more reliable. It is significantly more expensive and therefore less useful (when you afford to test often enough, or have difficulty purchasing strips), using a human meter with which you are comfortable with and can afford and good availbilty of strips etc. is going to better than worrying about any "differences".
I suggest you use the Relion, make a note on your spreadsheet that you changed meters and don't worry about making any comparisons, your data collection begins anew with the meter change. If the number was 393 it's to high period, does it really matter if it's 350 or 450, in either case the cat needs insulin!
As with any test a single measurement is useless, rather it is accurate or not, more important is the trend of repeated measurements over a short or long period of time. In treating diabetes we are more interested in being in the right "zip code", not the exact " house number" ;-)
ETA: The way to improve accuracy is by increasing the sample number (more test results) this will correct any possible "error" values.
If I average the numbers 50+100+450and divide by 3, I get 200
If I have a larger sample 50+100+450+75+90+110 and divide by 6, I get 145 which is both more accurate and more precise.
Thank you so much for your response! I will definitely use the relion...it is much more cost effective! I am sort of aggravated with the vet for talking me into purchasing the Alpha trak...she said it had to be a pet meter and not a human one. You would think vets would ultimately want your pet to be healthy....instead I spent so much unnecessary money! Uggh! Frustrating! Anyway, yes 393 is really high but since I have switched meters I have also went to all gluten free wet food which has helped to bring the readings down tremendously! They used to be between 550 - 700. My cat was just diagnosed with diabetes a few months ago...so I am learning as I go. This vet also tried to tell me not to worry about the types of food ....but that the special w/d diet DRY food was best (which of course I purchased there) Thank goodness for this website and forum - I have learned so much - that I would not have learned through this veterinarian!
My cat is on ProZinc. I am giving him two shots a day at 6 units. I will do another curve this weekend....obviously I will have to up the dosage!
Thanks for replying to my post!
My cat is on ProZinc. I am giving him two shots a day at 6 units. I will do another curve this weekend....obviously I will have to up the dosage!
Thanks for replying to my post!
Phoebe_TiggyGA_NortonGA
Very Active Member
6u BID Prozinc
Hi - that is a pretty high dose of insulin for a kitty eating low carb canned food and still with high blood sugar readings.
At what dose did you start, and how quickly was the dose increased?
There are some conditions that cause "insulin resistance" that you may want to read up on. Visit the INSULIN SUPPORT Group for HIGH DOSE and read the sticky posts there.
Hi - that is a pretty high dose of insulin for a kitty eating low carb canned food and still with high blood sugar readings.
At what dose did you start, and how quickly was the dose increased?
There are some conditions that cause "insulin resistance" that you may want to read up on. Visit the INSULIN SUPPORT Group for HIGH DOSE and read the sticky posts there.
Ruth & Beethoven (GA)
Member
I want to respond to your original question regarding readings from AlphaTrak versus human meters. Yes, it’s true meters will vary a bit from one to the next and it’s really best to pick one and stay with it, so as to avoid going crazy. However, it is also generally found that the AlphaTrak, being calibrated for cats, tends to read higher than human meters. Dr. Rand, one of the main feline diabetes researchers and developer of the Rand protocol for Lantus, noted this in her study. She recommends adding approximately 30 when using the AlphaTrak as compared to a human meter. So, if you’re aiming for a range of 50-100 with a human meter, you should aim for a range of 80-130 with an AlphaTrak.
Our vet also recommended the AlphaTrak, which we purchased. I don’t believe it’s any better quality or more accurate than most human meters—just a bit different in the readings you’ll get, as noted above. Since we started with AlphaTrak, we decided to stay with it, but I wouldn’t recommend it from the start. It is quite a bit more expensive as are the test strips, and it’s just not necessary.
Our vet also recommended the prescription m/d food and didn’t care whether it was wet or dry. We later learned—from this board—that the prescription food isn’t necessary or even the best. Also, it’s really important to feed canned and not the dry.
Our vet also recommended the AlphaTrak, which we purchased. I don’t believe it’s any better quality or more accurate than most human meters—just a bit different in the readings you’ll get, as noted above. Since we started with AlphaTrak, we decided to stay with it, but I wouldn’t recommend it from the start. It is quite a bit more expensive as are the test strips, and it’s just not necessary.
Our vet also recommended the prescription m/d food and didn’t care whether it was wet or dry. We later learned—from this board—that the prescription food isn’t necessary or even the best. Also, it’s really important to feed canned and not the dry.
I started at the one unit and now I am up to 6. I am going to find out about that insulin resistant group you mentioned......I did think that my cats glucose levels were pretty high for being on such a high dosage and being on gluten free/low carb/canned wet food.....but since I am a newbie to all this...I just thought it would take time!
Thanks for the info!
I am truly outraged that some of these Vets are not pushing the low carb wet food.......and geez those Alpha Trak strips are so expensive!!! EEEk!!! It was cheaper for me to buy a ReliOn meter and strips than to just get more strips for the Alpha Trak.
Thanks for the info!
I am truly outraged that some of these Vets are not pushing the low carb wet food.......and geez those Alpha Trak strips are so expensive!!! EEEk!!! It was cheaper for me to buy a ReliOn meter and strips than to just get more strips for the Alpha Trak.
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