Need help, Bravo meter not sure where to start

[Seasnskies]

Hi there,
I decided to finally get this home testing thing on track, and I got the Bravo blood glucose metre. However, I don't know where to start. I tried to search the term "Bravo" in other threads to see how they compare with other metres, but I can't really find any information. How do I determine what my cat's blood glucose is, and how it compares to a reading on a pet specific monitor? I Riddles where the Bravo had different readings and other metres so how do I determine what the accurate reading is? Is there a chart that converts

 

[Red & Rover (GA)]

There is no conversion chart between a pet meter and a human meter. It's like comparing apples and oranges. They are both fruit but there the comparison ends.

All we know is that the taken action number on a pet meter is 68. On a human meter, it is 50.

Follow the human instructions except for the fingertip part.
Cat testing information can be found here:

• Hometesting Links and Tips - includes numerous links, instructions, pictures, & videos

I had a Bravo meter briefly. I bought it as a back-up meter. I found it took a larger drop of blood and it read a bit higher than my FreeStyle Lite so I stayed with that one.

Going between two human meters will drive you up the wall. What you will be looking for over time are patterns.

I believe @FarmKitty uses the Bravo meter on a regular basis.

 

[Seasnskies]

There is no conversion chart between a pet meter and a human meter. It's like comparing apples and oranges. They are both fruit but there the comparison ends.

All we know is that the taken action number on a pet meter is 68. On a human meter, it is 50.

Follow the human instructions except for the fingertip part.
Cat testing information can be found here:

• Hometesting Links and Tips - includes numerous links, instructions, pictures, & videos

I had a Bravo meter briefly. I bought it as a back-up meter. I found it took a larger drop of blood and it read a bit higher than my FreeStyle Lite so I stayed with that one.

Going between two human meters will drive you up the wall. What you will be looking for over time are patterns.

I believe @FarmKitty uses the Bravo metre on a regular basis.

Thank you for your reply. I think when I was referencing the conversion from human verses pet BG pet monitors, I was meaning how the reading translates in terms of what care is needed and if and when Insulin is needed. For example, if the Bravo monitor is off it's reading comparatively to other monitors, how do I know what the appropriate course of action is?
? What do you feel is most user-friendly monitor out there?
Again, I really appreciate your advice.

 

[Red & Rover (GA)]

On a human meter the take action number is 50.

I preferred my FreeStyle Lite because it took a smaller drop of blood and it read slightly lower. The strips, however, are expensive. $80/100 the last time I checked. (Some people buy from ebay – you have to check expiry dates of the strips carefully).

I was not a Prozinc user. I'll tag @JanetNJ for her knowledge of when insulin is needed, when it should be increased, and when a reduction is warranted.
In the meantime, there is a lot of information in the Prozinc stickies. You might find what you need there.

 

[Seasnskies]

Hello again,
If the take action number for a human monitor is 50, what is it for a cat? And how do I determine if the monitor I am using is accurate, compared to others?
Sorry for all the questions!

 

[Wendy&Neko]

The human meter and pet meters are much closer in lower numbers and further apart in higher numbers. At higher numbers, it doesn't really matter if they are higher, it's just "too high". Our dosing methods were developed with the idea that people are using human meters, cause frankly, most people are. Pet meters are relatively new and their test strips cost a lot.

We don't want cats on insulin to go below 50 (2.8) on a human BG meter, hence if we see a number that low we give higher carb food and/or syrup/honey to bring them up. And it also means the dose is too high. If someone is using a pet meter, we use 68 instead of 50 as the number below which we give higher carb food. That's what's meant by "take action".

Many people have used the Bravo here, I would take it's numbers as close enough to other human meters. Meters by law can be out a small percentage, so you likely won't get exactly the same number with two human meters, or even two Bravo meters. You might be able to buy control solution to see if that particular meter is reading correctly.