Newbie Intro and Glucometer Question

[Deb & Yahtzee]

Hello everyone!

I am newly registered on this wonderful and resourceful board, but have been reading various posts, tips, and recommendations for the past 2 months since DX.

Here's a little background on my beloved Yahtzee. He's only 5-1/2 yrs old, not overweight, and was DX 6/15/12. Initally brought in to vet because of weight loss, lack of appetite, and abnormal attitude. The 1st week after DX was especially difficult because he totally loss interest in food (bad for insulin injections!), so back to the vet again. I pressed for more extensive testing as I was not satisfied with simple DX of diabetes because of severe mood and eating changes. Ultrasound showed a pretty BAD case of pancreatitis. Off to referral-only vet specialist for 2 day inpatient stay :cry: . Since then I've successfully switched to a completely wet food diet (boy did I learn a TON from this board!) of Fancy Feast Classics and Earthborn chicken. Insuline doses started at 1.5 units BID, up to 2 units BID, and then gradually reduced to .5 unit SID, though I don't think this is quite enough according to BG readings. We're not totally regulated yet, but we're gonna get there!! No hypo episodes, thankfully, but I am prepared (with help from this board) just in case.

I've recently started BG testing at home with a "loaner" AlphaTRAK meter from the vet. I also purchased a ReliOn Micro because I plan to continue testing at home and knew I'd need an economical one. I've been testing the same blood drop with both meters (when I get enough blood to do this) to compare the readings for accuracy. The ReliOn seems to run about 20-35 mg/dL lower than the AlphaTRAK with readings in the 200s and low 300s. I have yet to get a reading from both meters for BG in the 100s, but I'm still trying. Yahtzee and I are still in the learning phase of BG tests, so I know obtaining blood will get easier and more consistent with practice. It's been about 2 weeks since his last vet BG curve so today I gave the vet a written update on Yahtzee (with key spot BG readings but not full curve yet). The vet tech was clearly disappointed that I am trying to use a "forbidden" human glucometer to test BG and told me that human glucometers are not accurate enough for cats. My mental (not verbal) response included 2 things: 1) the vet tech is not the expert and is probably told to give this response to the thought of human glucometers and 2) that response sure doesn't correspond to what I've read on the FDMB, as many beans seem to use human glucometers. I actually did research on this board before I purchased the ReliOn and concluded that it was the most economical (necessary for me right now) and reliable option.

So here's my question, does anyone have input as to whether I can get by with the ReliOn? Or should I go in debt to splurge for an AlphaTRAK? Times are tough for me right now so economical is the key, second only to the well-being of Yahtzee! I plan to continue comparison testing with both meters until I know how the BG readings compare in the lower numbers. I thought I was doing everything right until I was scorned by the vet tech. I could use some reassurance and/or advice.

Thank you all so much! I have learned enormous amounts from this board and from links within. I can't express in words how much I appreciate having this resource during the tough times. This board has gotten me through sleepness nights of tears and fears. I now know that Yahtzee and I can manage this DX and he will still live a full and happy life.

Deb & Yahtzee

 

[Ry & Scooter]

The ReliOn is fine. Yes the Alphatrak usually reads higher than human meters. All the documents on here are already written in human meter numbers, ie. we figure hypo is below 50 on a human meter, but it is below about 80 on an Alphatrak or other cat meter. Exact numbers don't really matter as we do everything based on ranges and patterns. Plus, meters are allowed to have a 20% variance in numbers, in either direction, so a 100 reading could actually be anywhere between 80-120. So at the end of the day, go with the one that you can afford.

 

[Deb & Yahtzee]

Thanks Ry! You've put my mind at ease.

 

[hmjohnston]

I use the Relion Micro- this is my break down for it:

I look at it this way-
Upfront expenses:
Alpha track meter- $100+ to buy
strips- I think they are $1 EACH
vs
Relion Micro- $15 (they just went up- I bought mine in January for $9- honest!)
strips- store- 100/$36 ($.36 EACH) and ADW 250/$72 ($.29 EACH)

I test, on average, 7 times a day.
Alpha- 7*1.00=7.00/day, 49.00/wk, 196.00/4 wk month.
Relion- 7*.29= 2.03/day, 14.21/wk, 56.84/4 wk month.

I save $139 a month by using a human meter, on average. Sure, every 45 days my auto-ship order comes from ADW ($73 because of the auto ship discount covers most of the shipping cost) but I've built that into my budget.

But lets say you only test 3 times a day because of time constraints (both PS shots and one mid-cycle)-
Alpha- 3*1.00=3.00/day, 21.00/wk, 84.00/4 wk month.
Relion- 3*.29= .87/day, 6.09/wk, 24.36/4 wk month.

Comes to a $56 savings. That's a lot of cat food (or people food, utility bill, car payment...)

Plus, consider this- Walmart is easier to get to in the middle of the night (for at least half of us)- your vet isn't open at midnight if you need extra strips NOW!!! I've had many a teller say they can open those plastic little boxes for me if the pharmacy is closed.

Yes, the human one reads 20-30 pts lower than the alpha one- mainly because it is for humans. But it is CONSISTENT and acceptable and as long as you know the difference there is no problem because all of our advise is based on human meters. We are looking for the day to day trend, not the absolute BG # they have at any given point. Plus, even the alpha has the 20% variance allowed as well :lol: .

It isn't better- just different.

 

[Deb & Yahtzee]

Wow! The ReliOn is a LOT cheaper over time! That was my initial thought when I bought it, but seeing the numbers really helps justify my decision.

Thank you for your input!