Oh no the meter!!.. help plz!! ;_;

[kitten68]

Using ReliOn meter and testing tonite (especially since evening dose is increasing today by .5.. (1.5/1 to 1.5/1.5)) and the first was 303.... tested again 263, appalled at the difference.. it's backward.. tried twice more, got 269, then 280-something.. sounds like its actually in 260's (???) I did rub the meter down very lightly today with a small alcohol wipe, avoiding the screen (first time cleaning it, didn't realize if this was a no no)... is it ruined??? was it a bad strip??? or does this happen sometimes? now im not trusting readings I'm getting.. can buy another one np ... oh no if someone can advise plz help. it'd be terrible having to do numerous tests every time.. he hates getting one to begin with

 

[kitten68]

also.. okay to give Vetsulin 35-40 minutes after eating or is bad? I always shoot for 20-30 but tonite was taken off guard by the meter.. think the timing was fine but just want to ask.

 

[Don Degludec]

The feeding is fine. You ought to wait a minimum of 20mins after feeding if you're using Caninsulin [preferably not a whole hour, unless your cat's numbers are low at PRE]. So it's all good.

Remember, there can be a 20% variance in readings. A 263, 269 and 280 are practically the same number. Some cats' first drop of blood reads higher, some cats' read lower [mine the latter]. This could vouch for the initial 303 aka number in the different colour bracket. But you've tested him back-to-back after, with consistent yellows, so his number is that. Yellow.

Edit to add:
If you get a bigger drop of blood, you could always test that back-to-back 3x and just average the number, but I wouldn't worry about it. Yes, do dip a few strips if you've gotten a bigger drop, but it's all about pattern recognition. Once you know whether his first drop/the particular meter you use reads a tad bit higher or lower than the rest of the strips you'll have a mental reference point. Does it make sense? E.g. if I get an incredibly low reading, instead of panicking, I re-test him 2-3x to see the 'actual' value, because I know that more often than not the first value I get is a wee bit on a lower end.
Also, if you had e.g. touched the first strip on the testing window or you dropped it or placed it on the counter pre-use or whatever, due to debris it could have read higher.

 

[kitten68]

tyyy!!! appreciate it.. my god. ;_; thanks.. and thanks for explaining more. great to know. right! i figured, just seeing 300~ after the bigger dose during the day I was like ???.. ain't happened. made sure to re-test.. had to.. was told there's a margin of error of 20% or something.. but that makes more sense. guess will just have to re-test like today if happens again.. thought my meter was pretty good idk. maybe was the strip (?) won't be lightly rubbing anything anymore.. just the lancing device. buying another one is very possible if needed.. but not sure. (?)

Thanks so much. I wanted to make sure.. yellows. he was so mad tho after that. but he's a good baby and he let me.. I had to.. then he got a number of LC treats and his big meal and forgot tho after that.. yay.