Test Strips and Best Time

[BarbaraEva]

I use the Alpha Trak Blood Glucose Monitoring System, but the corresponding test strips are so costly. Can I use other brand strips with this monitor, such as freestyle? And if so, do I need to do anything different? For example, the Alpha Trak test strips have a "cat number" which I must calibrate the monitor to. What number do I use for the freestyle strips, which are meant for humans?

Also, what is the best time to take a reading? My vet told me 6-8 hours after eating is ideal, but wanted other opinions.

 

[Yong & Maury GA]

The AT test strip price is why a lot of us purchased a human meter for daily testing .

You can use Free Style Lite test strips in the AlphaTrak 2 meter. You leave the code from the AT strips on the meter, ignore the FSL code because it's for humans. Please note, you will still want AT strips to run comparisons with FSL strips. They can still have a variance of their own. I would think at least for every new bottle of FSL strips, you would want a comparison reading from an AT strip. Apologies if anything I said is confusing, just ask if you need clarification on my statement

 

[Tuxedo Mom]

The AT test strip price is why a lot of us purchased a human meter for daily testing .

You can use Free Style Lite test strips in the AlphaTrak 2 meter. You leave the code from the AT strips on the meter, ignore the FSL code because it's for humans. Please note, you will still want AT strips to run comparisons with FSL strips. They can still have a variance of their own. I would think at least for every new bottle of FSL strips, you would want a comparison reading from an AT strip. Apologies if anything I said is confusing, just ask if you need clarification on my statement

Although not advised by this board, many of us do use the Freestyle Lite strips with the AT2 meter using the information Yong posted. When I first started using the FS Lite strips I did about 50+ side by side same blood drop comparison using the AT2 strip with the AT2 meter and the FS Lite strip with the AT2 meter. I was satisfied with the results and I have also taken a reading with my AT2 meter with FS Lite strips at the same time a blood draw was done at the vets and had a very close reading. HOWEVER before using this method please do diligent test comparisons. I also keep some AT2 strips on hand for spot comparisons and do control test solution readings with each new container of strips I open.

 

[JanetNJ]

the cheapest place i've found for the alpha strips is adwdiabetes.com. They always have $5 off or sometimes 10% off coupon codes on retailmenot.com that you can apply, so it comes to about $48 for 50 of them. Amazon has them for 52 with same day shipping if you need them fast.

What insulin? different insulin's peek at different times? Always test preshot times and it's good to get at least one mid cycle reading... the more the better as it will give you a more complete picture of what's happening.