Test strips

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Sylvia Sheaffer

Member Since 2019
If I purchase an Alpha Trak II meter, can I use other strips in it, besides the strips that are made for the meter? And, is that an accurate meter? Thanks
 
AlphaTrak strips are batch tested so they can provide you with the correct code to use in the meter to get the most accurate reading for your cat. If you are not going to use the AlphaTrak strips, there is no point in getting the AlphaTrak meter. If you want cheaper strips, I suggest you get a human meter and the proper strips for it. The majority of people here use human meters. The numbers read lower than they would on an AlphaTrak (though there is no exact percentage difference or way to map the results on one to the results on the other), but they can still be used to track patterns and to keep your cat safe. In fact, the dosing protocols/methods documented on this site were done with numbers for human meters.
 
If you could peel back a test strip you'd see each one has it's own circuit board. The price of strips is the one thing that makes us all nuts.
Just be thankful you're not using this beast from the 70's.
meter02.JPG
Yes that is an AC adapter. :blackeye:
 
FurBabiesMama said:
AlphaTrak strips are batch tested so they can provide you with the correct code to use in the meter to get the most accurate reading for your cat. If you are not going to use the AlphaTrak strips, there is no point in getting the AlphaTrak meter. If you want cheaper strips, I suggest you get a human meter and the proper strips for it. The majority of people here use human meters. The numbers read lower than they would on an AlphaTrak (though there is no exact percentage difference or way to map the results on one to the results on the other), but they can still be used to track patterns and to keep your cat safe. In fact, the dosing protocols/methods documented on this site were done with numbers for human meters.
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We have an Alpha Trak, and bought some other compatible (and a lot less expensive) test strips. All you need to do is re-program the meter according to the instructions on the container.
 
KarrieK said:
We have an Alpha Trak, and bought some other compatible (and a lot less expensive) test strips. All you need to do is re-program the meter according to the instructions on the container.
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We do not recommend, on this board, that any member use a strip other than that for which their meter was designed and is specified. While it is your decision what to do for your kitty, we don’t advise other members to do it.

Thank you! :)
 
Marje and Gracie said:
We do not recommend, on this board, that any member use a strip other than that for which their meter was designed and is specified. While it is your decision what to do for your kitty, we don’t advise other members to do it.

Thank you! :)
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Hi Marje, I'm Diane Tyler's Mom I used to use the Alpha Trak 2 until I could no longer afford the test strips. I have just switched over to the Relion Prime and I love it. I will also be switching over from Vetsulin to Lantus in about 8 days
Linda (MrWorfMen'sMom) has been helping me from the get go.
Tyler has been doing very well on Vetsulin but lately hasn't been getting good duration
I'm still sort of a newbie but have learned so much from Linda and other members
Linda said she has never seen a cat do so good on Vetsulin.
I'm hoping the Lantus will be much better for him.
I have gotten used to the human meter and the lower numbers and have been doing a lot of reading about Lantus
Linda has been a god send for me.
Poor Linda I can drive her crazy sometimes because I can be a worry wart at times
lol
My vet is on board with everything I do
I also talk with Beth73 Elmo's mom. She has been very supportive
I'm looking forward to going over to the Lantus board and getting to know more members whose cats are on Lantus and other experienced members who know about Lantus
I don't know what I would have done without this amazing forum and Linda
Everyone here is so supportive and caring
hoping to talk to you also @Marje and Gracie
 
Diane Tyler's Mom said:
Hi Marje, I'm Diane Tyler's Mom I used to use the Alpha Trak 2 until I could no longer afford the test strips. I have just switched over to the Relion Prime and I love it. I will also be switching over from Vetsulin to Lantus in about 8 days
Linda (MrWorfMen'sMom) has been helping me from the get go.
Tyler has been doing very well on Vetsulin but lately hasn't been getting good duration
I'm still sort of a newbie but have learned so much from Linda and other members
Linda said she has never seen a cat do so good on Vetsulin.
I'm hoping the Lantus will be much better for him.
I have gotten used to the human meter and the lower numbers and have been doing a lot of reading about Lantus
Linda has been a god send for me.
Poor Linda I can drive her crazy sometimes because I can be a worry wart at times
lol
My vet is on board with everything I do
I also talk with Beth73 Elmo's mom. She has been very supportive
I'm looking forward to going over to the Lantus board and getting to know more members whose cats are on Lantus and other experienced members who know about Lantus
I don't know what I would have done without this amazing forum and Linda
Everyone here is so supportive and caring
hoping to talk to you also @Marje and Gracie
Click to expand...
We will be very happy to have you and Tyler join the Lantus/Levemir group. It’s a very different mentality on using the long duration insulins but you’ll like it.
 
Diane Tyler's Mom said:
I hope I will get the hang of it, or else I will drive Linda crazy, but she thinks I will be fine. Nice meeting you, wishing you happy holidays @Marje and Gracie
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Please tag me before you switch so I can be sure you get the correct starting dose for Lantus. There are a lot more people to help in the Lantus group so you can give Linda a rest ;):) She does help a lot of members!

Merry Christmas!

Sorry for the thread hijack,
 
Marje and Gracie said:
Please tag me before you switch so I can be sure you get the correct starting dose for Lantus. There are a lot more people to help in the Lantus group so you can give Linda a rest ;):) She does help a lot of members!

Merry Christmas!

Sorry for the thread hijack,
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Will do, I know I see Linda helps so many kitties that I feel awful sometimes have a good nights sleep, sorry for the hijack myself
 
Marje and Gracie said:
We do not recommend, on this board, that any member use a strip other than that for which their meter was designed and is specified. While it is your decision what to do for your kitty, we don’t advise other members to do it.

Thank you! :)
Click to expand...
I appreciate your input and will take that into consideration. As others have said, I am new at this and just trying to save a few dollars. Between my diabetic kitty and my cancer/IBD kitty, the costs have been staggering. Of course they are worth it, but it's a strain sometimes on our budget.
 
Diane Tyler's Mom said:
Hi Marje, I'm Diane Tyler's Mom I used to use the Alpha Trak 2 until I could no longer afford the test strips. I have just switched over to the Relion Prime and I love it. I will also be switching over from Vetsulin to Lantus in about 8 days
Linda (MrWorfMen'sMom) has been helping me from the get go.
Tyler has been doing very well on Vetsulin but lately hasn't been getting good duration
I'm still sort of a newbie but have learned so much from Linda and other members
Linda said she has never seen a cat do so good on Vetsulin.
I'm hoping the Lantus will be much better for him.
I have gotten used to the human meter and the lower numbers and have been doing a lot of reading about Lantus
Linda has been a god send for me.
Poor Linda I can drive her crazy sometimes because I can be a worry wart at times
lol
My vet is on board with everything I do
I also talk with Beth73 Elmo's mom. She has been very supportive
I'm looking forward to going over to the Lantus board and getting to know more members whose cats are on Lantus and other experienced members who know about Lantus
I don't know what I would have done without this amazing forum and Linda
Everyone here is so supportive and caring
hoping to talk to you also @Marje and Gracie
Click to expand...
This is interesting. I have a feeling we will be changing the type of insulin we use as well as the other supplies (as soon as our Vetsulin runs out). It is disheartening that an emergency hospital vet would even give us that type of insulin if it's not our best choice. However, as I went though my other kitty's IBD journey (over 4 years now) I learned that I have to be my cat's advocate and not always believe everything they say. I sure appreciate the time everyone takes to give advice and input, and hope to learn a lot more - soon! Thank you.
 
KarrieK said:
This is interesting. I have a feeling we will be changing the type of insulin we use as well as the other supplies (as soon as our Vetsulin runs out). It is disheartening that an emergency hospital vet would even give us that type of insulin if it's not our best choice. However, as I went though my other kitty's IBD journey (over 4 years now) I learned that I have to be my cat's advocate and not always believe everything they say. I sure appreciate the time everyone takes to give advice and input, and hope to learn a lot more - soon! Thank you.
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Karrie.....it does puzzle us why vets are still prescribing Vetsulin, Caninsulin, and Normalin/Humulin when Lantus and Levemir have been the gold standard for cats now for a very, very long time.

As Sienne said, please be sure that when you do switch, you get U100, 0.3cc, 31g syringes. You are very smart in that you’ve learned you have to be your cat’s advocate. We have learned through the decades here that, however, well meaning or wonderful, most vets miss the boat in treating FD.
 
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