Testing question

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kmz3301

Member Since 2012
I had gestational diabetes when I was pregnant 7 years ago. I just came across my monitor. It is a FreeStyle Flash Blood Glucose Monitor. Will this work with my cat? It needs batteries, so before I go out and get new ones, I was hoping someone could let me know if its compatiable with cats.

Also, when testing, do you have to use the ear? Max hates his ears to be touched. If he is in my lap, I can pet him and get an area on the fatty area of his back with better success and less growling if I tried the ears.

We are a month after his diagnosis and his numbers are still in the 400s and 500s. I've done two glucose monitoring sessions at the vet and would like to try it at home to see if I can get lower numbers. He is now up to 3 units twice a day of ProZinc. He gets canned Wellness Food and I am weaning all the cats off of the dry food.
 
The FreeStyle Flash meter consistently reads lower than the actual blood sugar. I can't find the data that shows that. I used to use that meter but stopped.
 
Hello,

It's nice to "meet" you. First off, you really need to test before injecting any insulin. It scares me that you are shooting 3u without home-testing beforehand. The numbers you are getting at the vet are elevated due to "vet stress" (unless your kitty LOVES trips to the vet). When kitty is stressed, for any reason (like a car ride, a vet visit, etc.), it raises the BG. To determine a dosage of 3u, based on this stress elevated BG, is very dangerous. Before I found this forum, I was listening to my vet and "shooting blindly". Long-story-short (I have to get to bed), it's a miracle that Clark survived.

Okay, now let's get you a meter, and on your way to home testing. Do you have a Walmart nearby that you can get to today? You can get a Relion Confirm (pink or blue) for $15 at Walmart. I love this meter! I use the pink meter for Marilyn, and the blue for Clark. :-D I've never had any problems with either of mine, and rarely (almost never) get a bad reading, or an error code. You also have to consider the ongoing cost of test strips, and this meter is one of the most cost effective (along with the Relion Micro).

http://www.walmart.com/ip/RELION-CONFIRM-METER-BLUE/13863716#Q&A+Exchange

If you give a high quality treat (but low carb...like chicken or freeze dried chicken) after you test his ear, your kitty may decide he loves to have his BG tested.

I hope this helps. Please ask any questions you have...or voice any concerns...but please, please, get a meter today. I got Clark's meter "not one minute too soon".

Deb
 
Just to re-inforce Deb's plea....I, too was listening to my vet and shooting blind up to 3.5u of Lantus. Kitty went hypo and had to be rushed to the ER. Very scary and expensive to boot! Home testing is definitely a must. My kitty was a little gritchy in the beginning, but now he willingly comes to "the juicing room" and will usually purr during the process. It may take some doing. Lots of really yummy low carb treats, calm energy and TONS of patience for the bean doing the sticking. You can doooo eeeet!!
 
Thanks for your pointers. Its been a slow increase with his insulin and I have monitored him after each shot very closing to keep an eye out for hypoglycemia or any other issues. While I know a trip to the vet is stressful, I can say Max does very well, never hisses or growls and purrs when the vet is examining him. I'm just concerned that even at 3u of insulin he still drinks and pees a lot, not much improvement in the last month on insulin. The only improvement is the weight loss has stopped an he has gained some weight back. He was 15 pounds a few years ago, then hovered around 14. When I brought him in to a check up he was 12 and then for a follow up was down to 11. Now he is around 11.3.

I have about 3 Walmarts within a 10 mile radius of my house. LOL. I'll go check that meter out.
 
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