Trying out the ReliOn meter and strips

Status
Not open for further replies.
Erinmc

Erinmc

Member Since 2022
I just got the Relion meter and strips and wanted to see how to set it up for a cat. I have a few of the Alphatrak strips left but they are getting very expensive since I’m still trying to find the right dose for my Zoey! She just went up from 1unit to 2 and I’m going to get a curve next week.
ALSO: I could use advice on where to purchase needles and insulin because I will be needing that soon too. I use the Verijec U-40 syringe and ProZinc insulin. (Is this normal to start with this type cause the vet said it’s a 12 hr insulin and I can’t feed my girl during the day when I have always given her a mid day snack‍♀️)
*still just a month in so use simple terms to explain
 
First of all, yes Prozinc it is a 12 hour insulin but that doesn’t mean you can’t feed more often….. you can continue to feed your kitty at other times than the preshot meal. Feeding only twice a day is old thinking.
We recommend feeding the preshot meal and then a couple of snacks of low carb food during the first half of all cycles (am and pm cycles).
Using the ReliOn meter is absolutely fine, when you swap over, let us know and someone will swap the spreadsheet to a human meter one.
Going up from 1 unit to 2 units is a big jump, especially if you are not hometesting yet and I can’t see any tests in the SS yet.
I will tag @FrostD as she is a Prozinc user and can help you with dose and where to get the syringes.
Do you have your hypo kit set up? If not please get that done today.
 
Welcome!

You don't have to do any special setup or coding for a cat since it's strictly a human meter. You just insert the strip into the meter, touch it to the blood, blood gets pulled up by capillary action, then it'll give you a reading (assuming there was enough blood and you didn't take too long). I actually stick the strip partway in - not so much that it turns the meter on - then set the meter down within reach. Prick the ear to get the blood, pick up the meter one-handed (other hand holding the ear so he doesn't shake), put the meter in my palm and use thumb and index finger to.push the strip in the rest of the way. It sounds a little complicated and awkward at first, but it's the most efficient way I've found. The ReliOn probably needs more blood than you're used to with the AT - aim for a drop the size of the ball on a ballpoint pen.

Unfortunately I can't advise too well on the dose without data. Was there a curve that the 1U to 2U change was based on? Do you have that data?

1U is definitely too big of an increase, we typically do 0.25-0.5U depending on numbers.

Any history of ketones or DKA that you're aware of? (You would know, vet would have mentioned it and/or she'd have been hospitalized)

Are you in the US?

Can you give me specific info about what food you've been feeding, how much (% fancy feast vs MD), and what days? I ask because I see it noted in your signature, and changing carbs can affect BG quite a bit and I want to make sure she's safe.
 
Bron and Sheba (GA) said:
First of all, yes Prozinc it is a 12 hour insulin but that doesn’t mean you can’t feed more often….. you can continue to feed your kitty at other times than the preshot meal. Feeding only twice a day is old thinking.
We recommend feeding the preshot meal and then a couple of snacks of low carb food during the first half of all cycles (am and pm cycles).
Using the ReliOn meter is absolutely fine, when you swap over, let us know and someone will swap the spreadsheet to a human meter one.
Going up from 1 unit to 2 units is a big jump, especially if you are not hometesting yet and I can’t see any tests in the SS yet.
I will tag @FrostD as she is a Prozinc user and can help you with dose and where to get the syringes.
Do you have your hypo kit set up? If not please get that done today.
Click to expand...

thank you for your response!! Can you (or anyone) explain more about feeding while on ProZinc? Frankly I trust this site more than my vet but I like to understand the science.
I’m trying to swap to the ReliOn meter now but I don’t know what to set it at. I plan on getting readings from both in the beginning and I’m hoping I don’t have to purchase more Alphatrak strips but I will if I need to. yes, I read here that jumping up a whole unit is big but the vet said most stabilize around 2-3 units and my girl was consistently in the 3-400 range on 1 unit so I can see the leap. Am I missing something??

not sure what a hypo kit is?? I’d it when too much insulin is given and they need sugar to stabilize??
 
You don't "set" the meter at anything. Just pop a strip in, dip it in blood, get the reading.

Cats stabilize at various doses...some at 0.5U, some like my cat at 14U or much higher (though he has an underlying condition, but you won't know if your cat does until you start testing and methodically adjusting dose).

Define "consistently" in the 300s/400s. Because we see fairly often that caregivers aren't testing frequently enough, or rely on vet curves, but the cat is going dangerously low at other times (usually at night), then bouncing back up as a self-preservation mechanism.

Here are links explaining hypo, how to treat, and what to have in your kit -

https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/how-to-treat-hypos-they-can-kill-print-this-out.15887/

https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/jojo-and-bunnys-hypo-tool-box.2354/
 
Do not worry about feeding strategy right now. Once we get the data we can fine tune that. For now, feed most of the food at shot time. Then aim for one or two snacks during the cycle.

We feed more at shot time because the insulin will be kicking in to help offset the carbs. A snack a little before nadir (lowest BG/peak insulin action)...on ProZinc this is usually somewhere from 4 to 7 hours after the shot. Nadir can and does move around, but we won't know until we have the data. Then some cats need a snack after nadir, but it should be small (1-2tsp) because the insulin is wearing off and can't offset the carbs as well.
 
FrostD said:
Welcome!

You don't have to do any special setup or coding for a cat since it's strictly a human meter. You just insert the strip into the meter, touch it to the blood, blood gets pulled up by capillary action, then it'll give you a reading (assuming there was enough blood and you didn't take too long). I actually stick the strip partway in - not so much that it turns the meter on - then set the meter down within reach. Prick the ear to get the blood, pick up the meter one-handed (other hand holding the ear so he doesn't shake), put the meter in my palm and use thumb and index finger to.push the strip in the rest of the way. It sounds a little complicated and awkward at first, but it's the most efficient way I've found. The ReliOn probably needs more blood than you're used to with the AT - aim for a drop the size of the ball on a ballpoint pen.

Unfortunately I can't advise too well on the dose without data. Was there a curve that the 1U to 2U change was based on? Do you have that data?

1U is definitely too big of an increase, we typically do 0.25-0.5U depending on numbers.

Any history of ketones or DKA that you're aware of? (You would know, vet would have mentioned it and/or she'd have been hospitalized)

Are you in the US?

Can you give me specific info about what food you've been feeding, how much (% fancy feast vs MD), and what days? I ask because I see it noted in your signature, and changing carbs can affect BG quite a bit and I want to make sure she's safe.
Click to expand...

Thank you for your response! I guess I’m wondering how to set up the meter correctly. I read somewhere on here something about the ranges for using a human meter vs a cat one (I think a difference of +\~ 100 units?) I’m set to compare it to what the reading should be on the cat meter but I need to know the ratio.
I have the curve that I sent the vet before they increased to 2 units. I’m gonna try to upload it here
upload_2022-7-9_23-20-47.png



No ketones or DKA
Yes, in DC area
For the past week+ I have switched to Fancy Feast pate exclusively. 1-1/12 cans per meal(2x/day).
What do you mean by ‘changing carbs’? I hate to think that going from‘prescription’ (more carbs) to fancy feast (0 carbs) would be bad !
 

Attachments

  • upload_2022-7-9_23-20-47.png
    upload_2022-7-9_23-20-47.png
    206.1 KB · Views: 324
FrostD said:
You don't "set" the meter at anything. Just pop a strip in, dip it in blood, get the reading.

Cats stabilize at various doses...some at 0.5U, some like my cat at 14U or much higher (though he has an underlying condition, but you won't know if your cat does until you start testing and methodically adjusting dose).

Define "consistently" in the 300s/400s. Because we see fairly often that caregivers aren't testing frequently enough, or rely on vet curves, but the cat is going dangerously low at other times (usually at night), then bouncing back up as a self-preservation mechanism.

Here are links explaining hypo, how to treat, and what to have in your kit -

https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/how-to-treat-hypos-they-can-kill-print-this-out.15887/

https://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/jojo-and-bunnys-hypo-tool-box.2354/
Click to expand...
Ok. I’m confused. With the Alphatrak meter, you set the meter to cat. I was told here that most use the ReliOn meter but it ‘reads higher (1-200) then the cat meter. So I’m looking for the ideal range on the ReliOn meter for a cat. Does that make sense or am I interpreting what I’ve been told wrong?? *getting more confused*
 
The normal range for a cat on a human meter is 50-120. There is no scientific comparison between the pet and human meter but the lowest BG you want to go to before taking action to bring it back up is 68 on a pet meter. Appropriately 150 is the upper BG of normal for pet meters but that is a guesstimation.
With human meters you don’t set anything. You just use it. If your cat drops under 50 on a human meter you must give higher carb food or honey or karo to bring the BG up higher.

No it’s not bad to go from prescription foods to f f That’s good.
I can’t see where Melissa says changing carbs. Can you show me please ?
I agree totally with Melissa about increasing more slowly. You would be surprised how much 0.25 units can make a difference.
 
Signature says Hills MD but trying fancy feast. Hills MD is 13% assuming you're feeding the wet version...and depending on the Fancy Feast you're looking at, that's typically 1-5%. If you're feeding the dry MD, it's even higher carb.

Link to carbs here - https://catinfo.org/chart/index.php

We consider anything under 10% to be low carb, but most of us feed the 5-7% range. We keep 10-15% as medium carb, 16%+ for high carb (all of which can be used to steer numbers, but we'll help you with that).

So she's been completely on fancy feast for a week or more? No MD at all? Fancy feast is not zero carb, but definitely lower than the MD.

Changing to low carb is not bad per se, but it can be dangerous if not testing. It can drop BG enough to cause a hypo (if you haven't had a chance to read links, it's very low BG that can cause seizures, paralysis, other issues, death). We do eventually want all cats on low carb diet, we just usually do it slowly. We watch the data, and adjust insulin if needed to keep them safe while transitioning.
 
Since you are in the US, you'd get ProZinc from the typical pet pharmacies like Chewy, PetCo, etc. It's been awhile since I price-shopped it, but it's typically about the same price everywhere.

You want U40 syringes, 0.3cc, ideally half unit markings (I wouldn't worry about gauge or length ...not a lot of options). There are several brands - UltiCare, CarePet, Advocate PetTest, and BD Pet. Available from several retailers - Amazon, Chewy, ADW Diabetes, Countryside Pet Supply. Unfortunately prices are fluctuating so much right now, and sometimes out of stock, I can't give you a solid "buy these ones".

My favorite were the UltiCare (minimal bubbles), but they are more expensive than some others. I bought the Advocate Pet Test ones the most, but the bubbles in them are a pain. I don't like buying from ADW because the shipping cost, but again you'll have to kind of price compare across the board.

Just Google "U40 syringes 3/10cc 1/2 unit markings" - and double check the listing matches that. We can always take a look before you buy any to let you know if they're correct.
 
I just want to reiterate that there’s no setting when using a human meter. It’s made for humans so you just turn it on and use it. I think you’re confused because the pet meter requires you to set it to “cat”. It’s not the same with the ReliOn. It’s ready to go as is, so in other words, it’s actually easier to use. Most of us here use human meters so we’re all used to those numbers. Hope this helps!

Any full unit adjustment is a big jump. We recommend only adjusting the dose up or down by 1/2 unit

Lastly, cats have higher metabolism than dogs and that’s why most are grazers and eat throughout the day. It’s also easier on their pancreas, which is already compromised by the diabetes, to have smaller meals spread out through the day. I used to give Minnie a heavier meal around shot times (1 to 1&1/2 cans of fancy feast) than low carb treats here and there (freeze dried chicken and giblets). She would always get 1/2 of a fancy feast chicken filet when I tested her at midday. It also helped her IBD
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top