Where to buy Alphatrak Test Strips in Canada

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Cindie

Cindie

Member Since 2018
I'm looking for recommendations on where to purchase Alphatrak test strips and lancets in Canada? They are rather expensive at the vet clinic, and I'm hoping to save some money ordering them online. I am new to the forums, so I hope I am posting this question in the right place!
 
Thanks, FurBabiesMama! Do you order from Amazon.ca or Amazon.com? I looked on Amazon.ca and they were only available through other sellers.
 
Amazon.com. You can order from ADWDiabetes.com though, correct? They also sell them. In fact, often, when I get them through Amazon, they are coming from there.
 
Thanks! Some companies don't ship to Canada. I'll look into ADWDiabetes.com. Much appreciated!
 
Thanks! I sent them an email asking for information on shipping to Canada. I'll post the info when I receive a response.
 
You can use any brand of lancets. The 28g is usually best for a cat, but you do not have to have a certain brand. They are all just sterile needles!

You may want to change the title of your thread to indicate that you are looking for where to buy AT strips in Canada. That might attract Canadians to assist you. :)
 
If you would consider it, many of us use a human monitor because of the strip cost and the availability of test strips locally or via internet order. You might change the title of your thread to a question of what kinds of meters other Canadians use, and get more information.
 
FurBabiesMama said:
You can use any brand of lancets. The 28g is usually best for a cat, but you do not have to have a certain brand. They are all just sterile needles!

You may want to change the title of your thread to indicate that you are looking for where to buy AT strips in Canada. That might attract Canadians to assist you. :)
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Good idea! Thanks!
 
Idjit's mom said:
If you would consider it, many of us use a human monitor because of the strip cost and the availability of test strips locally or via internet order. You might change the title of your thread to a question of what kinds of meters other Canadians use, and get more information.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the suggestions! Yes, I've been wondering whether a human monitor would have made more sense.
 
Cindie, your new signature says you are giving Gryphon 8 units of Lantus 2X a day. Is that correct? Since you are already testing, would you start a spreadsheet that you can link to the signature and record the injection times and the testing data? Here is a link to information on understanding the spreadsheet and instructions for creating it. SPREADSHEET If you have any problems with getting that started there are members here who can help.
There is also a Lantus insulin support forum that you can post in. I was asking about the insulin dosage because that's a very large dose, if it wasn't a typo.
 
Idjit's mom said:
Cindie, your new signature says you are giving Gryphon 8 units of Lantus 2X a day. Is that correct? Since you are already testing, would you start a spreadsheet that you can link to the signature and record the injection times and the testing data? Here is a link to information on understanding the spreadsheet and instructions for creating it. SPREADSHEET If you have any problems with getting that started there are members here who can help.
There is also a Lantus insulin support forum that you can post in. I was asking about the insulin dosage because that's a very large dose, if it wasn't a typo.
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Yes, 8 units 2X daily is correct. He is a big boy - 18.5 pounds, but his BG is still high and not stable. I'm worried about him! I will create a spreadsheet. Thanks very much for your help!
 
Cindie, I am not experienced, but to my best understanding, the dose of insulin does not depend on weight. Idjit was 18 lbs at dx, and was on 1 unit, 1 x a day (we didn't know it was supposed to be at 12 hour cycles). Please do take a look at the stickies at the top of the Lantus forum, get the spreadsheet done and enter as much info as possible for experienced Lantus users to look at and help you and Gryphon.
 
The least expensive place I've found to get AT strips from The Pet Pharmacy in Vaughan Ontario although their prices have gone up considerably in the last year. Don't know where you are located, so if you can't go pick them up yourself, you are looking at a minimum of another $14.00 for delivery.

https://thepetpharmacist.ca/product/otc-3010-alphatrak-2-test-strips-50

Given the $2.00/strip cost for AT strips here, my suggestion and what I did....get yourself a human meter by Abbott like the Freestyle Freedom Lite. The strips for that meter are the same strips used in the AT meter however those labelled/packaged for the AT meter have been batch tested to determine what cat code (I am aware of 7) will give the most vet lab equivalent results so while the results won't be as accurate as is possible, they will be in the ballpark using the last cat code you set your meter to. I used the human meter on a daily basis and if I had any concerns about a reading, I then checked with the AT and the proper batch tested AT strips.

The lancets being sold under the AlphaTrak name are in fact the human Freestyle Lite lancets which are less than half the price and also won't have GST tacked onto the price since they are human medical supplies.
 
@Noah & me (GA) I've missed the board too. Difficult year with several very sick friends and a problematic SIL with Down Syndrome. Just as some of those situations/problems started to calm down about June, Miss Menace decided Momma still didn't need to sleep. Out of the blue (figuratively and for real) she suddenly started throwing green numbers at me and then was spending 99% of her time in the lagoon or shark hunting. I posted yesterday in L&L&B forum that Menace is now in remission! :D:joyful::cat:. At least the last few months of sleepless nights paid off in spades!

Hope you and yours are keeping well! :bighug: back at you!

(Sorry for the hijack Cindie!)
 
@Cindie Both MrWorfMen's Mom and myself are two of many Canadian members. There are members in BC, Alberta and Ontario. There is no official list but if you click on someone's profile their location will be posted if they choose to do so.
Cats are part of your family and can make your online contributions difficult and sporadic. So like @MrWorfMen's Mom I will be here less frequently as we get ready for my mother in law to move in and deal with family idiocy.
This is what we call off-topic and/or dragging a thread off topic but your personal life will always affect your cat's life.
I buy my strips and lancets at either Shoppers or Loblaws and special order my Monoject syringes from Shoppers. Welcome to the club, eh!
 
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@Cindie I've never seen diabetic supplies cheaper at a clinic. That's probably the impression you're getting from your replies. Years ago with my first sugar cat I trashed my early model of a Bayer meter. It needed so much blood the error codes and wasted strips were just too much. You're on the right track with the Alphatrak meter, just never let a vet tell you have to buy common retail items from their clinic, especially food.
It never hurts to have a back up meter. I use the Aviva Accu-Chek which is a human meter but still very accurate at low numbers. It only needs a microscopic amount of blood. I mention this because they are always free in Ontario. Simply go here, https://www.accu-chek.ca/en/microsi...MIjM_O4_DJ3QIVU7nACh3qBgzyEAAYASAAEgLQG_D_BwE
answer "no", "two times a day" and "yes". I went for the printed form and took it to any big pharmacy. You'll have to tell a fib, something like "My doctor just wants me to keep an eye on my blood sugar and generally scratch your head and act distracted. Mine came with a travel case, quality batteries and a smaller travel meter. The meter's memory goes back at least three years and the manual is great.
I use these BD lancets because they're as thick as a fat ball-point pen and because I've broken all my fingers and have arthritis they are much easier to deal with. They're available anywhere in many different gauges. Best of luck.
bd_lance01.jpg
bd_lance02.JPG
 
MrWorfMen's Mom said:
The least expensive place I've found to get AT strips from The Pet Pharmacy in Vaughan Ontario although their prices have gone up considerably in the last year. Don't know where you are located, so if you can't go pick them up yourself, you are looking at a minimum of another $14.00 for delivery.

https://thepetpharmacist.ca/product/otc-3010-alphatrak-2-test-strips-50

Given the $2.00/strip cost for AT strips here, my suggestion and what I did....get yourself a human meter by Abbott like the Freestyle Freedom Lite. The strips for that meter are the same strips used in the AT meter however those labelled/packaged for the AT meter have been batch tested to determine what cat code (I am aware of 7) will give the most vet lab equivalent results so while the results won't be as accurate as is possible, they will be in the ballpark using the last cat code you set your meter to. I used the human meter on a daily basis and if I had any concerns about a reading, I then checked with the AT and the proper batch tested AT strips.

The lancets being sold under the AlphaTrak name are in fact the human Freestyle Lite lancets which are less than half the price and also won't have GST tacked onto the price since they are human medical supplies.
Click to expand...
Thanks very much for this information! Much appreciated!
 
Noah & me (GA) said:
@Cindie I've never seen diabetic supplies cheaper at a clinic. That's probably the impression you're getting from your replies. Years ago with my first sugar cat I trashed my early model of a Bayer meter. It needed so much blood the error codes and wasted strips were just too much. You're on the right track with the Alphatrak meter, just never let a vet tell you have to buy common retail items from their clinic, especially food.
It never hurts to have a back up meter. I use the Aviva Accu-Chek which is a human meter but still very accurate at low numbers. It only needs a microscopic amount of blood. I mention this because they are always free in Ontario. Simply go here, https://www.accu-chek.ca/en/microsi...MIjM_O4_DJ3QIVU7nACh3qBgzyEAAYASAAEgLQG_D_BwE
answer "no", "two times a day" and "yes". I went for the printed form and took it to any big pharmacy. You'll have to tell a fib, something like "My doctor just wants me to keep an eye on my blood sugar and generally scratch your head and act distracted. Mine came with a travel case, quality batteries and a smaller travel meter. The meter's memory goes back at least three years and the manual is great.
I use these BD lancets because they're as thick as a fat ball-point pen and because I've broken all my fingers and have arthritis they are much easier to deal with. They're available anywhere in many different gauges. Best of luck.
View attachment 39080 View attachment 39081
Click to expand...
Thank you so much for the information and suggestions! I really appreciate all your help with this!
 
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