Hello, just joined the group

Discussion in 'Feline Health - (Welcome & Main Forum)' started by Jill A, Feb 22, 2018.

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  1. Jill A

    Jill A Member

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    Feb 22, 2018
    Hi, My name is Jill. I have 2 cats and 1 dog. Bam is my 15 year old cat and he was diagnosed with diabetes about a year ago. My vet never discussed home testing with me. Bam has been to the ER twice within the last year - most recently just last week. I learned how to home test just a few days ago. I am nervous but I am told that this message board is a great resource. Looking forward to reading more about cats and diabetes.
     
  2. Sharon14

    Sharon14 Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 16, 2015
    Welcome! Great that you’ve learned to home test!!! Ask any questions you have on the Main Health forum. Look forward to seeing you there.
     
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  3. JanetNJ

    JanetNJ Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 8, 2016
    Welcome!
     
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  4. JeffJ

    JeffJ Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2016
    Welcome Jill. Home testing becomes much easier over time. Really, it is the only way to gauge the effectiveness of your daily insulin doses. This is a common topic, and you might want to search the Main Health subforum.

    How wonderful that Bam has lived 15 years with you.
     
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  5. Sean & Rufus

    Sean & Rufus Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 10, 2018
    I was nervous to test at first, now it's easy! I actually like collecting the data too, just to see if I can figure him out more. I'd test more often but at $1 a strip it's spendy. You'll do great!
     
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  6. JanetNJ

    JanetNJ Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jun 8, 2016
    Good price on them on amazon right now.... $47
     
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  7. Sean & Rufus

    Sean & Rufus Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 10, 2018
    I think I'm going to switch to a human meter. Probably ReliOn Micro. Little nervous though.
     
  8. JeffJ

    JeffJ Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2016
    I use Alphatrak2 for the meter, and FreeStyle Lite test strips. I get the strips off ebay. Last purchase was 600 strips for $0.25 - $0.28 apiece. I can't remember the exact price.
     
  9. Sean & Rufus

    Sean & Rufus Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 10, 2018
    You buy the ones where the boxes are all beat up? Do they ever cone expired? No issues? And the numbers are similar to alpha track numbers or human numbers? Thanks!
     
  10. JeffJ

    JeffJ Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2016
    Here is the last lot that I purchased. It was $0.36/apiece. The bid started low and I got tired of fiddling with it. You can probably get them for $0.20 each if you want to go thru multiple listings.
    https://www.ebay.com/itm/222819637598

    And in fact, I have bought 3 times from "dietz07". They have the expirations in the listing. They aren't beat up, but the boxes may have a blemish. Who cares? You could probably drive over the plastic cases with a car!

    Not a single issue, not one. In fact, that seller packs them quite well and ships immediately. The numbers are the same as alphatrak strips. This is a common topic on the forum, if you search for it.

    Now I have about 150 days worth, so I don't have to worry about those supplies for awhile.
     
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  11. Sean & Rufus

    Sean & Rufus Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 10, 2018
    Thanks Jeff! One last question please. I read the freestlye don't gave coding or they are different coding. Which code do you use?
     
  12. FurBabiesMama

    FurBabiesMama Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 6, 2017
    Welcome!
     
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  13. JeffJ

    JeffJ Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2016
    Feel free to ask more questions. The "magic number" is 38, which is the same code as the original AlphaTrak strips.
     
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  14. Sean & Rufus

    Sean & Rufus Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 10, 2018
    Sounds good! Thanks so much!
     
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  15. krazy4kritters

    krazy4kritters Member

    Joined:
    Jan 18, 2018
    I use a Relion micro. I've just started this journey so I have nothing to compare it to. I like it. You can stick the strip in while you stick the ear because it doesn't turn off for a few mins.
     
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  16. Sean & Rufus

    Sean & Rufus Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 10, 2018
    @JeffJ ok dumb question. If you use the alpha trak2, but with the freestyle strips, are the numbers considered human or feline numbers?
     
  17. Kris & Teasel

    Kris & Teasel Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 17, 2016
    They're considered to be feline numbers.
     
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  18. Sean & Rufus

    Sean & Rufus Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 10, 2018
    Great thanks!
     
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  19. Sean & Rufus

    Sean & Rufus Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 10, 2018
    @JeffJ @Kris & Teasel Hi again guys. Won an auction for freestyle strips. Code on bottle says 15. Do I use that code then or the 38? Also, My current bottle of alpha trak strips is 38, so would I do a control soultion test again? Thanks!
     
  20. Kris & Teasel

    Kris & Teasel Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 17, 2016
    Leave the AT meter at the last cat code you used. Ignore the code number on the FS strips.
     
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  21. Sean & Rufus

    Sean & Rufus Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 10, 2018
    Thanks! So obviously no need for control solution, right? And so I got 8 boxes of strips. At any point do you run a control solution just to make sure everything is running fine? Like every other month? thanks again :)
     
  22. Kris & Teasel

    Kris & Teasel Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Aug 17, 2016
    If you have control solution you can run a test periodically (you decide) to see if the meter/strip combo is giving numbers within the allowed BG range written on the test strip vial. NOTE: Once opened the control solution is good for only a couple of months - check the package insert.
     
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  23. Sean & Rufus

    Sean & Rufus Well-Known Member

    Joined:
    Jan 10, 2018
    Sounds good :) thanks!
     
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