Which glucometer?

Discussion in 'Feline Health - (Welcome & Main Forum)' started by Gus da Cat, May 21, 2020.

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  1. Gus da Cat

    Gus da Cat New Member

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    Apr 29, 2020
    Hi all, we've just completed 2 weeks with the freestyle libre on our kitty. Now we want to get a glucometer for our checks going forward. I see the relion devices are suggested, but those are now discontinued and I can't find any recent recommendation. We'd like the .3ul capability and to keep the strip cost down. Any suggestions?
     
  2. Ale & Bobo & Minnie (GA)

    Ale & Bobo & Minnie (GA) Well-Known Member

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    Dec 21, 2019
    I just got mine a few weeks ago. What part of the country are you in? I got my Relion Prime at Walmart
     
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  3. Ale & Bobo & Minnie (GA)

    Ale & Bobo & Minnie (GA) Well-Known Member

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    Dec 21, 2019
    I also have used freestyle lite and I liked it a lot but the test strips were getting expensive since I was using so many every day. The meter worked great. It’s small and it beeps when it’s got the result. Customer service is also amazing. I had an issue with different results on both meters and they sent me the controlling solution a new meter and new test strips for free!
     
  4. Gus da Cat

    Gus da Cat New Member

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    Apr 29, 2020
    The ones recommended here are Relion Micro and Confirm because of the smaller 3ul requirement. Both of those are discontinued. It looks the the Prime is .5ul. Because we're just starting, I guess I'm looking for less blood, lol.
     
  5. Gus da Cat

    Gus da Cat New Member

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    Apr 29, 2020
    We're considering the Lite. The curve was done with the freestyle libre continuous monitoring, which was amazing, but the cost was $400 for the sensor, sedation and the day spent at the vet.
     
  6. Ale & Bobo & Minnie (GA)

    Ale & Bobo & Minnie (GA) Well-Known Member

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    Dec 21, 2019
    folks here also recommend ReliOn Prime, but I get that about the amount difference. I was super apprehensive about the switch because even though I’ve been testing for while now, sometimes it’s still a struggle getting enough blood out. You can ask folks here I even posted about it, help switching meters lol! I’ve had no issues with the ReliOn I actually like how it “sucks the blood in” and you can visually see when it’s got all the blood it needs. With the freestyle lite yes it’s a bit less but I never knew if I’d had enough blood on the strip or not unless it was flooded of course. The one con for me was that it claimed you could add blood to a strip within 60 seconds and still get a result but that feature never worked for me. Anytime I tried to get a little more blood on it, I’d get an error message and have to use a new strip. If you do go with it, I suggest getting the strips from affordable diabetic. It’s the most affordable I’ve found online and you get a 5% discount by signing up for the auto ship or using code SAVE5 at check out. I tried Amazon and every time I’d get strips from another country in German or Spanish and I didn’t like that. It made me nervous.
     
    Last edited: May 21, 2020
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  7. Ale & Bobo & Minnie (GA)

    Ale & Bobo & Minnie (GA) Well-Known Member

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    Dec 21, 2019
    That’s very expensive for a curve but I guess it includes the libre and the rest. How much was just the curve? It should be less than $200 FYI. Doing it yourself at home is not only a lot cheaper but it’s going to give you better more accurate results since kitty won’t be as stressed out as at the vet. Stress raises the BG levels
     
  8. Diane Tyler's Mom

    Diane Tyler's Mom Well-Known Member

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    Sep 21, 2018
    I used to use the Alpha Trak 2 less blood needed I think it was .3ul but the strips were too expensive and in the beginning you do a lot more testing
    I switched to the Relion Prime 9 dollars and 17.88 for 100 strips
    It does take .5ul but I had no problem what so ever, get 28 gauge lancets to use in the beginning, eventually more cappileries will grow and if you want you can get the 30 or 33 gauge lancets.
    I don't use the lancing device. I do it freehand, I fing it much easier to see where I am poking
    I have always stayed with the 28 gauge size
     
    Last edited: May 21, 2020
  9. Ale & Bobo & Minnie (GA)

    Ale & Bobo & Minnie (GA) Well-Known Member

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    Dec 21, 2019
    We’re on the same page my friend!
     
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  10. Bama Kitty Mom (GA)

    Bama Kitty Mom (GA) Well-Known Member

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    Jul 16, 2018
    After using the Relion Micro for a while now, I recently switched to the new Relion Premier Compact. It is small and compact like the name says, requires a tad more blood [.5] than the Micro but the strips are cheaper, around $18 for 100. Took a little adjustment as most changes do and initially I got more errors but have settled into using it with no problems for the most part. Bama has even become used to the beeps.
     
  11. Dora the Explorer

    Dora the Explorer Member

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    Apr 24, 2020
    We can’t make do with needing much blood so we are using AlphaTrak2 and sticking with. It’s SO easy to use that to me it’s worth the price. Dora holds still for one second and she hears the beep and runs immediately. You literally only have to touch it.
     
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