Newbie pondering meters

Hi all,

My 13 year old male cat, Eddie-puss has just been diagnosed with diabetes and the vet said I should by the Alpha trak glucometer but I've also heard that human ones are fine and the strips are cheaper. The vet said: I don't recommend using strips that are designed for people. The ones we recommend are specific for cats. They have different settings for dogs. The ones for humans are not as accurate.

Opinions?

Also, I'm looking for the least expensive way to get Lantus. Has anyone used the Sanofi rx savings program? I signed up as myself, then as my cat, because I have insurance but he doesn't, lol. I don't want to commit fraud and the card says $10/prescription. That would be pretty incredible.

 

I'm assuming you are in the US. The cheapest place to order Lantus is here: info on Marks Marine pharmacy (where we're all buying our lantus from in Canada)

You just need a prescription from your vet that you can fax or take a picture of on your phone. You want the box of 5 pens which will last you a long time. Marks may not ship if the weather is too cold or too hot. Best ask.

The pet metres and the human metres work on a different scale and are not comparable number wise, except that we know that 50 on a human metre is roughly 68 on a pet metre. If your cat gets into dangerous territory or you are doing a curve, you will eat up strips like they are going out of style. That is why a lot of people use the human metre.

Once you start testing, you can start a spreadsheet (info found here: http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/fdmb-spreadsheet-instructions.130337/) and just show your spreadsheet to the vet.

 

Many get our insulin form Canada, here specifically
https://rxcanada4less.com/
A script from your vet is still required.
Regarding meters, many use Walmart's human Confirm or Micro Confirm. They tend to read lower than lab/pet meters.

 

I need to buy some Lantus right now to get my cat started, but will keep the Canadian source in mind for next time. If the meter reads consistently lower than the pet meters and the vet uses the pet one, I guess I'd be doing some guesswork as to how to accommodate that.

 

Let the vet do the guesswork. You will have the spreadsheet to show the vet. Take a look at a couple of people's spreadsheets to get an idea. No guesswork required.

Lantus dosing is based on the lowest number of the cycle, not the highest. This is where the human metre 50 and the pet metre 68 come into play. There are people here experienced with both metres, living feline diabetes 24/7. We can help you with dosing and reading the numbers.

 

Okay, this is what's in my Walmart shopping cart online:
ReliOn Prime Blood Glucose Monitoring System, Red
ReliOn Prime Blood Glucose Test Strips, 100 count
ReliOn 33G Micro Thin Lancets 100ct
sharps collector
alchohol swabs

Am I set? I think I need a lancing device. Are these all about the same or special for a kitty?

 

I think most find the 33g lancets difficult. The ones I use are 28g. The lower the number the easier to get blood.

How much blood does the Prime require? What size sample does it say? .3 is good.

 

I use a lancing device. Others freehand it. The system you get may come with one.
I don't use a sharps container. Just recap and put in trash carefully. I don't use alcohol swabs.

 

i have only been doing this for 6 days and it was very awkward at first but now not too bad. i read somewhere that you should NOT swab the test site but some nurses i've known wipe the top of the insulin bottle. there's good info here on how to test http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/hometesting-links-and-tips.287/ in particular i liked this image and i always warm up Smokey's ear i made a tiny beanbag by cutting open camomile tea bag, adding couscous (finer than rice and not pointy), then wrapping in piece of tshirt material. must be careful not to burn ear...

good luck!

 

You don't HAVE to get a device at all.... a lot of us just freehand with the lancets

You might want to add a tube of Neosporin with Pain Relief ointment (not cream)

 

New shopping cart:
Relion confirm monitor
ReliOn Confirm test strips
ReliOn lancets, 26 gauge (I thought a finer gauge would be less painful..getting nervous)
skip the sharps container, alcohol swabs and lancing device.
Adding Neosporin with pain relief.

Off to CVS to see how much the Lantus is going to cost me with my coupon. Thanks for all the help. I've got an appointment in the morning for the vet to show me how to do this.

 

Get some cotton cosmetic rounds too. Perfect for putting behind the ear when you poke and for pinching the ear afterwards.

 

This is a great forum, you guys rock. I know I'm going to need more help, but I'm going to sleep tonight with a sense of peace knowing I don't have to do this alone.

I got my 5 pens of Lantus at CVS for $312 (reduced from $405) using this:
https://www.lantus.com/sign-up/savings-registration

Tomorrow Eddie will get his first dose and I will start to exhale thanks to you. Hate to see him so hungry and thirsty.

 

Please do post the readings and dosing on the Lantus forum. There are people there who can help you with that as well. Please do not feed for the two hours before your shot tomorrow, so that the number is not food based. The protocol is test/feed/shoot.

If you have any problems testing, give a yell. It would help if you can start a spreadsheet: http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/fdmb-spreadsheet-instructions.130337/

And loads of reading for you:
Lantus beginners: http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/how-to-treat-hypos-they-can-kill-print-this-out.15887/

And just because it's busy tonight with low numbers:
Hypos - http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/how-to-treat-hypos-they-can-kill-print-this-out.15887/
Hypo tool box: http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/threads/jojo-and-bunnys-hypo-tool-box.2354/

It's an overload of information and overwhelming. Ask questions. It will all become second nature quickly.