Meter help

[Sheila and Minky]

So Amazon promised the test strips for our Alphatrak meter would be here last Friday. I don't know if it is a weather issue or something else, but we are out of strips. I was using my husband's meter and the readings were close when I tested her on both meters at the same time. He will run out if I keep using them so I got a Relion Premier. I tested on both tonight at the same time and got these results. Are these different than what I would get on the Alphatrak? She has been running low today (70 was the lowest reading) on my husband's meter. I want to make sure she doesn't become hypo. Thank you so much for all the help!

 

[Christie & Maverick]

Hi Sheila - 70s on a human meter is still safe, although technically following SLGS that would earn a reduction. You will find there is an allowable meter variance of 20% so those two meter readings are effectively the same, given meter variance.

As far as comparing to the AT3 there really isn’t a specific correlation or comparison, other than we generally find that the AT3 will read higher than the human meters at higher numbers, and will get closer together in reading at lower numbers. Hope the AT3 test strips arrive soon, but in the meantime, you can always keep track of the human meter readings, since you are looking to see the trends over a few cycles anyway. Hope this helps

 

[Sheila and Minky]

Hi Sheila - 70s on a human meter is still safe, although technically following SLGS that would earn a reduction. You will find there is an allowable meter variance of 20% so those two meter readings are effectively the same, given meter variance.

As far as comparing to the AT3 there really isn’t a specific correlation or comparison, other than we generally find that the AT3 will read higher than the human meters at higher numbers, and will get closer together in reading at lower numbers. Hope the AT3 test strips arrive soon, but in the meantime, you can always keep track of the human meter readings, since you are looking to see the trends over a few cycles anyway. Hope this helps

Thank you!!

 

[SmallestSparrow]

Hi Sheila

Sorry to see this so late, if you’re asking why the Relion and whatever your husbands meter read are different, it is probably in part the meters may have slightly different algorithms that estimate the glucose number, and in part each meter has an acceptable variation from the true actual number. I don’t know what it is for those meters but I’ve been told some human meters it can be up to 20%. If that’s the case then 117 and 138 could mean the real glucose value is some number between those two and still be within 20% (range on 117 is approx 94 to 140, range for 138 is approx 111 to 165).

when you were close to the AT before it could have been pure chance, I wouldn’t trust his meter more than the relion (certainly not if you use up his strips over it)

 

[Sheila and Minky]

Hi Sheila

Sorry to see this so late, if you’re asking why the Relion and whatever your husbands meter read are different, it is probably in part the meters may have slightly different algorithms that estimate the glucose number, and in part each meter has an acceptable variation from the true actual number. I don’t know what it is for those meters but I’ve been told some human meters it can be up to 20%. If that’s the case then 117 and 138 could mean the real glucose value is some number between those two and still be within 20% (range on 117 is approx 94 to 140, range for 138 is approx 111 to 165).

when you were close to the AT before it could have been pure chance, I wouldn’t trust his meter more than the relion (certainly not if you use up his strips over it)

This is helpful. I wish my Alphatrak strips would come. I have gotten used to that meter

 

[SmallestSparrow]

This is helpful. I wish my Alphatrak strips would come. I have gotten used to that meter

I was just wondering if now that you have thr relion you’d not go back to AT. Chewy’s sells the strips and usually ships pretty fast but with all the lake effect snow maybe no one can get to your area easily

 

[SmallestSparrow]

I know what you mean about being used to a meter though. I bought a different ketone meter but have been reluctant to change over. Then I realized I couldn’t find strips except at Abbott (not on Amazon) and told myself “better get used to a new meter now, starting to look like this one is being phased out…” sigh. So I reluctantly pulled out the new one…I was surprised set up was easier than the Xtra or AT (or I’m sadly getting good at setting up meters)…he’d had a good day so the Xtra read 0.1…and the centrivet read 0.0! I was like “ I LOVE this meter!!!!” Of course the meter had nothing to do with it, with variation 0.0 and 0.1 are the same number but still…I was happy all day. The things we live for these days

 

[Sheila and Minky]

I know what you mean about being used to a meter though. I bought a different ketone meter but have been reluctant to change over. Then I realized I couldn’t find strips except at Abbott (not on Amazon) and told myself “better get used to a new meter now, starting to look like this one is being phased out…” sigh. So I reluctantly pulled out the new one…I was surprised set up was easier than the Xtra or AT (or I’m sadly getting good at setting up meters)…he’d had a good day so the Xtra read 0.1…and the centrivet read 0.0! I was like “ I LOVE this meter!!!!” Of course the meter had nothing to do with it, with variation 0.0 and 0.1 are the same number but still…I was happy all day. The things we live for these days

You are very right--the things we live for! I am so glad the meter was easier, and it gave you good news I am not crazy about the strip taking up the blood--it seems to bother Minky. I don't know why, but I want to make it as painless as possible.

 

[SmallestSparrow]

You are very right--the things we live for! I am so glad the meter was easier, and it gave you good news I am not crazy about the strip taking up the blood--it seems to bother Minky. I don't know why, but I want to make it as painless as possible.

You mean the human one? It probably requires more blood and takes a nanosecond longer which is 3 hours in minky time
I would say try not to touch her with the strip just in case the strip itself is irritating. I’m pretty sure the chemical reaction takes place further up at the end of the wicking area, but just in case…
Next time I call tech support (seems to be often these days) I’ll ask them

 

[Sheila and Minky]

You mean the human one? It probably requires more blood and takes a nanosecond longer which is 3 hours in minky time
I would say try not to touch her with the strip just in case the strip itself is irritating. I’m pretty sure the chemical reaction takes place further up at the end of the wicking area, but just in case…
Next time I call tech support (seems to be often these days) I’ll ask them

That is interesting as I didn't know there was a chemical reaction. It does seem like the tip bothers her. I will try not to touch her with it.

 

[SmallestSparrow]

That is interesting as I didn't know there was a chemical reaction. It does seem like the tip bothers her. I will try not to touch her with it.

It happens (I think) higher up in the strip. Otherwise pet parents and human diabetics would probably have noticed
How meters work is the strips contain an enzyme system (often glucose dehydrogenase…if anyone wants to know it will be written on the insert that comes in the box with your strips) that reacts with glucose in the blood. This causes an electrical current. The meter is calibrated to read the current and display a corresponding number. It’s not really measuring glucose but a current that it’s been told is what occurs at a certain blood sugar level.

So I’m pretty sure this all happens further up in the strip—But since your girls seem to have allergies it could be there’s something else about the strip itself that bothers her—it can’t be she likes the AT color better
Btw because the strips need to have that chemical reaction etc they should be kept out of extreme heat or cold or humidity. (Not left in trunk, kept in humid bathroom, etc).