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Best glucometer for cat?



 
 
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  #1  
Old August 18th 04, 01:18 PM
Amanda Robin
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default Best glucometer for cat?

Hi everybody,

I've read some old threads about this, but with new glucometers always
on the market I thought I'd ask again.

My cat, Rusty, spent the night in the ER vet's because he went
extremely hypoglycemic yesterday (20). He's still in the regulation
stage and has been taking a rather large dose of ultralente insulin.

Anyway, I think in the future I am going to need to know more than just
a "Negative" urine test. I need to know how low.

So those of you who use glucometers on a cat, what kind do you like?

Thanks,
Amanda
  #2  
Old August 18th 04, 03:25 PM
MaryL
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default


"Amanda Robin" wrote in message
...
Hi everybody,

I've read some old threads about this, but with new glucometers always
on the market I thought I'd ask again.

My cat, Rusty, spent the night in the ER vet's because he went
extremely hypoglycemic yesterday (20). He's still in the regulation
stage and has been taking a rather large dose of ultralente insulin.

Anyway, I think in the future I am going to need to know more than just
a "Negative" urine test. I need to know how low.

So those of you who use glucometers on a cat, what kind do you like?

Thanks,
Amanda


Fortunately, I have never had to use glucometer for a cat, but I know there
are others on this group who will respond. However, I may still have a bit
of input that could help you because *I* was recently diagnosed as diabetic.
I am using the FreeStyle glucometer (manufactured by TheraSense). It is
very easy to use and requires only a tiny drop of blood for testing. You
can also easily download results to your computer (using a cable sold by
TheraSense for $19.99), and you can configure the software to use whatever
"high" and "low" readings are appropriate. It takes only seconds to
download test results, and the software will flag abnormal readings -- and
maintain a history for continuous evaluation. TheraSense also manufactures
FreeStyle Flash. This supposedly is the smallest meter on the market, and I
think it includes a cable for downloading.

MaryL


  #3  
Old August 18th 04, 03:25 PM
MaryL
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default


"Amanda Robin" wrote in message
...
Hi everybody,

I've read some old threads about this, but with new glucometers always
on the market I thought I'd ask again.

My cat, Rusty, spent the night in the ER vet's because he went
extremely hypoglycemic yesterday (20). He's still in the regulation
stage and has been taking a rather large dose of ultralente insulin.

Anyway, I think in the future I am going to need to know more than just
a "Negative" urine test. I need to know how low.

So those of you who use glucometers on a cat, what kind do you like?

Thanks,
Amanda


Fortunately, I have never had to use glucometer for a cat, but I know there
are others on this group who will respond. However, I may still have a bit
of input that could help you because *I* was recently diagnosed as diabetic.
I am using the FreeStyle glucometer (manufactured by TheraSense). It is
very easy to use and requires only a tiny drop of blood for testing. You
can also easily download results to your computer (using a cable sold by
TheraSense for $19.99), and you can configure the software to use whatever
"high" and "low" readings are appropriate. It takes only seconds to
download test results, and the software will flag abnormal readings -- and
maintain a history for continuous evaluation. TheraSense also manufactures
FreeStyle Flash. This supposedly is the smallest meter on the market, and I
think it includes a cable for downloading.

MaryL


  #4  
Old August 19th 04, 12:21 AM
PegNDerek
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

We use the Bayer Elite system--very easy to use since it "sucks up"
the blood from the cat's ear rather than having to try and get a large
droplet that needs to land just in the right spot on the strip.

Amaretto has been diabetic for almost 4 years--and is managing just
fine! We'd be happy to answer any other questions!

PegNDerek

On Wed, 18 Aug 2004 12:18:52 GMT, Amanda Robin
wrote:

Hi everybody,

I've read some old threads about this, but with new glucometers always
on the market I thought I'd ask again.

My cat, Rusty, spent the night in the ER vet's because he went
extremely hypoglycemic yesterday (20). He's still in the regulation
stage and has been taking a rather large dose of ultralente insulin.

Anyway, I think in the future I am going to need to know more than just
a "Negative" urine test. I need to know how low.

So those of you who use glucometers on a cat, what kind do you like?

Thanks,
Amanda




"Scientists' say intelligent life
sprang from the sea.
Really intelligent life returns to
the sea now and then."
  #5  
Old August 19th 04, 05:02 AM
jamie
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

PegNDerek wrote:
We use the Bayer Elite system--very easy to use since it "sucks up"
the blood from the cat's ear rather than having to try and get a large
droplet that needs to land just in the right spot on the strip.


My cat was diagnosed in January, and I use a Bayer (Ascensia) Elite,
too. The strips are a little cheaper than some of the other models
that also use a small volume and suck up the blood. The LifeScan
One Touch Ultra is also popular.

--
jamie )

"There's a seeker born every minute."

  #6  
Old August 19th 04, 05:02 AM
jamie
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

PegNDerek wrote:
We use the Bayer Elite system--very easy to use since it "sucks up"
the blood from the cat's ear rather than having to try and get a large
droplet that needs to land just in the right spot on the strip.


My cat was diagnosed in January, and I use a Bayer (Ascensia) Elite,
too. The strips are a little cheaper than some of the other models
that also use a small volume and suck up the blood. The LifeScan
One Touch Ultra is also popular.

--
jamie )

"There's a seeker born every minute."

  #7  
Old August 19th 04, 12:21 AM
PegNDerek
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

We use the Bayer Elite system--very easy to use since it "sucks up"
the blood from the cat's ear rather than having to try and get a large
droplet that needs to land just in the right spot on the strip.

Amaretto has been diabetic for almost 4 years--and is managing just
fine! We'd be happy to answer any other questions!

PegNDerek

On Wed, 18 Aug 2004 12:18:52 GMT, Amanda Robin
wrote:

Hi everybody,

I've read some old threads about this, but with new glucometers always
on the market I thought I'd ask again.

My cat, Rusty, spent the night in the ER vet's because he went
extremely hypoglycemic yesterday (20). He's still in the regulation
stage and has been taking a rather large dose of ultralente insulin.

Anyway, I think in the future I am going to need to know more than just
a "Negative" urine test. I need to know how low.

So those of you who use glucometers on a cat, what kind do you like?

Thanks,
Amanda




"Scientists' say intelligent life
sprang from the sea.
Really intelligent life returns to
the sea now and then."
  #8  
Old August 19th 04, 07:54 AM
Phil P.
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default


"Amanda Robin" wrote in message
...
Hi everybody,

I've read some old threads about this, but with new glucometers always
on the market I thought I'd ask again.


The most accurate hand-held glucometer you can buy is the Accu-Chek II
meter. I've compared several meters to my Beckman bench glucose analyzer
(the most accurate glucose analyzer there is), and the Accu-Check II was the
most accurate and consistant.



My cat, Rusty, spent the night in the ER vet's because he went
extremely hypoglycemic yesterday (20). He's still in the regulation
stage and has been taking a rather large dose of ultralente insulin.


Ultralente is unpredictable in many cats. I've had the best luck with
regular and lente insulin, and PZI in cats that are difficult to regulate on
human insulin.


Anyway, I think in the future I am going to need to know more than just
a "Negative" urine test. I need to know how low.


Urine glucose monitoring has some very serious limitations for cats.

For one, a "negative" dipstick doesn't let you know if the cat is
hypoglycemic - the sticks don't go below "negative".

Second; cats have a high renal threshold that can vary from 200 mg/dl to 290
mg/dl. So, a "negative" stick could mean the cat is regulated or not
regulated and is still hyperglycemic.

Third: The urine in the bladder is an accumulation of urine over several
hours, so the reading you get does not represent urine glucose at the time
its tested.

Fourth: There's a lag time between hyperglycemia and glucosuria. IOW, it
could take several hours before hyperglycemia shows up in the urine.

Dipsticks are good for detecting ketones in the urine (ketonuria) which can
lead to ketoacidosis.

Blood glucose testing is much more accurate than urine glucose.

Here's how you check a cat's blood glucose:

http://maxshouse.com/bgtest.rm


The bottom line is that most cats can be regulated and diabetic many cats
have very good quality of life; in some cats, the process of regulation
might involve a bit more work - but its well worth the extra effort.

Good luck,

Phil




  #9  
Old August 20th 04, 02:26 AM
Trish
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Hi,

I'm not sure who originated this post, but I'd like to extend an offer to
their cat. I've been recently diagnosed with diabetes, and well my
insurance pays for my glucomteter, needles and strips. I was given an extra
set of everything as a door prize at a diabetic clinic, lol - I still laugh
over that.

Anyhow, if you need a glucomter (sorry, it measures by canadian standards of
mmol and not the american standards) I would be more than happy to send it
by mail to your cat.



"Phil P." wrote in message
...

"Amanda Robin" wrote in message
...
Hi everybody,

I've read some old threads about this, but with new glucometers always
on the market I thought I'd ask again.


The most accurate hand-held glucometer you can buy is the Accu-Chek II
meter. I've compared several meters to my Beckman bench glucose analyzer
(the most accurate glucose analyzer there is), and the Accu-Check II was

the
most accurate and consistant.



My cat, Rusty, spent the night in the ER vet's because he went
extremely hypoglycemic yesterday (20). He's still in the regulation
stage and has been taking a rather large dose of ultralente insulin.


Ultralente is unpredictable in many cats. I've had the best luck with
regular and lente insulin, and PZI in cats that are difficult to regulate

on
human insulin.


Anyway, I think in the future I am going to need to know more than just
a "Negative" urine test. I need to know how low.


Urine glucose monitoring has some very serious limitations for cats.

For one, a "negative" dipstick doesn't let you know if the cat is
hypoglycemic - the sticks don't go below "negative".

Second; cats have a high renal threshold that can vary from 200 mg/dl to

290
mg/dl. So, a "negative" stick could mean the cat is regulated or not
regulated and is still hyperglycemic.

Third: The urine in the bladder is an accumulation of urine over several
hours, so the reading you get does not represent urine glucose at the time
its tested.

Fourth: There's a lag time between hyperglycemia and glucosuria. IOW, it
could take several hours before hyperglycemia shows up in the urine.

Dipsticks are good for detecting ketones in the urine (ketonuria) which

can
lead to ketoacidosis.

Blood glucose testing is much more accurate than urine glucose.

Here's how you check a cat's blood glucose:

http://maxshouse.com/bgtest.rm


The bottom line is that most cats can be regulated and diabetic many cats
have very good quality of life; in some cats, the process of regulation
might involve a bit more work - but its well worth the extra effort.

Good luck,

Phil






  #10  
Old August 20th 04, 02:26 AM
Trish
external usenet poster
 
Posts: n/a
Default

Hi,

I'm not sure who originated this post, but I'd like to extend an offer to
their cat. I've been recently diagnosed with diabetes, and well my
insurance pays for my glucomteter, needles and strips. I was given an extra
set of everything as a door prize at a diabetic clinic, lol - I still laugh
over that.

Anyhow, if you need a glucomter (sorry, it measures by canadian standards of
mmol and not the american standards) I would be more than happy to send it
by mail to your cat.



"Phil P." wrote in message
...

"Amanda Robin" wrote in message
...
Hi everybody,

I've read some old threads about this, but with new glucometers always
on the market I thought I'd ask again.


The most accurate hand-held glucometer you can buy is the Accu-Chek II
meter. I've compared several meters to my Beckman bench glucose analyzer
(the most accurate glucose analyzer there is), and the Accu-Check II was

the
most accurate and consistant.



My cat, Rusty, spent the night in the ER vet's because he went
extremely hypoglycemic yesterday (20). He's still in the regulation
stage and has been taking a rather large dose of ultralente insulin.


Ultralente is unpredictable in many cats. I've had the best luck with
regular and lente insulin, and PZI in cats that are difficult to regulate

on
human insulin.


Anyway, I think in the future I am going to need to know more than just
a "Negative" urine test. I need to know how low.


Urine glucose monitoring has some very serious limitations for cats.

For one, a "negative" dipstick doesn't let you know if the cat is
hypoglycemic - the sticks don't go below "negative".

Second; cats have a high renal threshold that can vary from 200 mg/dl to

290
mg/dl. So, a "negative" stick could mean the cat is regulated or not
regulated and is still hyperglycemic.

Third: The urine in the bladder is an accumulation of urine over several
hours, so the reading you get does not represent urine glucose at the time
its tested.

Fourth: There's a lag time between hyperglycemia and glucosuria. IOW, it
could take several hours before hyperglycemia shows up in the urine.

Dipsticks are good for detecting ketones in the urine (ketonuria) which

can
lead to ketoacidosis.

Blood glucose testing is much more accurate than urine glucose.

Here's how you check a cat's blood glucose:

http://maxshouse.com/bgtest.rm


The bottom line is that most cats can be regulated and diabetic many cats
have very good quality of life; in some cats, the process of regulation
might involve a bit more work - but its well worth the extra effort.

Good luck,

Phil






 




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