Alphatrak

In Part 1 of our discussion on monitoring diabetes in pets, I talk about the importance of keeping a daily diary and how to monitor your pet’s blood glucose (sugar) levels.

Daily Pet Diary

Monitoring diabetes is critical to determining your pet’s proper insulin dose. To a big extent, monitoring may be done at home and it is possible to save a outstanding deal of cash by doing so. However, galore tests plainly will have to be done at the veterinarian’s office.

The hallmark signs of diabetes mellitus in a dog or cat are exuberant water consumption, urination, hunger, and decrease in weight. It is not necessary to measure your pet’s water consumption as the liquid requisite will change based on exercise level, environmental temperature, and other factors. It is necessary to make a mental note with regards to whether your pet’s appetite, thirst, and urine production are normal, or they have increased or decreased.

Consider keeping a notebook with each and everyday notations when it comes to numerous of these parameters. This will help you when you take your pet to the veterinarian – the more info you have, the better.

Your pet’s body weight is less subjective. If your pet is little enough, consider weighing your pet each two weeks. As your pet becomes regulated, weight will be gained and more regulated. A well-regulated pet will maintain body weight. Keep the weights recorded in your notebook.

Glucose Monitoring at Home

Ideally, glucose (blood sugar) monitoring is performed at home. At home, your pet is most comfortable and blood glucose measures are not modified by stress. Furthermore, by doing glucose curves at home, the owner is spared the expense of going to the veterinarian. Understandably, not every one is ready to gather blood from his or her dog/cat. If you do not wish to get involved in home monitoring, merely be prepared to fetch your pet to the clinic for glucose curves as commended by your veterinarian. It is necessary to note, that monitoring at home does not replace routine veterinarian visits.

For diabetic dogs and cats, insulin works best when administered at times of most eminent blood sugar, which quintessentially occurs after eating. A glucose curve will disclose at what time the animal’s glucose level is the most eminent and when it is lowest relative to diet and insulin administration.

It is many times difficult determining the optimal type, dosage, and frequency of insulin administration. Each diabetic pet is a little different. Inadequate insulin dosing may lead to poorly controlled diabetes and exuberant doses may cause weakness, coma and even death. The most mutual veterinary test to determine the optimal insulin dose in a pet is the glucose curve, which requires serial glucose measurements over the day. The results facilitate proper insulin dosage and time of insulin administration.

The glucose curve is exceedingly useful. Indicates how long the dose of insulin is lasting, which in turn gives evidence of whether the type of insulin being used is correct. Also it reveals how high and low the glucose levels fluctuate, which gives evidence of if the dose being applied is correct. Initially, curves are performed each 1 to 2 weeks until regulation is achieved. It takes 1 to 2 weeks for a pet to adjust to a dose of insulin, and that dose can not be evaluated prior to that time period. This data will aid your veterinarian determine the best time to give the insulin.

Glucose curves may be performed at home or at your vet. If glucose monitoring is being performed at home, it is best to check glucose prior to giving an insulin dose. Talk to your veterinarian to comprehend how low a glucose level will have to be in order to indicate that you ought to skip the insulin.

Previously, humane glucose meters were used to monitor dog and cat blood sugars. The issue with doing so, is that accuracy was not reliable. Trends were easy to see but it was not possible to obtain more precise measurements. Today, there are assorted veterinary glucose meters, on the market and it is commended using one of these for best results.

The Abbott Alphatrak meter is the most ordinarily employed veterinary meter, and is often commended by veterinarians. There are a heap of similar veterinary meters (Ulticare iPet Meter) and if your veterinarian alternatively chooses a dissimilar model it is best to go with his or her recommendation. Most glucose meters come in a kit that includes an instruction CD/DVD, the meter, a control solution for calibration, lancets to take your pet’s blood, and glucose strips for the meter to read. Please consult your veterinarian before making any changes to your furry friend’s diabetes management.

Look for next month’s article featuring Diabetes Monitoring – Part 2.

Wags,

Dr. Gary

Do you have pet diabetes or health questions? Ask Dr. Gary.

Email him at gary.edelsonDVM@americandiabeteswholesale.com

NOTE: Consult your veterinarian basi to make sure my recommendations fit your particular health needs.

Alphatrak

AlphaTRAK Blood Glucose TEST STRIPS are validated for dogs and cats. To be used with the AlphaTrak Blood Glucose Monitoring System. Do not use if expiration date has passed. Do not use if box seal is broken or missing. Federal law restricts this device to use by or on the order of a licensed vet

Alphatrak Photo

Alphatrak Photo

Alphatrak Picture

Alphatrak Pic

Most helpful client reviews

7 of 7 persons found the following review helpful.
Fantastic – Fast Delivery
By Diana
Product came more quickly than expected. A good thing because I waited till the last minute to order and was out of strips and couldn’t check my dog’s glucose. Thanks very much for fast fast delivery. I came across that if I ordered 2, I got free shipping. Fantastic!

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful.
Glucose Test Strips
By Cat Lover
These strips always come in the regular mail within a few (3-4) days of ordering them. The only problem with regular mail is you need to make sure they don’t sit in a hot mailbox. Often I am at work and can’t get them until evening. So…Since you know they are coming quickly, and IF you might be gone for the day, have a neighbor check your mail!!!

2 of 2 persons found the following review helpful.
Dog or Cat Diabetes – At Home Monitoring
By heres_looking_at_you
What a life saver AlphaTRAK has been in helping me monitor my kitty’s diabetes!

I had the gain of an Abbot sales rep (the AlphaTRAK manufacturer) giving me a demo. Been using it for a year, but the basi few months were touch and go (tho my kitty is cooperative). The way I overcame (sometimes works, at times not) was to reread the User Guide carefully, 2-3 times. Now measuring is smooth sailing. I’ve been at it for 1 year. Here are it is features:

– Only needs a teensy spot of blood, from the fleshy side of the ear (paws, etc. I have not tried).

– Remains on in regards to 2 minutes while you are finding a spot to lance.

– If you by probability do not get sufficient blood, will give you 60 seconds to add more.

– Easy to read, altho my time display is a little too close to the right margin of the screen.

– Memory feature of 250, with a 14-day average.

– Easy to mark control tests: do get the control solution, included in the finish kit AlphaTRAK Blood Glucose Monitoring Meter Kit and separately available (though I can not find a link to it at Amazon, you may try Entirely Pets or perchance Abbot Labs). When testing the strips or meter with the red control solution, mark it so it stays marked in the memory (but not in the 14-day intermediate for your pet). I rely on the memory review and it is good to recognise that a reading is a control test, which I do when it comes to once a month.

– The beep (settable volume) will alert you when the meter has sufficient blood.

– Strips are well-marked for where to put the strip to the blood (two sides, accordingly two options), and what way is up when inserting strip into the meter.

– Quick turn off feature.

– Long lasting battery (cross my fingers)

Do nots and to do’s:
– Don’t bend the strips (push them gently into the slot).
– Don’t leave the strips out in the humidity, it may change the readings.
– Remember always to close / snap the container so humidity does not get in.
– Keep your hands clean and arid when fetching the strips.

IF YOUR DIABETIC PET IS A CAT, YOU NEED TO RECODE THE GLUCOMETER (BECAUSE TEST STRIP CODES MAY CHANGE FROM BATCH TO BATCH), AND RETEST WITH RED CONTROL SOLUTION TO MAKE SURE. DOG CODE IS ALWAYS THE SAME BUT NEEDS TO BE SET THE FIRST TIME.

My new vet is amazed at how precise I am in my pet’s insulin measurements and BG monitoring. Many vets still don’t comprehend how priceless an aid an at-home blood glucose monitoring kit like this is. Your pet may also gain IMO if they are hypoglycemic (some cancers / ilnesses may cause low blood glucose) though the meter just says LOW when levels are under the meter’s operating range (emergency time, if it were to take place and another reason to do regular control solution tests so you don’t waste time making a control test at a time where your attention ought to be on your pet — knowing what to do then is a discerned issue).

With humans, diabetes monitoring has been the single most utile medical advance in controlling their diabetes, I think you and your pet is worthy of as much.

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