Diabetic Doggy..

Mayflower10cat

buddywitch wrote: »

What glucose meter do you use?

Where did you get it and how much?

Many thanks

Sorry, only just seen your question. We used two different meters, the first was a OneTouch Ultra and the second was an Accuchek Advantage. Both very good meters. The meters themselves are often on 'Special Offer' as they make their money on the test strips. I don't think I paid more than £10 for either.

Must just drop in here that test strips used to be almost half the price in France - if you have friends going on holiday, give them an empty pack of your brand to show to the pharmacist. My sister very kindly brought us 6 vials of strips back one time, saving us about £40 in total.

paddypaws101

Both the above meters are fine....but the Freedom Freestyle Lite needs the TINIEST drop of blood and the new style strips are extremely sensitive and easy to use. The whole blood testing thing really does get easier in time, but in the early days it can be a bit of a struggle so having an easy meter is a bonus. ( All my comments are based only on testing a cat BTW )

buddywitch

I was thinking of getting a free one off net, and then buying one in Lloyds pharmacy.

So is it possible to use any testing strips or do you need to have the ones that go with your unit?

Mayflower10cat

Each one has it's own special strips for that brand/model only. That's where the manufacturers make their money! When buying OTC, I used to use Lloyds/Superdrug/my little independent local unichem pharmacy as they seemed to have much better offers that the Big B.

And paddypaws, yes, I agree totally - get the meter that needs the tiniest drop possible. Please forgive me for not being uptodate with current meters, it's been 7 years since our sugarcat was with us.

buddywitch

I will pop along to Lloyds chemist tomorrow and pick one up, had a look online and they are about £10 for the accu-check.

paddypaws101

Mayflower10cat wrote: »

And paddypaws, yes, I agree totally - get the meter that needs the tiniest drop possible. Please forgive me for not being uptodate with current meters, it's been 7 years since our sugarcat was with us.

Aw, they are sugar cats and extra sweet eh? Sorry to hear you lost your kitty.

Buddy witch....I think the Accucheck may need a fairly big blood sample, and like I say, once you get used to things it is fairly easy to get that sample....But in the early days it can be very frustrating for you and the dog to go through the whole procedure and NOT get a viable test.
So I would strongly recommed the Freedom Freestyle Lite used with the new version strips....its the easiest I have used so far.

buddywitch

Where would i get a freedom freestyle lite from, please? And where do you buy the strips?

paddypaws101

You can buy the freestyle meter in Boots or a local chemist, it will come with a few strips but you may want to buy a spare box at the same time to get you started. After that you can get strips cheaper on ebay...

http://shop.ebay.co.uk/i.html?_nkw=+freestyle+lite+test+strips&_sacat=0&_odkw=freedom+freestyle+test+strips&_osacat=0&bkBtn=&_trksid=p3286.m270.l1313

buddywitch

Thank you.

buddys_mum

Ive got Buddys glucose meter (freestyle freedom lite) over the weekend. When using the lancets to !!!!! the ear;

Can you use them more than once?

Where can i buy more, as there wasnt any in the new box of strips i bought?