BAKICIDW/LJ: diabetic dog question

[firecat]

My dad's Miniature Schnauzer has recently been diagnosed as diabetic. Are any of you using a human glucometer and test strips to monitor a dog's blood sugar? (Dr. Internet gave me conflicting advice about whether this works.)

Comments

[chaos_by_design]

I take care of a diabetic cat.

Generally, the vet establishes a daily dose of insulin that's based off a glucose curve. You can do a glucose curve at home, which I've done but kind of avoid doing now because it involves having to draw blood from my cat, which involves having to hurt him, which I can't stand to do. So every so often if need be, I bring him into the office to have a curve done. But yes, you can use a human glucometer to do it, but you generally can't use the device they give to draw the blood with, because it's really designed to be used on a human and not an animal. I use plan little lancets to get the job done, usually by pricking his ear with one.

You don't do daily monitoring of glucose like you would with a human (yes, I've read about people on the internet who do try to closely monitor the glucose the way you would manage human diabetes but it's not the norm). Mainly the reason I don't go that route is a) overkill and b) I work a day job and can't really monitor his glucose throughout the day. If I were to do a curve, it would be on a weekend and because he was having symptoms of poor control, which confusingly enough, can look like symptoms of overcontrol (mainly too much appetite and drinking a lot).

[lilacsigil]

My parents monitor their cat with a human glucometer.

blood glucose meters

[(Anonymous)]

My dog was diagnosed 11/2011. I started with a human Contour meter by Bayer but switched to an iPet when the readings became varied as much as 75 within 1 minute. I'm very happy with the iPet and the cost isn't too bad. 2 good places to look online are Total Diabetes Supply and American Diabetes Wholesale. The meter runs about $35. and 50 strips are about $34.