From:
CandiceBush@aol.com
Date: 2001-12-02 03:02:00 UTC
Subject: blood glucose testing/Freestyle monitor/Shelly K.
Shelley, I have a diabetic ferret on insulin and have been using the
Freestyle monitor with similar success. I have a suggestion though. I tried
it before and after washing and I found that if I wash the foot in warm soapy
water I get a much lower reading. I'm guessing there is glucose on the paws
from walking in the urine or from licking the feet. You could test this
yourself. I'm not sure, but I suspect the back feet would have more glucose
on the skin due to proximity to urine puddles. Another thing to be careful
of is that hand lotion on your hands could alter the reading if you touch the
paw, so wash your hands first also.
I recently started using urine test strips most of the time to save the paw
pads (I know my finger hurts for a few days after a stick), but this won't
help you as your ferret doesn't spill glucose into the urine.