These are reliable for four months after opening not until expiry date.
            They have six readings on the bottle for glucose as follows.:
           Blue which is negative.
            Pale Green which is trace or 1/10.
            Dark Green which is 1/4 (means positive)
            Light Brown which is 1/2 (means positive)
            Medium Brown which is 1 (means positve)
            Dark Brown which is 2 or more (means very positive)
comparing dipped urine strip to the bottle
The top is the glucose present in urine and bottom of strip is ketones present.
Both are negative in this example. Timing is important I catch the urine in a cup and test when I come in the house.
           They have six readings on the bottle for ketones as follows:
            Brown which is negative.
            Pale Pink which is trace (5 mg/dl)
            Dark Pink which is small (15 mg/dl)
            Pale Purple which is moderate (40 mg/dl)
            Medium Purple which is large (80mg/dl)
            Dark Purple which is large (160 mg/dl)

            Tyler's first vet thought it was ok for Tyler's urine readings to be 1/2 to 1 percent
            using the Diastix.  When he was taken for a checkup (usually in the morning two
            hours after his shot) his BG reading was usually in the 300+ range-which meant
            to her that his readings could go as high as 500 and the lows were not much
            below 200.

            Tyler's present vet wants his urine samples to be negative all the time.
            His theory is if you increase the insulin until you hit negative and than back off
            a unit or 1/2 unit until you get glucose 1/10 to 1/4 than the dosage you were at
            was the correct dosage (at negative).

            The internist Tyler saw felt Linda should let him show a little glucose 1/10 to 1/4
            (light or medium) ( Linda uses clinistix).  He had done a 24 hour glucose curve
            and the readings ranged from highs of 128 to a low of 71.  He felt Linda might
            overdose him on insulin.  However this was not an accurate curve because
            Tyler does not eat away from home.  Linda's vet and Linda realized this and
            knew the true values would of been in the normal range under different conditions.
           She tried the internist's method and he did an 8 hour curve a month later.
            Tyler's BG shot up to a high of 320 and low's in the 200 range so Linda went
            back to her vet's method.

            This method work's best for Linda but she feels you do need cuves done
            to actually see if the method you are using is working and know the limitation
            as well as common sense when urine testing.

            Large or Medium size dog---->over 30 pounds
            4+ (2%)-------------------------------increase 2 to 3 units over previous days dose
            3+ (1%)-------------------------------increase by 2 units
            2+ (1/2%)----------------------------increase by 1 unit
            trace (1/10%)or 1+ (1/4%)----no change
            negative----------------------------decrease dose by 2 units

            For a cat or small dog<-----under 30 pounds
            4+ (2%) or 3+ (1%)---------------increase by 1/2 unit to 1 unit
            2+ (1/2%)----------------------------increase by 1/2 unit
            Trace (1/10%) or 1+(1/4%)---no change
            Negative----------------------------decrease dose by 2 units

            She was told the ultimate objective was to maintain at the trace to1+ level.
            In small animals it was suggested that the above changes were to be made
            on an alternate day method.

            She modified the "small" scale for her dog, Cody----after a few weeks, she
            started making all the changes in 1/2 unit increments---he seems to stay
            on a more stable dose this way (She did tell her vet what she did and he
            agreed).  She now uses a combination of her modified urine scale and
            does home blood glucose curves.

            From the results of these glucose assessments, the insulin dose can
            be adjusted.

            Results of Urine Testing from caninsulin manual

First Test	Second Test	Third Test	Dose Adjustment
trace	negative	negative	none:correct dose
trace	negative	positive	none: correct dose
positive	negative	negative	none: correct dose
positive	positive	positive	+10%: dose too low
negative	negative	negative	-10%: dose too high
positive	negative	positive	-20%: Somogyi effect

First Test suggested morning (before morning meal)
Second Test suggested afternoon(before afternoon meal)
Third Test suggested take in evening

            When a urine test is positive, this means that sometime since the animal
            last urinated that glucose has spilled over into the urine.  Therefore it is
            best to let the animal pee and then try to catch another sample in a half
            an hour and this will better reflect the glucose status.  If the dog had not
            peed for 8 hours you would have an 8 hour pooling of urine in the bladder.

            I follow Queenie outside with a little punch glass and catch her urine ,
            bring it into the house and test it.  Might be a little harder to do with a
            male dog and a cat.  The first week she used to quit peeing when I stuck
            the glass under her but now she could care less.

            With Queenie, I have also found that I rinse the hair in her tush area after
            each urination because the hair is long in this area and I did not want
            dried urine containing glucose that could contaminate the next specimen.
            I just have a gallon of water outside and rinse the area with the water and
            my hand.(I am a dedicated owner).

 Home to Queen's Page