Diabetes mellitus is a relatively common disease in dogs. Determining the correct dose of insulin, monitoring a dog’s response to therapy, and adjusting that dose accordingly can be a difficult and time-consuming endeavor. Recently, a team of researchers at the University of Veterinary Medicine, Vienna, Austria, showed that a commercially available glucose monitoring system that is used in human diabetic patients can also be used in dogs.
The biggest benefit of this system is that a dog can undergo monitoring in their home environment where its appetite, stress levels, and exercise routines can remain unchanged. All three of these factors can influence diabetic regulation. The study, which was published in Veterinary Record, showed that even dogs that were believed to be well-regulated were not being treated optimally.
Using the GlucoDay continuous glucose level monitoring system may eventually prove to be a big step forward in the treatment of diabetic dogs. In the meantime, using a hand held glucose monitor for dogs and cats is still the best way to check a diabetic pet’s blood sugar levels at home.