Did you know that the University of Georgia Veterinary Teaching Hospital offers iPro continuous glucose monitoring devices for cats and dogs with diabetes mellitus? The devices, commonly used for human patients with diabetes, are used to gather data on the patient’s response to insulin. The Hospital has been offering this service since 2013.
“We wanted the best possible care for our diabetic patients, and since continuous glucose monitors are the standard of care in human medicine, we knew we had to introduce it here at the University of Georgia,” said Cynthia Ward, a professor of small animal internal medicine in the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine. “Very few places in the United States offer the monitors for animal health care.”
According to the State of Pet Health Report 2016 released by Banfield Pet Hospital, the prevalence of diabetes has risen 79 percent for dogs and 18 percent for cats since 2006. Signs of diabetes in dogs or cats include animals that drink, urinate, eat and sleep more. They also will show signs of tiredness and have a decreased exercise tolerance.
“Diabetes is a big problem in animals,” said Ward.
The iPro continuous glucose monitoring device features a small disposable sensor, about the size of a paper clip. One end of the sensor is inserted under the animal’s skin to read blood glucose levels. Once the sensor is in place, a small recorder about the size of a quarter is plugged into the other end of the sensor to collect data. To ensure the device stays in place and the pet does not bother it, a snug garment is put on the animal. After the system is equilibrated, the device records blood glucose readings every five minutes.
Three to five days after the sensor and recorder are put in place, they are removed and mailed to the UGA VTH. The sensor is discarded, and the recorder is plugged into a computer where the data is downloaded and analyzed. UGA veterinarians evaluate insulin levels and recommend changes, if necessary, in medication levels.
With the devices, animals do not need to have blood drawn every two hours, and owners can keep their pets at home. The sensor causes very little discomfort when placed, Ward said, and animals do not need to be sedated, which is sometimes the case if blood must be drawn.
The biggest benefit is the information collected is more accurate with the monitor than with a standard blood test drawn every two hours. When blood is drawn repeatedly in a veterinary hospital setting, dogs and cats can get agitated, which can artificially increase glucose levels.
Pet owners are still responsible for keeping a log of food intake, insulin shots and exercise during the time the pet has the iPro. At least two glucose blood tests should be collected each day.
Animal owners interested in learning more about continuous glucose monitoring should contact the Teaching Hospital through a referral from their family veterinarian. Animals will need to visit the teaching hospital to have the chip inserted. UGA faculty will analyze the resulting data and then can work with the referring veterinarian to manage diabetes treatment.