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. 2020 Nov;34(6):2296-2305.
doi: 10.1111/jvim.15930. Epub 2020 Oct 30.

Comparison between a flash glucose monitoring system and a portable blood glucose meter for monitoring dogs with diabetes mellitus

Francesca Del Baldo  1 , Claudia Canton  1 , Silvia Testa  1 , Harry Swales  2 , Ignazio Drudi  3 , Stefania Golinelli  1 , Federico Fracassi  1
Affiliations

Comparison between a flash glucose monitoring system and a portable blood glucose meter for monitoring dogs with diabetes mellitus

Francesca Del Baldo et al. J Vet Intern Med. 2020 Nov.

Abstract

Background: Flash glucose monitoring system (FGMS; FreeStyle Libre) was recently validated for use in diabetic dogs (DD). It is not known if this system is clinically useful in monitoring DD.

Objective: To compare the clinical utility of FGMS against blood glucose curves (BGCs) obtained with a portable blood glucose meter (PBGM) in monitoring DD.

Animals: Twenty dogs with diabetes mellitus.

Methods: Prospective study. Dogs with diabetes mellitus on insulin treatment for at least 1 month were included. Comparisons of insulin dose recommendations based on the in-hospital GCs acquired using FGMS and a PBGM, consecutive-day interstitial GCs (IGCs) acquired at home using the FGMS, and consecutive-day, home vs hospital IGCs acquired using the FGMS were made using concordance analysis.

Results: There was good concordance between insulin dose recommendations based on FGMS and PBGM generated GCs and IGCs obtained in the 2 different environments on 2 consecutive days, but almost absent concordance between IGCs obtained on 2 consecutive days at home. Glucose nadirs were detected in 34/43 (79%) of Ambulatory Glucose Profile (AGP) reports of the FGMS. In comparison, concordant glucose nadirs were identified in 14/34 (41%) BGCs using PBGM. The individual FGMS scans and PBGM identified 60% and 9% of low IG/hypoglycemic episodes, respectively.

Conclusions and clinical importance: Insulin dose adjustments based on BGCs can be suboptimal. The FGMS allows a more accurate identification of the glucose nadirs and hypoglycemic episodes compared to the use of a PBGM and assessment of day-to-day variations in glycemic control.

Keywords: FreeStyle Libre; canine; diabetes mellitus; interstitial glucose.

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Conflict of interest statement

Authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Daily log report showing IG fluctuations during a 24 hours period. Interstitial glucose values detected by the scans are reported as numbers and are identified by the empty circles. Red box highlight IG values <70 mg/dL while yellow box highlight IG values >350 mg/dL. Low IG episodes and glucose nadirs extracted from the daily log report of each patient were used as the “gold standard” in order to identify the ability of the PBGM to detect glucose nadirs and low IG/hypoglycemic episodes. IG, interstitial glucose; PBGM, portable blood glucose meter
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Daily log report showing the majority of IG fluctuations >350 mg/dL and gap in the graphs. Above 350 mg/dL the graphs are not generated, and no information can be extrapolated. IG, interstitial glucose
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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