Evaluation of a continuous glucose monitoring system for use in veterinary medicine.
BACKGROUND
With the emergence of continuous glucose monitoring systems being used to provide a detailed glucose picture in humans, a commercially available system (CGMS(R), Medtronic Minimed, Northridge, CA) was examined for use in veterinary species.


METHODS
Adult, clinically normal horses (n = 7), cats (n = 3), dogs (n = 4), and cows (n = 5) were studied. Cats (n = 4), dogs (n = 5), and one horse with diabetes were included in the study. Several of the normal horses, including the horse with diabetes, and one cow were subjected to an intravenous glucose tolerance test. The CGMS was attached to each animal, and the recorded interstitial glucose concentrations were compared with whole blood glucose concentrations as determined by a point-of-care glucose meter. Events such as insulin administration, feeding, travel, or administration of intravenous glucose were all noted and compared with results from the CGMS.


RESULTS
There was a positive correlation between interstitial and whole blood glucose concentrations for all the clinically normal species, those with diabetes mellitus, and those receiving intravenous glucose. Events such as feeding, glucose or insulin administration, and transport to the clinic were noted by the owner or clinician and could be identified on the graph and correlated with time of occurrence.


CONCLUSIONS
Our data indicate that the use of the CGMS is valid for use in the species examined. Use of this system alleviated the need for multiple blood samples and the stress associated with obtaining those samples. This system may provide greater monitoring capabilities in patients with diabetes and promote the diagnostic and research potential of serial glucose monitoring in veterinary species.
Wiedmeyer
Charles E
CE
Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65211, USA. wiedmeyer@missouri.edu
Johnson
Philip J
PJ
Cohn
Leah A
LA
Meadows
Richard L
RL
Kerl
Marie E
ME
Tessman
Ronald K
RK
Perlis
Jonathan
J
DeClue
Amy E
AE
D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis*; D002415:Cats; D002417:Cattle; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000097:blood / Q000662:veterinary*; D004285:Dogs; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test / Q000662:veterinary; D006736:Horses; D016014:Linear Models; D018670:Monitoring, Ambulatory / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary*
D001786:Blood Glucose