Continuous glucose monitoring in dogs and cats

RE: Continuous glucose monitoring in dogs and cats

Ben Safrany — Wed, 18 Dec 2019 16:10:34 GMT

Hi Lucy,

We've used these monitors quite a few times with good success. I've always placed them conscious, on the back of the neck. I find clipping and degreasing the skin with some hibi, then thoroughly drying helps with adhesion. I place a drop of glue in 2 places on the monitor, being careful to avoid the chip. I find placing as in the instructions, then holding the applicator in place for 30 seconds before removing helps. We then keep them covered, a bit of stretch net works perfectly. Sometimes a bit of spirit helps with removing, I warn owners that there might be a mild skin reaction.

There are a few good videos on YouTube demonstrating the placing process. The original JVIM paper (Corradini et al 2016) has some good pictures showing placement too.

Hope this helps, feel free to get in touch if you'd like any more advice on placing.

Best wishes,

Ben

RE: Continuous glucose monitoring in dogs and cats

Lucy Fleming — Wed, 18 Dec 2019 13:37:55 GMT

Thanks all, some good information. For those that are using them, do you place them under sedation? Use glue to help stay attached? Any preferred location?

RE: Continuous glucose monitoring in dogs and cats

Kate Richardson — Fri, 13 Dec 2019 21:23:11 GMT

No personal experience but reports from other cat vets- game changer for some cats- usually well tolerated. however some studies have shown that monitoring clinical signs can be as accurate- think there was something in JFMS about it a year or so ago

RE: Continuous glucose monitoring in dogs and cats

rachaelyost — Fri, 13 Dec 2019 15:05:14 GMT

I use them personally and get them from my local Asda pharmacy for £47. No prescription needed and use the downloaded app on my phone.

We are considering using them at one of the practices I locum at. From personally experience you need to be a bit careful. This mornings reading was 3.4 on the libre but my blood glucose was at 5.1 This afternoon it was 5.2 on the libre and 7.6 on BG so it needs to be interpreted with caution. They give you a whole world of information though.

https://abcd.care/dtn/education (Hover over DTN-UK on the menu along the top then click on the flash glucose monitoring education for a few webinars) This website is good for info. Yes is human but educates you on how to interpret the data produced.

They are great though and I wouldn't be without mine now. Thankfully get on prescription next month!

RE: Continuous glucose monitoring in dogs and cats

Sammy82 — Thu, 12 Dec 2019 20:20:40 GMT

I've not used them yet but seems to be a good way to obtain a home glucose curve which more reliable results than from a stressed cat in the clinic. Not so sure if it is worth it for long term/all the time measurements.

RE: Continuous glucose monitoring in dogs and cats

Anthony Dennison — Thu, 12 Dec 2019 15:48:52 GMT

[quote user="Julie Innes"]

I was told at Scottish BSAVA that clients could buy them on Amazon?

[/quote]

Still expensive, and the cost per unit seems prohibitive to me considering the duration of efficacy and the risk of them being knocked off.

RE: Continuous glucose monitoring in dogs and cats

Noweia — Wed, 11 Dec 2019 17:53:47 GMT

They are fairly restricted at the moment, I think on;y being sold to existing users. But you can find them on ebay!

RE: Continuous glucose monitoring in dogs and cats

Julie Innes — Wed, 11 Dec 2019 15:08:51 GMT

I was told at Scottish BSAVA that clients could buy them on Amazon?

RE: Continuous glucose monitoring in dogs and cats

Anthony Dennison — Wed, 11 Dec 2019 13:09:16 GMT

I looked into these for one of my clients - it's a human monitor so is off license, each unit that is attached costs £70-90 and only lasts 2 week.s

RE: Continuous glucose monitoring in dogs and cats

Lucy Fleming — Wed, 11 Dec 2019 12:45:52 GMT

Bumping an old thread to see if anyone else is using these - and if so, where do you source them from? Is sedation required to apply the sensor? Does the client need the reader or can they use the app?

RE: Continuous glucose monitoring in dogs and cats

Bob Russell — Mon, 30 Jan 2017 17:59:33 GMT

Surprisingly good correlation. One of our clients uses it routinely with her diabetic Husky.

They send us vast numbers of emails detailing every up and down of the day!