Assessment of postprandial hyperglycemia and circadian fluctuation of glucose concentrations in diabetic dogs using a flash glucose monitoring system

Abstract Background Postprandial hyperglycemia (PPH) and circadian glucose concentration fluctuations recorded in the home environment of dogs with naturally occurring diabetes mellitus (DM) have not been reported. Objectives To determine if a flash glucose monitoring system (FGMS; FreeStyle Libre) can detect PPH and circadian fluctuations in glucose concentrations in dogs with variably controlled DM. Animals Fourteen client‐owned dogs with DM. Methods Prospective observational study. Interstitial glucose (IG) concentrations measured by the FGMS during a 13‐day study period were analyzed. Results A total of 17, 446 FGMS IG concentrations were analyzed. For all dogs analyzed together, median IG concentration measured within 30 (288 mg/dL), 60 (286 mg/dL), 90 (285 mg/dL), and 120 (285 mg/dL) minutes of meals was each significantly higher than the median IG concentration at all other times (260 mg/dL, 259 mg/dL, 258 mg/dL, and 257 mg/dL, respectively; range, 40‐500 mg/dL; P < .001 for each). Median night‐time IG concentration measured from all dogs on 3,547 samples recorded between 1:00 am and 6:00 am (268 mg/dL; range, 40‐500 mg/dL) was significantly higher than median IG measured on 13, 899 samples at all other time points (259 mg/dL; range, 40‐500 mg/dL; P < .001). Conclusions and Clinical Importance The FGMS can be used for future studies of PPH and circadian fluctuations of glucose concentrations in dogs with DM in their home environment.