Clinical Associate Professor Texas A&M University College Station, TX, United States
Abstract:
Background: Flash glucose monitoring systems (FGMS) are deployed to monitor diabetic dogs. The newest generation FGMS (FreeStyle Libre3, Abbott) contains the world’s smallest glucose sensor pairing with a smartphone app via Bluetooth.
Objective: To assess the utility of a third-generation FGMS in nondiabetic dogs during rapidly induced hypoglycemia. Animals: Twenty-three apparently healthy teaching dogs.
Methods: Prospective observational study. FGMS (FreeStyle Libre3, Abbott) were placed on each dog. Regular insulin was administered intravenously and hypoglycemia corrected. Prior to insulin administration and every 10 minutes over a 90-minute period, serial measurements of interstitial glucose (IG) and blood glucose (BG) were made with a FGMS and a portable blood glucose meter (PBGM; AlphaTrak 3, Zoetis), respectively. Readings of both FGMS and PBGM were compared to chemistry analyzer BG concentrations as reference standard. Analytical and clinical accuracy were assessed.
Results: The FGMS did not obtain an IG concentration for 38.6% (89/230) of possible measurements. For measurements with a reference standard BG <100 mg/dL, the FGMS and PBGM were within +/- 15 mg/dL for 27.9% (24/86) and 51.1% (97/190), respectively. The proportions of readings for the FGMS and PBGM which were not likely to affect clinical outcome were 53.9% (76/141) and 79.6% (179/225), respectively. Conclusions and Clinical Importance: The relatively high number of times the FGMS did not obtain an IG measurement could have been due to multiple phones operating as readers in the same area. In this model of rapidly induced hypoglycemia there was limited agreement between the FGMS and reference standard BG measurements.
