Boris presented to Uni Vets Camden for blood glucose monitoring which is an important part to help manage his diabetes.
Diabetes mellitus is a condition where the pancreas does not make enough insulin to allow glucose to exit the bloodstream and be used by the body. Dogs with diabetes can show clinical signs such as excessive drinking and urinating, weight loss despite eating more than normal, cataracts in both eyes and weakness. Diabetes is diagnosed by abnormally high glucose on blood and urine tests. Dogs with diabetes are treated with daily insulin for their entire life. However, it can be quite tricky to find the dose of insulin that is correct for their body.
There will be little improvement with too low a dose, and too high a dose can take too much glucose out of the bloodstream, which can be dangerous. A blood glucose curve allows us to see how much glucose is in the blood throughout the day after giving insulin to see if it is the right amount or not, and we can then adjust their dose as needed. Written by Sarah King, Final Year Veterinary Student, The University of Sydney.
