Use of Glucose Monitoring Systems in Horses

Traditional methods of blood glucose monitoring involve obtaining samples for measurement via laboratory methodology or point of care devices and require invasive collection techniques such as capillary stick, venipuncture, or the placement of intravenous catheters. Limitations of traditional methods include the limited information provided by intermittent testing and the stress associated with restraint and discomfort experienced by patients. The snapshot nature of the provided information restricts a clinician's ability to truly monitor trends in glucose concentrations over an extended period of time, influencing clinical decision making. The stress of invasive sampling can cause stress hyperglycemia in many veterinary species, complicating interpretation. Continuous interstitial glucose monitoring technology is widely used in the human medical field due to the expansive information provided in a minimally invasive manner. In recent years, the device technology has advanced and cost has improved, prompting application of these devices into the veterinary sector. Studies have shown good agreement between newer glucose monitoring systems and traditional methods in small animal patients with diabetes mellitus, allowing veterinarians to obtain comprehensive glucose data with minimal stress and discomfort to the patient. However, information regarding the use of this new technology in equine medicine is limited. The following study describes the evaluation of two widely available glucose monitoring systems, the Dexcom G6 and the FreeStyle Libre, in healthy adult horses.