Abstract
BACKGROUND: Interstitial glucose (IG) concentration measurement using a flash glucose monitoring system (FGMS) is a noninvasive, affordable, and informative method to regulate patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) but has not been fully validated in outpatient cats with DM. OBJECTIVES: To further validate the FreeStyle Libre FGMS in outpatient diabetic cats. ANIMALS: Eight client-owned cats with DM. METHODS: Prospective observational validation study. Tissue glue was used to attach the sensor to the cat. Lin's concordance correlation coefficient (ρ(c) ) was used to compare IG concentrations measured by the FGMS to blood glucose concentrations measured using an automated biochemistry analyzer (ABA) and point-of-care glucometer (POCG). RESULTS: Data from 15 sensor placements in 8 cats were analyzed. Paired IG and ABA glucose concentrations (139 samples) had excellent correlation (ρ(c) = 0.96) as did IG and POCG glucose concentrations (142 samples, ρ(c) = 0.92). Sensor failure or displacement were recorded for 12/15 (80%) sensor placements. Median time of sensor activity was 7 days (range, 2-13 days). CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: In outpatient cats with DM, the FGMS-measured IG concentration correlated well with ABA-measured blood glucose concentration, but a high rate of sensor failures was observed.