Long-term monitoring of the diabetic dog and cat. Clinical signs, serial blood glucose determinations, urine glucose, and glycated blood proteins.

Management of diabetic dogs or cats requires the use of all available monitoring technology (Fig. 6). First, one should ask questions about the clinical control of DM. Are the clinical signs of DM resolved, and is the owner satisfied with insulin therapy? Other important questions would include: Is the dog or cat developing long-term complications of diabetes such as neuropathies or cataracts? Is body weight remaining stable? Is the dog or cat showing any signs of hypoglycemia? One should determine if the blood glucose curves are close to ideal for the type of insulin being administered. Urine glucose and ketones should be negative or trace as assessed by the at-home monitoring by the owner. In the problem diabetic, long-term glucose control can be assessed by serum fructosamine or glycosylated hemoglobin determinations. Regulation of the diabetic patient is accomplished when the owner is satisfied with the therapy and when the serum glucose monitoring parameters are acceptable.