A few weeks ago I was at work surfing craigslist for jobs* (show of hands: who else looks at other jobs while at work?) when I saw a listing for a company that is developing a non-invasive blood glucose monitor. I’m sure I’m not remotely qualified for whatever opening they were advertising, but boy, the idea of testing Isabella’s blood without actually having to see Isabella’s blood is mighty exciting. For two seconds, I dreamed of getting free prototypes to test. Of convincing the company that there’s a whole diabetes pet market they could exploit, and on and on.
That got me thinking about how diabetes technology has changed so much and how our little four-legged diabetics get to benefit from innovations made on behalf of humans.
For instance: not so long ago the only way human diabetics could monitor their blood sugar was by peeing on a test strip. Then came portable blood glucose meters (the early models of which, near as I can tell, required the user to practically sever a finger to get enough blood for the test). Those meters got smaller, faster, and required a smaller blood sample as time went by, putting them into the mainstream of human diabetes management. Bye-bye urine strips for first-line monitoring.
In the veterinary world, I’m not sure that home urine testing was ever the norm, but it was – and is – certainly used by some people to monitor their cat. (Here Isabella, pee in this cup…) It’s a tricky business that means you have to catch the kitty doing hers. Understandably, many folks balk at the idea.
Finally, in 2000, some smarties in Switzerland published an article about poking a diabetic cat’s ear for blood testing, noting that the technique could be used at home. Yay!! Since then, more articles have been published and the Canadian Veterinary Association has even stated that home BG testing should be part of standard therapy.
Still, the blood-letting aspect of testing puts a lot of people off. It puts off more than a few cats, too, I’m sure. That’s why I watch with interest for non-invasive methods. A non-invasive BG monitor was approved by the FDA several years ago, but it obviously didn’t make a big splash or diabetics all around would be sporting the wristwatch-type gizmo.
So we’re still waiting. There’s one under development that clips to an earlobe (hey – we’re all familiar with ear-testing!). I think the new technology focuses on shooting light through the skin or something. Infrared? Near infrared? Do I care? Not really: I just want to know two things: When? And will my cat’s fur mess up the reading?
Perhaps the next fashion trend for diabetic cats will be the shaved ear. Oh, I’d do it. You bet I would. Could taking a razor to my cat be any harder than getting her to to pee in a cup?
*Note for Mary, who I know will read this: don’t worry, I’m not really looking for another job, just keeping an eye on the landscape, if you know what I mean.
That got me thinking about how diabetes technology has changed so much and how our little four-legged diabetics get to benefit from innovations made on behalf of humans.
For instance: not so long ago the only way human diabetics could monitor their blood sugar was by peeing on a test strip. Then came portable blood glucose meters (the early models of which, near as I can tell, required the user to practically sever a finger to get enough blood for the test). Those meters got smaller, faster, and required a smaller blood sample as time went by, putting them into the mainstream of human diabetes management. Bye-bye urine strips for first-line monitoring.
In the veterinary world, I’m not sure that home urine testing was ever the norm, but it was – and is – certainly used by some people to monitor their cat. (Here Isabella, pee in this cup…) It’s a tricky business that means you have to catch the kitty doing hers. Understandably, many folks balk at the idea.
Finally, in 2000, some smarties in Switzerland published an article about poking a diabetic cat’s ear for blood testing, noting that the technique could be used at home. Yay!! Since then, more articles have been published and the Canadian Veterinary Association has even stated that home BG testing should be part of standard therapy.
Still, the blood-letting aspect of testing puts a lot of people off. It puts off more than a few cats, too, I’m sure. That’s why I watch with interest for non-invasive methods. A non-invasive BG monitor was approved by the FDA several years ago, but it obviously didn’t make a big splash or diabetics all around would be sporting the wristwatch-type gizmo.
So we’re still waiting. There’s one under development that clips to an earlobe (hey – we’re all familiar with ear-testing!). I think the new technology focuses on shooting light through the skin or something. Infrared? Near infrared? Do I care? Not really: I just want to know two things: When? And will my cat’s fur mess up the reading?
Perhaps the next fashion trend for diabetic cats will be the shaved ear. Oh, I’d do it. You bet I would. Could taking a razor to my cat be any harder than getting her to to pee in a cup?
*Note for Mary, who I know will read this: don’t worry, I’m not really looking for another job, just keeping an eye on the landscape, if you know what I mean.
