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Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) records interstitial glucose, the fluid beneath the skin rather than blood, across several days. That multi-day trend can reveal patterns and possible low points (nadirs) that a single blood glucose curve may miss. It is one component of a patient-specific monitoring plan. It does not define diabetic control on its own, and it should not prompt unsupervised changes to insulin or feeding.
Feline and canine evidence are not interchangeable, so each section below states which species it covers.
What a CGM Adds to a Blood Glucose Curve
A blood glucose curve is a snapshot, usually taken across one clinic visit or one home day. A CGM extends that view over days. According to the 2026 American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA) feline glucose-monitoring section, CGM may help identify problems and gives a more complete picture of glucose control.
Because the sensor records life at home, its readings reflect meals, treats, and exercise. A notes feature can record meals, insulin doses, exercise, vomiting, and other events, so the veterinarian can interpret the curve against what actually happened. CGM may also be easier to place in less cooperative patients.
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FreeStyle Libre Wear Time: Why the Labels Differ
FreeStyle Libre is the CGM system named in current AAHA feline guidance and in the 2025 international feline consensus guideline from iCatCare. The two sources give different wear figures, and neither should be read as universal.
| Source | Device described | Reported readings | Reported wear period | What to note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AAHA feline glucose-monitoring section (2026) | FreeStyle Libre | Average interstitial glucose every 15 minutes | Up to 15 days | A description of the device, not a guarantee for every device generation or every attached sensor. |
| iCatCare feline consensus guideline (2025) | FreeStyle Libre | Not stated | Up to 14 days | Feline studies often recorded sensor lifespans shorter than the labeled maximum. |
Actual wear depends on the device generation, the labeling in your country, and whether the sensor stays attached. Labeling and available generations differ between countries, so confirm the version your clinic uses against local labeling and the manufacturer’s instructions for use. The wear figures above are feline guidance; they do not establish the same duration in dogs.
What the Canine Evidence Shows
The canine evidence is thinner and more variable than the feline guidance. The best-known prospective study was run at the University of Liverpool Small Animal Teaching Hospital and published in 2020. It enrolled 20 diabetic dogs and reported the following:
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- Flash-monitor Ambulatory Glucose Profile reports identified glucose nadirs in 34 of 43 reports (79%).
- Concordant nadirs were identified in 14 of 34 portable blood glucose curves (41%).
- Interstitial glucose curves from two consecutive home days showed almost absent concordance.
Treat these as results from one study of 20 dogs, not as accuracy or outcome rates. Sensor reports showed more nadirs than the portable curves, but the day-to-day disagreement means a single sensor day describes that day only.
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1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteAAHA’s 2026 dog guidance also cites an older review. In 53 canine diabetes cases (Briggs et al., 2000), only 60% of dogs classed as clinically well controlled had every glycemic assessment and glycated protein concentration consistent with good glycemic control.
Where CGM Fits in the Monitoring Plan
AAHA advises reading CGM data alongside the patient’s clinical signs and body weight. Glucose curves, CGM, and fructosamine are used as needed rather than in a fixed sequence.
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AAHA’s 2026 feline FAQ addresses continuous placement directly:
“Most patients do not need a CGM placed continuously, nor does the task force recommend this practice.”
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The guidance presents CGM as a way to collect data when it is medically necessary for the veterinarian to monitor or direct care.
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- ACCURATE READINGS: Exceeds the minimum acceptable accuracy criteria specified in ISO 15197:2013.
- BUILT SPECIFICALLY FOR YOUR DOG OR CAT. Better control over glucose levels may help minimize complication and avoid unn
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Attribution: American Animal Hospital Association, Diabetes Management Guidelines FAQs for Cats (2026).
Before a Sensor Goes On
AAHA advises explaining the planned clinical question and the intended monitoring period to caregivers before a sensor is applied. Settle these points with the clinic first:
- The clinical question the data should answer, such as whether lows occur or whether the daily pattern matches the current insulin schedule.
- How many days of wear are planned, who will review the readings, and when.
- Which meals, treats, insulin doses, exercise sessions, and vomiting episodes to log, and how to log them.
- How a low reading will be confirmed at home, and when to call the clinic.
- What to do if the sensor detaches (see the steps below).
- Placement technique. AAHA’s resource center links to educational material, including Purdue University instruction on applying and interpreting FreeStyle Libre in diabetic dogs and cats. Use it to prepare, not as a substitute for hands-on instruction from your clinic.
How to Handle a Low Reading
AAHA recommends training caregivers to confirm low readings before treatment is adjusted. Device readings can differ from a veterinary-calibrated portable blood glucose meter, and low-range readings call for particular caution.
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- Check the animal first. Look for signs of hypoglycemia such as weakness, trembling, disorientation, or collapse. If signs are present, follow any emergency plan your veterinarian has given you and contact the clinic immediately.
- Confirm when signs are absent. Test with the veterinary-calibrated portable blood glucose meter you were trained to use. AAHA emphasizes this step particularly when no signs of hypoglycemia are present.
- Record both values. Note the time, the sensor reading, the meter result, and any meal, insulin dose, or exercise.
- Do not adjust treatment on the sensor alone. Call the veterinary team with both readings and the log. Changes to insulin or feeding belong to the veterinarian.
What should I do if the CGM falls off?
Sensors can detach before the full wear period ends. AAHA advises caregivers to call the veterinary team. The steps below follow the measures AAHA lists as possible options when replacing or reinforcing a sensor.
- Call the veterinary team and report when the sensor came off. The time helps interpret the gap in data.
- Ask whether they want a replacement placed, and follow their timing.
- Clip the site before applying a new sensor.
- Remove skin oils, then let the skin dry fully.
- If the team agrees, consider an adhesive pad, an adhesive wipe, or tissue glue. These are possible aids, and none guarantees a full wear period.
- Keep the partial data. AAHA notes that even a few days of readings may be clinically informative.
How do we use fructosamine measurements now that we have CGMs?
Fructosamine is one input, requested when the clinical question calls for it and read alongside the rest of the picture. AAHA’s 2026 feline FAQ states that no single monitoring tool accurately characterizes control on its own. The guidance does not rank these tools or prescribe one fixed sequence, so the practical task is matching each test to the question at hand.
| Tool | What it measures | Where it helps | Limits noted in the guidance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portable blood glucose curve | Blood glucose at scheduled points across a clinic or home day | Shows the shape of a single day; the calibrated meter confirms low CGM readings | A limited curve may not capture trends, and nadirs between samples can be missed. |
| CGM | Interstitial glucose recorded across multiple days | Multi-day trends, home context, and event notes | Not a complete measure of control; wear time varies; detachment can cut data short. |
| Fructosamine | Glycated protein concentration | Used as needed alongside other tools; reflects glycemia over a longer window than a single curve or sensor trace | Not sufficient alone; interpret with clinical signs and body weight. |
Ask your veterinarian which of these tests answers the current question, and what result would change the plan.
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