Diagnostic testing enables our team to pinpoint the underlying cause of your pet’s symptoms, diagnosing their condition(s). We want our pet parents to be involved in the decision-making process, and we thoroughly discuss the diagnostic testing we recommend for your pet and their diagnostic test results. Personalizing your pet’s diagnostic plan ensures we avoid unnecessary tests and procedures while leading us to a more personalized and effective treatment plan.

Diagnostic Overview

Glucose Curve

If your pet has diabetes, the blood glucose curve is a crucial tool in managing their condition effectively. This easy technique helps determine how well the insulin is working, allowing for the identification of the correct dose and frequency of administration. The goal is to keep your pet’s blood glucose levels within a specific range to minimize diabetes symptoms and complications. For most of the day, maintaining blood glucose levels between 100 and 250 mg/dL in dogs is optimal. So, how does a glucose curve work?

The process is straightforward and can be carried out with the guidance of your Pet Health veterinarian. First, on the scheduled day of your pet’s close curve, you’ll feed your pet and administer their insulin as usual at home. Next, you’ll drop your pet off at Pet Health for 4-8 hours of glucose measurements. Blood glucose levels are measured regularly during the glucose curve, usually every 1-2 hours. This allows for a comprehensive picture of how your pet’s body responds to insulin.

The glucose curve serves several essential purposes that aid in effective diabetes management:

Insulin Effectiveness: It helps determine how well the insulin works by assessing the maximum and minimum blood glucose levels. Ideally, these levels should fall within the range of 100 to 250 mg/dL.

Glucose Nadir (Lowest Level) Goal: The curve helps establish a target for the lowest blood glucose level, aiming for around 100-150 mg/dL.

Duration of Insulin Effectiveness: By analyzing the duration of insulin’s effectiveness, you and your vet can decide how often insulin injections should be administered.