To determine the correct dose of insulin for your dog, you will need to monitor your dog. Monitoring can be done both at home and at the veterinarian. We recommend both methods. Home monitoring can be done by several methods, depending on owner preference.

In at least the initial stages of diabetes, monitoring must be fairly frequent. If your dog is otherwise healthy, you do NOT need to have your dog hospitalized for monitoring and control of the diabetes.

If a dog's blood sugar gets too low (hypoglycemia) this can be dangerous. You'll learn to recognize the symptoms but you need to know how to treat hypoglycemia, too. For treatment, you will need a source of easily absorbed sugar. Most diabetic pet owners use Karo corn syrup, honey, or maple syrup. Always have these on hand. And be sure to read up on hypoglycemia.

Veterinarian Monitoring

1. Spot blood glucose test
2. Blood glucose curve
3. Fructosamine test
4. Glycosalated hemoglobin test

Home Monitoring

1. Observation of clinical signs (drinking & urinating)
2. Urine glucose testing
3. Spot blood glucose testing
4. Blood glucose curve

References:

BD Diabetes.com http://www.bddiabetes.com/us/

Wallace MS, Kirk CA. The diagnosis and treatment of insulin-dependent and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus in the dog and the cat. Probl Vet Med. 1990;2:573-90.