Qualification Of A Veterinary Glucometer For Use In Yucatan Miniature Swine

By Megan M. Haney, Amanda Grimwood, Nicholas Foster, and Victoria Cupp

Over 537 million adults worldwide are living with diabetes mellitus, and this number is expected to increase to 643 million by 2030 and 783 million by 2045. Miniature Swine (MS) are commonly used in diabetes research, with diabetes typically induced chemically or surgically in these animals. While plasma glucose levels measured with automated analyzers are considered the gold standard for determining blood glucose (BG), real-time BG monitoring through handheld point-of-care glucometers is essential for making diagnostic decisions and capturing accurate data for research.

Glucometers are particularly advantageous due to their requirement for only a small blood sample and the rapid results they provide. Although human and veterinary glucometers are commercially available, none are specifically calibrated for use in swine. The glucometer model previously used at our facility was discontinued, creating a need for a new device. The objective was to identify a glucometer capable of accurately capturing real-time BG measurements in both diabetic and non-diabetic Yucatan swine.