Diabetes Mellitus, Canine - contd.
The presence of the classic signs of diabetes usually prompts laboratory testing. The key diagnostic clues are high levels of glucose in the blood and in the urine. A more advanced and critical stage of diabetes is sometimes denoted by the presence of ketones in the urine. This complicated form of diabetes is called diabetic ketoacidosis.
The examining veterinarian may run tests, including a CBC, or complete blood count, a serum biochemical profile, and a urinalysis to rule out the possibility of other diseases that may cause signs similar to those seen in diabetes. In some cases, the initial test results may indicate the need to do more specific tests.
The veterinarian also may schedule in-hospital stays for the dog to allow for serial blood glucose checks every one to two hours over a 12 to 24 hour period. This series of tests is called a blood glucose curve, and ideally will provide information about the effectiveness of the insulin doses and how long each remains active. Depending upon the results of the tests, the examining veterinarian will adjust the insulin type, dose, and frequency of administration so that the dog's blood glucose level remains within a close-to-normal range over a 24-hour period.
