This article is sponsored content brought to you by Vepalabs.
A new, veterinary-specific continuous glucose monitor is available from Vepalabs. You no longer have to use human devices that are not fit for purpose.
Diabetic management in cats and dogs demands a lot of clinicians, nurses and owners. Spot blood-glucose curves disrupt patients, generate only a handful of data points, and rarely capture the overnight lows or post-prandial spikes that drive clinical decisions. Continuous glucose monitors are a welcome step forward—but until recently, every device was built for humans, not pets.
InSight Vet CGM from Vepa Labs has been designed and manufactured specifically for veterinary use. It delivers up to 14 days of continuous data—one reading every three minutes—via a dedicated app and cloud-based portal. The sensor is calibrated for canine and feline glucose ranges, and the software factors in species traits and metabolic variables. The result is a more comfortable patient experience, and data clinicians can trust when adjusting insulin protocols.
The difference is already being felt in practice. Australian Vet Dr Sophie Kershaw recently put the InSight CGM to work on a feline patient, Moose, and shared her observations.
“I have just finished using the InSight CGM for my cat Moose. It was fabulous and so much easier than the Freestyle Libre monitors I’ve used,” Dr Kershaw reports.
Her first observation was about the sensor itself. “The applicator is easier, with less of a hard ‘click’ down to apply—good for small cats. The CGM is also smaller, so it stayed on much better. It was more comfortable for Moose to wear, less area to shave, and sat on his dorsum better—especially helpful for smaller animals with smaller backs.”
It’s hardly surprising that adhesion and hair regrowth is a major issue when human CGMs are repurposed for other species. Humans, at least most of them, don’t tend to have that much hair all over their bodies. Dr Kershaw found the design of the Insight CGM much improved over its human alternative.
“The InSight CGM is very adhesive. I put one extra spot of tissue glue on, but much less than I usually use on the Freestyle, and when removing it I could tell it would have been fine without the glue. The extra adhesive covering was fantastic for peace of mind—previously I’ve tried other dressings over the Freestyle which haven’t worked so well.”
And the real value showed up in wear time. “I have previously only had 7 days as the maximum the Freestyle would stay on and give accurate readings. Usually by Day 7, I am getting incorrect hypoglycaemia episodes, likely due to dislodgement. With this CGM, I got 13 days of accurate information, and the readings correlated well to clinical signs. The daily report of average glucose levels is easy to read on the app.”
Removal was equally impressive. “It was no harder to remove than the Freestyle. There was only one small dot of red skin—which correlated to the tissue glue I’d applied. Without it, there wouldn’t have been any irritation.”
Dr Kershaw’s bottom line matters for any practice weighing cost versus benefit: “I was really pleased with this CGM and it is definitely worth the cost. You are getting almost double the amount of data—13 days versus an average of 7.”
For practices managing multiple diabetic patients, those extra days mean fewer sensor changes, and a more complete picture of what insulin is doing between consultations. Fewer false hypoglycaemia alarms also mean less owner anxiety and more confident clinical decisions.
InSight Vet CGM is available now in Australia through Vepa Labs. To secure special launch pricing, call 1300 837 252 or email orders@vepalabs.com.au.
You can also visit us at the AVA Conference, stand 33.
NB. Contrary to a circulating rumour, Vepa will NOT be running a “Hairiest human” competition. Please stop sending us your pics.
