Effect of a homemade diet compared to a commercial diet on glycaemic variability and glycaemic control assessed by continuous glucose monitoring system in diabetic dogs: a randomised crossover study

Objectives To evaluate the effects of a homemade diet and a commercial diet on glycaemic control and glycaemic variability of diabetic dogs monitored with the FreeStyle Libre continuous glucose monitoring system. Materials and Methods Prospective randomised crossover study including ten client‐owned diabetic dogs on insulin treatment with good glycaemic control. Dogs were randomly assigned to receive either a moderate‐fibre (total dietary fibre: 2.2 g/100 kcal ME ) homemade diet or a high‐fibre (total dietary fibre: 4.8 g/100 kcal ME ) dry commercial diet in a 2 × 6‐week period. Dogs were re‐evaluated every 2 weeks. Clinical and clinicopathological variables, selected continuous glucose monitoring system‐derived and glycaemic variability metrics, glucose nadir and postprandial hyperglycaemia were recorded. Differences between diets were analysed by a repeated measure ANOVA fitting a crossover design with pairwise comparisons. Results There were no differences in insulin dose and glycaemic control levels between the two dietary periods. The homemade diet significantly reduced serum cholesterol concentration (mean difference: 76 mg/ dL ; 95% CI : −51.97 to 204 mg/ dL ). The percentage of time above glucose range was significantly lower (mean difference: −22.5%; 95% CI : −43.9% to −1.08%) and the percentage of time below range higher (mean difference: 6.9%; 95% CI : 1.38% to 12.4%) during the homemade diet period. The percentage of time in range and glycaemic variability metrics were not different between the two diets. Clinical Significance The homemade diet and commercial diet can be considered valid dietary options in diabetic dogs. The results suggest that, with regard to the diets examined, the homemade diet might have a more effective glucose‐lowering effect compared to the commercial diet.