Description of Sensor Placement for Continuous Glucose Monitoring in a Pig Model of Diabetes Mellitus

Porcine models can potentially bridge the gap between basic studies and clinical trials in humans due to their homologous similarities; the pig model aids in understanding the pathophysiology of diabetes. Continuous glucose monitoring is crucial for precise insulin control in this disease. Although the use of glucose sensors has been described in the literature, details relating to placement of the sensor are not provided. Hence, we describe here, in detail, the insertion, placement, and fixation of the sensor for continuous glucose level monitoring and its use in diabetes mellitus studies in swine. Four male minipigs, weighing 15 to 22 kg and aged 10 mo, were used and underwent induction of diabetes using streptozotocin. The sensors were placed on the 4 pigs to enable continuous glucose monitoring throughout the study (35 d), with sensor changes every 7 d. The results obtained allow us to consistently track changes in glucose. In conclusion, this article highlights the methodology’s effectiveness and reinforces its practical applicability in obtaining reliable results for analyzing trends in interstitial glucose levels, thus further optimizing the swine model for diabetes research.