People aren't the only beings who experience diabetes: the trend has been growing among our furry friends, too.

Often, having to inflict pain--no matter how minor--upon someone you love is much more difficult than experiencing pain yourself. Good news: a new metering device can ease discomfort of, as well as more accurately track, the disease in your best pal.

From the Chicago Sun-Times:

Abbott Laboratories has its sights set on a furry four-legged market with a new product to more easily test blood-sugar levels in diabetic cats and dogs.

As many as one in every 200 dogs and one in every 400 cats are diabetic, according to Abbott. Pets with the disease typically require daily injections of insulin to metabolize dietary glucose.
"We see diabetes in cats and dogs and even in birds," said Susan Sallee, a veterinarian at Grayslake Animal Hospital in Grayslake that participated in an AlphaTRAK clinical trial. "It seems to be increasing in the pet population. Part of it, I think, is the lifestyle has been changing. We see more obesity in animals.

Getting the testing right is important. Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, is one of the biggest health risks facing diabetic pets, Sallee said. Determining a diabetic pet's blood-glucose profile is key to gauging the effects of insulin treatment, diet and exercise, she said.

The AlphaTRAK will be available to veterinarians and to pet owners through their veterinarians in March.