Frequency of diabetic remission, predictors of remission and survival in cats using a low-cost, moderate-intensity, home-monitoring protocol and twice-daily glargine.

Objectives: The aim of the present study was to retrospectively assess remission rates and survival in diabetic cats managed using a moderate-intensity, low-cost protocol of home blood glucose measurements and insulin adjustment by clients of a cat-only practice, and to determine if predictors of remission, relapse or survival could be identified.

Methods: The records of a cat-only practice were used to identify 174 cats with newly diagnosed diabetes managed using only pre-insulin home blood glucose measurements for insulin dose adjustments based on a protocol provided to clients aimed at maintaining pre-insulin blood glucose in the range of 6.5-11.

Measures of insulin sensitivity, leptin, and adiponectin concentrations in cats in diabetic remission compared to healthy control cats.

Objectives: Firstly, to compare differences in insulin, adiponectin, leptin, and measures of insulin sensitivity between diabetic cats in remission and healthy control cats, and determine whether these are predictors of diabetic relapse. Secondly, to determine if these hormones are associated with serum metabolites known to differ between groups. Thirdly, if any of the hormonal or identified metabolites are associated with measures of insulin sensitivity.

Cutpoints for screening blood glucose concentrations in healthy senior cats.

Objectives The objectives of this study were to determine the reference interval for screening blood glucose in senior cats, to apply this to a population of obese senior cats, to compare screening and fasting blood glucose, to assess whether screening blood glucose is predicted by breed, body weight, body condition score (BCS), behaviour score, fasting blood glucose and/or recent carbohydrate intake and to assess its robustness to changes in methodology. Methods The study included a total of 120 clinically healthy client-owned cats aged 8 years and older of varying breeds and BCSs. Blood glucose was measured at the beginning of the consultation from an ear/paw sample using a portable glucose meter calibrated for cats, and again after physical examination from a jugular sample.

Effect of acarbose on postprandial blood glucose concentrations in healthy cats fed low and high carbohydrate diets.

Objectives: Feeding a low carbohydrate diet is recommended for diabetic cats; however, some cats may require diets containing moderate-to-high carbohydrate and may benefit from the use of therapeutic agents to improve glycemic control. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of the α-glucosidase inhibitor acarbose on postprandial plasma glucose concentration when combined with commercially available feline diets high and low in carbohydrate.

Methods: Twelve healthy, adult, non-obese, neutered cats were enrolled.

Intramuscular glargine with or without concurrent subcutaneous administration for treatment of feline diabetic ketoacidosis.

Objective: To describe treatment response and outcome in 15 cats with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) initially stabilized with glargine administered intramuscularly (IM) with or without subcutaneous (SC) glargine.

Materials And Methods: Fifteen cats diagnosed with DKA were initially administered IM glargine (1-2 U) and in most cats (12/15 cats) this was combined with SC glargine (1-3 U). This was followed by intermittent IM glargine as required at intervals of 2 or more hours (range 2-22 h) and SC glargine (1-2 U) every 12 hours.

Diabetic ketoacidosis and hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state in cats.

Diabetic ketoacidosis and hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state are 2 potentially life-threatening presentations of feline diabetes mellitus. Presentations range from mildly anorexic cats with diabetic ketoacidosis to comatose cats with diabetic ketoacidosis or hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state. Such cases are the result of severe insulin deficiency and/or concurrent disease, resulting in nausea and vomiting, electrolyte and water losses, acidosis, and circulatory collapse.

Diabetes and the kidney in human and veterinary medicine.

Diabetic nephropathy is a well-recognized clinical consequence of both type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus in humans. Major risk factors include poor glycemic control, hypertension, and microalbuminuria, as well as genetic factors. In both type 1 and 2 diabetics with nephropathy, structural changes occur in the kidneys before overt clinical disease.

Management of diabetic cats with long-acting insulin.

This article provides an overview of the most important information regarding the long-acting insulins glargine, detemir, and protamine zinc insulin in diabetic cats. Dosing protocols are described in detail, which achieve high remission rates and optimal glycemic control. Complications and factors that typically cause insulin resistance are also examined.

Remission in cats: including predictors and risk factors.

This article summarizes current literature on diabetic remission in cats. Treatment options for diabetes mellitus are reviewed to highlight which protocols are most effective in achieving remission, as well as the importance of understanding the underlying pathophysiology that contributes to remission. In addition, current research into the glucose tolerance status of cats in diabetic remission and rates of relapse are discussed.

The role of diet in the prevention and management of feline diabetes.

This article reviews the currently available evidence and focuses on how diet may play a role in lowering (or increasing) the risk of diabetes. The article also reviews the role of diet in treatment of diabetes. To the extent that it exists, evidence from published studies are cited; however, in areas where research evidence is lacking, clinical experience and physiologic principles are used as important sources of guidance.

Pathogenesis of feline diabetes.

Diabetes mellitus is the result of inadequate insulin secretion. In cats this is often associated with conditions that reduce insulin sensitivity and increase the requirement for insulin secretion. Obesity, and acromegaly, and pancreatitis are common predisposing causes of diabetes in cats.

Potential predictive biomarkers of obesity in Burmese cats.

Australian Burmese cats are predisposed to diabetes mellitus and, compared to other breeds, have delayed triglyceride clearance that may result in subtle changes within cells and tissues that trigger specific alterations in gene expression within peripheral blood leucocytes (PBLs). Expression of genes involved in energy metabolism (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and malate dehydrogenase), lipogenesis (ATP citrate lyase [ACL], fatty acid synthase [FAS] and sterol regulatory binding protein-1c [SREBP-1c]), and insulin signalling (insulin receptor substrates 1 and 2, and phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase), as well as cholesterol lipoprotein subfraction profiling were carried out on PBLs from lean Burmese cats and compared with similar profiles of age and gender matched lean and obese Australian domestic shorthaired cats (DSHs) in an attempt to identify possible biomarkers for assessing obesity. For the majority of the genes examined, the lean Burmese cats demonstrated similar PBL gene expression patterns as age and gender matched obese Australian DSH cats.

Postprandial glycaemia in cats fed a moderate carbohydrate meal persists for a median of 12 hours--female cats have higher peak glucose concentrations.

The postprandial increase in glucose concentration is typically not considered in selecting diets to manage diabetic and pre-diabetic cats. This study describes increases in glucose and insulin concentrations in 24 clinically healthy, neutered adult cats following one meal (59 kcal/kg) of a moderate carbohydrate diet (25% of energy). Median time to return to baseline after feeding for glucose was 12.

Comparison of early socialization practices used for litters of small-scale registered dog breeders and nonregistered dog breeders.

OBJECTIVE-To compare early socialization practices between litters of breeders registered with the Canine Control Council (CCC) and litters of nonregistered breeders advertising puppies for sale in a local newspaper. DESIGN-Retrospective cohort study. Animals-80 litters of purebred and mixed-breed dogs from registered (n = 40) and non-registered (40) breeders.

Adiponectin profiles are affected by chronic and acute changes in carbohydrate intake in healthy cats.

Adiponectin is a key adipokine that regulates carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. It circulates in stable low (LMW) and high molecular weight (HMW) forms. The aims of this study were to characterize baseline adiponectin profiles (total, LMW and HMW multimers) in healthy cats and to assess the effects of varying dietary carbohydrate content on adiponectin profiles.

Evaluation of beta-cell sensitivity to glucose and first-phase insulin secretion in obese dogs.

Objective: To compare beta-cell sensitivity to glucose, first-phase insulin secretion, and glucose tolerance between dogs with naturally occurring obesity of > 2 years' duration and lean dogs.

Animals: 17 client-owned obese or lean dogs.

Procedures: Frequently sampled IV glucose tolerance tests were performed with minimal model analysis on 6 obese dogs and matched controls.

Use of a meal challenge test to estimate peak postprandial triglyceride concentrations in dogs.

Objective: To develop a standardized meal challenge test by assessing associations between food-withheld preprandial (ie, fasting) and postprandial triglyceride concentrations, determining the most appropriate sampling time to detect the peak concentration (highest postprandial concentration), and estimating reference intervals for fasting and postprandial concentrations in healthy dogs.

Animals: 12 lean healthy mixed-breed dogs.

Procedures: Dogs were fed a dry commercially available diet (fat, 31% metabolizable energy) for 3 weeks.

Changes in blood glucose concentration are associated with relatively rapid changes in circulating fructosamine concentrations in cats.

The aim of the study was to determine the time required for plasma fructosamine concentration to increase after the onset of hyperglycaemia and decrease after resolution of hyperglycaemia. Healthy cats (n=14) were infused to maintain either moderate hyperglycaemia (n=5) (actual mean glucose 17 mmol/l) or marked hyperglycaemia (n=9) (actual 29 mmol/l) for 42 days. Fructosamine exceeded the upper limit of the reference range (331 micromol/l) after 3-5 days of marked hyperglycaemia, took 20 days to plateau and, after cessation of infusion, took 5 days to return to baseline.

Insulin glargine has a long duration of effect following administration either once daily or twice daily in divided doses in healthy cats.

The pharmacological effects of glargine administered once or twice daily were compared in six healthy cats. A two-way crossover study was performed with insulin and glucose concentrations measured following subcutaneous administration of glargine once daily (0.5 U/kg) or twice daily (0.

Diabetes mellitus in cats.

Feline diabetes is a multifactorial disease with genetic and environmental factors, including diet, excess body weight, and physical inactivity, involved in its pathogenesis. Although type 2 diabetes is most common in cats, most cats are insulin-dependent at the time of diagnosis. If good glycemic control can be achieved early after diagnosis, a substantial proportion of diabetic cats go into clinical remission.

Canine and feline diabetes mellitus: nature or nurture?

There is evidence for the role of genetic and environmental factors in feline and canine diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes in cats. Evidence for genetic factors in feline diabetes includes the overrepresentation of Burmese cats with diabetes.

Evaluation of day-to-day variability of serial blood glucose concentration curves in diabetic dogs.

Objective: To evaluate day-to-day variability of serial blood glucose concentration curves in dogs with diabetes mellitus.

Design: Prospective clinical study.

Animals: 10 dogs with diabetes mellitus.