Treatment of Feline Diabetes with Diet and Insulin

Hall, T. D., O. Mahony, et al. (2009). "Effects of diet on glucose control in cats with diabetes mellitus treated with twice daily insulin glargine." Journal of Feline Medicine & Surgery 11(2): 125-130.

Diabetes mellitus is a common feline disease and is treated with a combination of dietary therapy and insulin. Insulin glargine (Lantus, Sanofi-Aventis) is a long-acting recombinant human insulin that is frequently used to treat diabetic cats. The purpose of this study, from Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, was to compare a low carbohydrate/high protein (LCHP) diet to a non-prescription control diet in diabetic cats receiving insulin glargine twice daily. Over the 10-week trial, 6 cats were given the LCHP diet (DM Dietetic Management Feline Formula dry & canned, Nestle Purina) and 6 cats were given control diets (Pro Plan Adult Cat total Care Chicken and Rice dry, Nestle Purina and Friskies Special Diet Turkey & Giblets Dinner canned, Nestle Purina). Re-evaluations (blood glucose curves, serum fructosamine, and assessment of clinical signs) were performed at weeks 1, 2, 4, 6, and 10. Using insulin glargine twice daily and frequent monitoring, all cats in both groups did well. The main difference between the two groups was that the cats fed the LCHP diet had significantly lower serum fructosamine levels compared to the cats on the control diets. The clinical significance of this is unknown as all cats in both diet groups achieved good glycemic control. [SL]
>> PubMed Abstract

Related articles:
Marshall, R. D., J. S. Rand, et al. (2008). "Glargine and protamine zinc insulin have a longer duration of action and result in lower mean daily glucose concentrations than lente insulin in healthy cats." J Vet Pharmacol Ther 31(3): 205-212.
>> PubMed Abstract

Rios, L. and C. Ward (2008). "Feline diabetes mellitus: diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring." Compend Contin Educ Vet 30(12): 626-39; quiz 639-40.
>> PubMed Abstract

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Hall, T. D., O. Mahony, et al. (2009). "Effects of diet on glucose control in cats with diabetes mellitus treated with twice daily insulin glargine." Journal of Feline Medicine & Surgery 11(2): 125-130.

Diabetes mellitus is a common feline disease and is treated with a combination of dietary therapy and insulin. Insulin glargine (Lantus, Sanofi-Aventis) is a long-acting recombinant human insulin that is frequently used to treat diabetic cats. The purpose of this study, from Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, was to compare a low carbohydrate/high protein (LCHP) diet to a non-prescription control diet in diabetic cats receiving insulin glargine twice daily. Over the 10-week trial, 6 cats were given the LCHP diet (DM Dietetic Management Feline Formula dry & canned, Nestle Purina) and 6 cats were given control diets (Pro Plan Adult Cat total Care Chicken and Rice dry, Nestle Purina and Friskies Special Diet Turkey & Giblets Dinner canned, Nestle Purina). Re-evaluations (blood glucose curves, serum fructosamine, and assessment of clinical signs) were performed at weeks 1, 2, 4, 6, and 10. Using insulin glargine twice daily and frequent monitoring, all cats in both groups did well. The main difference between the two groups was that the cats fed the LCHP diet had significantly lower serum fructosamine levels compared to the cats on the control diets. The clinical significance of this is unknown as all cats in both diet groups achieved good glycemic control. [SL]
>> PubMed Abstract

Related articles:
Marshall, R. D., J. S. Rand, et al. (2008). "Glargine and protamine zinc insulin have a longer duration of action and result in lower mean daily glucose concentrations than lente insulin in healthy cats." J Vet Pharmacol Ther 31(3): 205-212.
>> PubMed Abstract

Rios, L. and C. Ward (2008). "Feline diabetes mellitus: diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring." Compend Contin Educ Vet 30(12): 626-39; quiz 639-40.
>> PubMed Abstract

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Feline Papillomavirus

Munday, J. S., L. Howe, et al. (2008). "Detection of papillomaviral DNA sequences in a feline oral squamous cell carcinoma." Res Vet Sci 86(2): 359-361.

Oral squamous cell carcinomas constitute 7.5% of all feline cancers, and often lead to death in affected cats. In humans, these tumors are associated with papillomavirus in about 25% of the cases. To investigate the association of papillomavirus with feline oral tumors, 40 oral lesions (20 cancerous, 20 non-cancerous) were examined for viral DNA. Papillomaviral DNA was detected in one oral tumor, but not in any non-cancerous lesion. Finding viral DNA in only one tumor did not indicate a causal relationship. The finding of viral DNA does however indicate additional research into the carcinogenic potential of these viruses in cats is warranted; the carcinogenic potential of papillomaviruses in general and the finding here of viral DNA in a feline oral tumor hints at a possible role. [MK]
>> PubMed Abstract

Related articles:
Munday, J. S., M. Kiupel, et al. (2007). "Detection of papillomaviral sequences in feline Bowenoid in situ carcinoma using consensus primers." Vet Dermatol 18(4): 241-5.
>> PubMed Abstract

Sundberg, J., M. Van Ranst, et al. (2000). "Feline papillomas and papillomaviruses." Vet Pathol 37(1): 1-10.
>> PubMed Abstact

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Munday, J. S., L. Howe, et al. (2008). "Detection of papillomaviral DNA sequences in a feline oral squamous cell carcinoma." Res Vet Sci 86(2): 359-361.

Oral squamous cell carcinomas constitute 7.5% of all feline cancers, and often lead to death in affected cats. In humans, these tumors are associated with papillomavirus in about 25% of the cases. To investigate the association of papillomavirus with feline oral tumors, 40 oral lesions (20 cancerous, 20 non-cancerous) were examined for viral DNA. Papillomaviral DNA was detected in one oral tumor, but not in any non-cancerous lesion. Finding viral DNA in only one tumor did not indicate a causal relationship. The finding of viral DNA does however indicate additional research into the carcinogenic potential of these viruses in cats is warranted; the carcinogenic potential of papillomaviruses in general and the finding here of viral DNA in a feline oral tumor hints at a possible role. [MK]
>> PubMed Abstract

Related articles:
Munday, J. S., M. Kiupel, et al. (2007). "Detection of papillomaviral sequences in feline Bowenoid in situ carcinoma using consensus primers." Vet Dermatol 18(4): 241-5.
>> PubMed Abstract

Sundberg, J., M. Van Ranst, et al. (2000). "Feline papillomas and papillomaviruses." Vet Pathol 37(1): 1-10.
>> PubMed Abstact

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Vitamin B12 Deficiency in Cats

Barron, P. M., J. T. Mackie, et al. (2009). "Serum cobalamin concentrations in healthy cats and cats with non-alimentary tract illness in Australia." Aust Vet J 87(7): 280-283.

The objective of this study was to determine a reference range for serum cobalamin (vitamin B12) concentration in healthy cats in Australia and prospectively investigate the prevalence of hypocobalaminemia in cats with non-alimentary tract disease. Blood samples were collected from 50 healthy cats and 47 cats with non-alimentary tract illness, and serum blood cobalamin concentrations were determined for each group. Cobalamin is a cofactor for several mammalian enzymatic reactions necessary for normal cellular function. Cats with low cobalamin levels have significant metabolic disturbances and clinical research into feline hypocobalaminemia has mostly involved cats with gastrointestinal disease. The reference range in the 50 clinically healthy cats was 345 to 3668 pb/mL. The median serum cobalamin concentration in the 47 cats with non-alimentary tract illness was not significantly different than the median concentration in the healthy cat group. The results indicate that hypocobalaminemia is uncommon in sick cats with non-alimentary tract illness in Australia, though its occurrence in this study still warrants further investigation. [VT]
>> PubMed Abstract

Related articles:
Ibarrola, P., L. Blackwood, et al. (2005). "Hypocobalaminaemia is uncommon in cats in the United Kingdom." J Fel Med Surg 7(6): 341-348.
>> PubMed Abstract

Ruaux, C., J. Steiner, et al. (2005). "Early biochemical and clinical responses to cobalamin supplementation in cats with signs of gastrointestinal disease and severe hypocobalaminemia." J Vet Intern Med 19(2): 155-160.
>> PubMed Abstract

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Barron, P. M., J. T. Mackie, et al. (2009). "Serum cobalamin concentrations in healthy cats and cats with non-alimentary tract illness in Australia." Aust Vet J 87(7): 280-283.

The objective of this study was to determine a reference range for serum cobalamin (vitamin B12) concentration in healthy cats in Australia and prospectively investigate the prevalence of hypocobalaminemia in cats with non-alimentary tract disease. Blood samples were collected from 50 healthy cats and 47 cats with non-alimentary tract illness, and serum blood cobalamin concentrations were determined for each group. Cobalamin is a cofactor for several mammalian enzymatic reactions necessary for normal cellular function. Cats with low cobalamin levels have significant metabolic disturbances and clinical research into feline hypocobalaminemia has mostly involved cats with gastrointestinal disease. The reference range in the 50 clinically healthy cats was 345 to 3668 pb/mL. The median serum cobalamin concentration in the 47 cats with non-alimentary tract illness was not significantly different than the median concentration in the healthy cat group. The results indicate that hypocobalaminemia is uncommon in sick cats with non-alimentary tract illness in Australia, though its occurrence in this study still warrants further investigation. [VT]
>> PubMed Abstract

Related articles:
Ibarrola, P., L. Blackwood, et al. (2005). "Hypocobalaminaemia is uncommon in cats in the United Kingdom." J Fel Med Surg 7(6): 341-348.
>> PubMed Abstract

Ruaux, C., J. Steiner, et al. (2005). "Early biochemical and clinical responses to cobalamin supplementation in cats with signs of gastrointestinal disease and severe hypocobalaminemia." J Vet Intern Med 19(2): 155-160.
>> PubMed Abstract

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library
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