Blood glucose level as an insufficient indicator of feline diabetes mellitus: a case report

Abstract

In several European countries (e.g., Poland) blood glucose level is the main indicator of feline dia - betes mellitus. We describe a case of an adult domestic cat ( Felis catus) that exhibited no symptoms of diabetes except high glucose level in blood (≈200 mg/dl) that indicated a possibility of early stage of this disease. However, further investigations including serum fructosamine level determination, systematic urine monitoring as well as comparative analyses of glucose level in blood samples collected at the veterinary clinic and at home revealed that the cat was suffering from stress-induced hyperglycaemia brought on by the car ride and visit to the veterinary clinic. This case highlights the fact that determining blood glucose level alone is insufficient in feline diabetes mellitus diagnosis and can lead to unnecessary treatment with potential adverse effects on feline health.