Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Diabetes and growth hormone problems in five cats
By Norman, E J & Mooney, C T·Published in Journal of feline medicine and surgery·2000·University of Glasgow Veterinary School, United Kingdom·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Diagnosis and management of diabetes mellitus in five cats with somatotrophic abnormalities.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
Five cats with signs of acromegaly, a condition caused by excess growth hormone, were studied to understand their diabetes management. Four of the cats had high levels of growth hormone, and three showed elevated insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), which helps confirm the diagnosis. While the cats exhibited typical symptoms of acromegaly, such as upper respiratory issues, managing their diabetes was possible even with high insulin doses. Although there isn't a definitive treatment for acromegaly, the cats were able to maintain good control of their diabetes symptoms over time.
People also search for: cat acromegaly symptoms · diabetes management in cats · insulin treatment for cat diabetes
Abstract
The clinical findings and management of five cats with abnormalities consistent with acromegaly were examined retrospectively. Growth hormone (GH) concentrations were elevated in four cats. In one, a minimal elevation of GH was accompanied by a marked elevation in insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1). Insulin-like growth factor-1 concentrations supported the diagnosis in three of four cats measured, but was not elevated initially in one cat, despite a markedly elevated GH concentration. These findings suggest that elevated IGF-1 concentrations are a reliable indicator of acromegaly, but that values within the reference range do not exclude such a diagnosis. Clinical signs of acromegaly were similar to those previously reported, although upper respiratory stridor occurred in one cat, and insulin-resistant diabetes mellitus was not a consistent feature. Despite the lack of a widely available definitive treatment for acromegaly, good control of the clinical signs of diabetes mellitus can be achieved for long periods despite high doses of insulin often being required.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11716617/