Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Blood test differences in lean, overweight, obese, and diabetic cats
By Hoenig, Margarethe et al.·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2013·Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Evaluation of routine hematology profile results and fructosamine, thyroxine, insulin, and proinsulin concentrations in lean, overweight, obese, and diabetic cats.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A study looked at 117 cats, including healthy, overweight, obese, and diabetic ones, to see how their blood tests could indicate long-term blood sugar control. It found that diabetic cats had higher glucose and fructosamine levels compared to healthy cats, while insulin levels were highest in obese cats. Interestingly, many of the cats, regardless of their weight or diabetes status, had unlimited access to food. The researchers suggested that simply looking at blood tests might not help distinguish between healthy and at-risk cats, indicating a need for better dietary education for cat owners.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To compare results of hematologic testing in nondiabetic and diabetic cats to identify possible indicators of alterations in long-term glucose control. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. ANIMALS: 117 client-owned cats (76 nondiabetic cats [25 with normal body condition, 27 overweight, and 24 obese] and 41 naïve [n = 21] and treated [20] diabetic cats). PROCEDURES: Signalment and medical history, including data on feeding practices, were collected. A body condition score was assigned, and feline body mass index was calculated. Complete blood counts and serum biochemical analyses, including determination of fructosamine, thyroxine, insulin, and proinsulin concentrations, were performed. Urine samples were obtained and analyzed. RESULTS: Glucose and fructosamine concentrations were significantly higher in the naïve and treated diabetic cats than in the nondiabetic cats. Insulin and proinsulin concentrations were highest in the obese cats but had great individual variation. Few other variables were significantly different among cat groups. Most cats, even when obese or diabetic, had unlimited access to food. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results suggested that cats at risk of developing diabetes (ie, overweight and obese cats) could not be distinguished from cats with a normal body condition on the basis of results of isolated hematologic testing. A longitudinal study is indicated to follow nondiabetic cats over a period of several years to identify those that eventually develop diabetes. Findings also suggested that dietary education of cat owners might be inadequate.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24134581/