Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Glargine versus regular insulin for treating diabetic ketoacidosis
By Zeugswetter, Florian K et al.·Published in Journal of veterinary emergency and critical care (San Antonio, Tex. : 2001)·2021·University Hospital for Small Animals of the University of Veterinary Medicine·View original on PubMed →
PetCaseFinder translated the abstract of this peer-reviewed paper into plain English so pet owners can read it. We do not publish original research — every detail traces back to the citation above. How we work →
Original publication title: Glargine versus regular insulin protocol in feline diabetic ketoacidosis.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of 20 cats with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) were treated with either a continuous rate infusion of regular insulin or a new method using glargine insulin. The cats treated with glargine showed quicker improvements in their blood sugar levels and were discharged from the hospital sooner than those on the standard treatment. Overall, 85% of the cats survived, and both treatments were found to be safe. This suggests that glargine insulin could be a simpler and effective option for managing DKA in cats.
People also search for: cat diabetic ketoacidosis treatment · glargine insulin for cats · cat blood sugar management
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To determine whether basal-bolus administration of glargine insulin is a safe and effective alternative treatment compared to the standard continuous rate infusion (CRI) protocol. DESIGN: Prospective randomized clinical trial. SETTING: University teaching hospital. ANIMALS: Twenty cats diagnosed with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). INTERVENTIONS: The cats were block-randomized to either a CRI protocol using regular insulin (CRI-group; n = 10) or a basal-bolus SC and IM glargine protocol (glargine-group, n = 10). Baseline blood gases, electrolytes, glucose, and β-hydroxybutyrate (β-OHB) concentrations were measured at the time of admission and later at predefined intervals until reaching the primary endpoint of the study, defined as a β-hydroxybutyrate concentration < 2.55 mmol/L. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The main outcome measure was time (h) to resolution of ketonemia. Secondary outcome measures were time until first improvement of hyperglycemia and ketonemia, decrease of glucose to ≤13.9 mmol/L (250 mg/dL), resolution of acidosis, consumption of first meal, and discharge from hospital. Additionally, occurrence of treatment-associated adverse events and death were compared. Seventeen cats (85%) survived to discharge, with no difference in survival between groups (P = 1.0). Median times to β-OHB < 2.55 mmol/L were 42 (CRI-group) and 30 (glargine-group) hours, respectively (P = 0.114). Median times to first improvement of hyperglycemia (glargine-group: 2 h; CRI-group: 6 h; P = 0.018) and until discharge from hospital (glargine-group: 140 h; CRI-group: 174 h; P = 0.033) were significantly shorter in the glargine-group. No significant differences were observed in any other parameter under investigation (P > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Basal-bolus administration of glargine insulin appears to be an effective and safe alternative to the current standard CRI-protocol for the management of DKA in cats. The positive outcomes and simplicity make it a viable option for the treatment of feline DKA.
Find similar cases for your pet
PetCaseFinder finds other peer-reviewed reports of pets with the same symptoms, plus a plain-English summary of what was tried across them.
Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33945208/