Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Diabetes in cats in Germany - symptoms and treatment practices
By Guse, Bente et al.·Published in Journal of feline medicine and surgery·2025·Clinic for Small Animals (Internal Medicine, Germany·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Signalment, clinicopathological findings, management practices and comorbidities in cats with diabetes mellitus in Germany: cross-sectional study of 144 cases.
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
A group of 144 cats diagnosed with diabetes mellitus (DM) in Germany showed that many were poorly controlled, with 84% receiving insulin treatment, primarily protamine zinc insulin. Most of these cats were around 11 years old, with many being overweight. Testing revealed that some had additional health issues, such as increased insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), which can indicate other complications. The study suggests that monitoring for these additional conditions is important, as nearly a quarter of the diabetic cats might need extra vitamin B12 (cobalamin) to help manage their diabetes effectively.
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to describe signalment, clinicopathological findings, management practices and the occurrence of comorbidities in feline diabetes mellitus (DM) in Germany. METHODS: This was a cross-sectional study using questionnaires and laboratory submissions to a commercial laboratory, Antech Lab Germany, between May 2021 and July 2022. Inclusion criteria were diagnosis of DM by the attending veterinarian and submission of a completed questionnaire besides blood samples. Laboratory testing included haematology, serum biochemistry, concentration of total thyroxine (TT4), insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1), cobalamin (COB), fructosamine, b-hydroxybutyrate and DGGR (1,2--dilauryl--glycero-3-glutaric acid-[6'-methylresorufin] ester) lipase activity. Data are presented as the median (range) and analysed by non-parametric tests. <0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS: The median (range) age of the 144 diabetic cats at diagnosis was 11 years (0.9-18.7), 66.4% were male, 84.6% were domestic shorthair, 50.4% were currently overweight and 61.5% were previously overweight (body condition score >5/9). Most cats were treated with insulin (84%), most commonly protamine zinc insulin (57.5%). Blood glucose curves or continuous glucose monitoring alone or in combination with other methods were performed to adjust insulin therapy in 70.6% of cats. Based on questionnaires, 78.6% were poorly controlled and 21.4% were well controlled. Increased TT4 occurred in 3/139 and hyperthyroidism was known in 5/139 cats (frequency of known/suspected hyperthyroidism: 5.8% [n = 8/139]); 17.5% (n = 17/97) had increased IGF-1 (IGF-1 >746 ng/ml, cut-off for hypersomatotropism with the chemiluminescence assay used in this study); 24.5% (n = 34/139) had COB <295.2 pmol/l and 54.2% (n = 78/144) had increased DGGR. Cats with IGF-1 >746 ng/ml were receiving a higher insulin dose than cats with IGF-1 ≤746 ng/ml (median 1.63 vs 0.86 U/kg/day, = 0.018). CONCLUSION AND RELEVANCE: Increased DGGR and increased IGF-1 indicating hypersomatotropism are common in diabetic cats and should be tested for. Almost one-quarter of diabetic cats might require COB supplementation.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39772828/