Insulin and glucose regulation.
Abnormally high or low blood glucose and insulin concentrations after standardized glucose tolerance tests can reflect disorders such as pituitary dysfunction, polysaccharide storage myopathies, and other clinical disorders. Glucose and insulin responses, however, are modified by the diet to which the animal has adapted, time since it was last fed, and what it was fed. Body fat (obesity), fitness level, physiologic status, and stress also alter glucose and insulin metabolism. Therefore, it is important to consider these factors when evaluating glucose and insulin tests, especially if only one sample it taken. This article describes the factors affecting glucose and insulin metabolism in horses and how they might influence the interpretation of standardized tests of glucose tolerance.
Ralston
Sarah L
SL
Department of Animal Science, Cook College, Rutgers--the State University of New Jersey, 84 Lipman Drive, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA. Ralston@aesop.rutgers.edu
D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology; D005951:Glucose Tolerance Test / Q000662:veterinary; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism*; D006736:Horses / Q000378:metabolism*; D007328:Insulin / Q000378:metabolism*
D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin