title: Intensive intravenous infusion of insulin in diabetic cats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Remission occurs in 10-50% of cats with diabetes mellitus (DM). It is assumed that intensive treatment improves β-cell function and increases remission rates.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Initial intravenous infusion of insulin that achieves tight glycemic control decreases subsequent insulin requirements and increases remission rate in diabetic cats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty cats with newly diagnosed DM.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective study. Cats were randomly assigned to one of 2 groups. Cats in group 1 (n = 15) received intravenous infusion of insulin with the goal of maintaining blood glucose concentrations at 90-180 mg/dL, for 6 days. Cats in group 2 (n = 15) received subcutaneous injections of insulin glargine (cats ≤4 kg: 0.5-1.0 IU, q12h; >4 kg 1.5-2.0 IU, q12h), for 6 days. Thereafter, all cats were treated with subcutaneous injections of insulin glargine and followed up for 6 months. Cats were considered in remission when euglycemia occurred for ≥4 weeks without the administration of insulin. Nonparametric tests were used for statistical analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In groups 1 and 2, remission was achieved in 10/15 and in 7/14 cats (P = .46), and good metabolic control was achieved in 3/5 and in 1/7 cats (P = .22), respectively. Overall, good metabolic control or remission occurred in 13/15 cats of group 1 and in 8/14 cats of group 2. In group 1, the median insulin dosage given during the 6-month follow-up was significantly lower than in group 2 (group 1: 0.32 IU/kg/day, group 2: 0.51 IU/kg/day; P = .013).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Initial intravenous infusion of insulin for tight glycemic control in cats with DM decreases insulin requirements during the subsequent 6 months.
authors.affiliation: Clinic for Small Animal Internal Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hafner
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dietiker-Moretti
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kaufmann
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mueller
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Lutz
authors.forename: C E
authors.initials: CE
authors.lastname: Reusch
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Zini
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002371:Cat Diseases / Q000188:drug therapy*; D002415:Cats; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000662:veterinary*; D005260:Female; D007262:Infusions, Intravenous / Q000379:methods / Q000662:veterinary; D007279:Injections, Subcutaneous / Q000662:veterinary; D007328:Insulin / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008297:Male; D012074:Remission Induction / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D007328:Insulin
keywords: Endocrinology; Feline; Hyperglycemia; Pancreas; Treatment