Diabetic polyphagic cat

Re: Diabetic polyphagic cat

Martin Atkinson — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 19:01:14 GMT

I think your cat is diabetic with a fructosamine that high but a glucose curve is necessary - can you teach the owners how to take a sample from the ear vein, lend them a glucometer vein and do it at home?, I have a couple of clients who are good at this, you will then get a more realistic curve and they can do more than 12 hours as well which is useful. Could well be a euthyroid sick syndrome which doesn't need treatment yet, but keep monitoring, get the UTI, DM and any other problems under control and start treatment once the T4 level gets to high normal but you will then have to revise your insulin dose. Don't go treating numbers too much, treat symptoms and don't worry about getting a perfect glucose curve for now so long as there is not an obvious over-dose situation. Sounds like a challenge and I thought I was the only one who had nothing but complicated cat DM cases.

Re: Diabetic polyphagic cat

listhestar — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 18:30:07 GMT

Hi guys

In answer:

Did fructosamine as well as spot glucose and came back above 550 I think

Urinalysis revealed bacterial infection- tx for infection and 2nd sample clear, glucose present, ketones neg, sl protein and some blood.

Biochem and haematology- from what I remember slight raised ALKP, haem nad.

Thyroid came back low but readable- cant remember the exact reading.

Heart rate is around the 180 mark but cat gets stressed travelling

Bcs around 4/10 I would say with slight plantigrade hindlimb stance.

ian- this cat smells of thyroid esp with its attitude- I was wondering if the UTI and the prev uncontrolled DM would be enough to drop a high T4 to a low one?

Cheers

Lisa

Re: Diabetic polyphagic cat

Louise6732 — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 18:17:22 GMT

Hi Lisa, here's my thoughts for what they're worth!

Have you done a fructosamine and urinalysis, even just a USG and dipstick, to check for glucosuria, UTIs etc?

Any D+? (Difficult to tell if cat toilets outside though!)

Checked what the owners are feeding, (seems so obvious but sometimes O' literally aren't feeding enough calories per day!)

When you say screened for diabetes, did you do haematology and biochem, or just a blood glucose?

What is HR in the clinic?

What is the cat's body condition score?

Louise

Re: Diabetic polyphagic cat

Ian Ross — Thu, 02 Aug 2012 18:14:12 GMT

Hi,

Was the T4 low or normal??

If normal/high normal and you still think hyperthyroid then it may be worth doing a Free T4? Did you diagnose diabetes on blood glucose or fructosamine?

Does sound as though behaviourally more hyperT4 - I would check that first.

Good luck!!

Ian