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Strange changes in blood glucose level
My cat Al is diabetic.
A week ago last Monday I took Al to the vet for a teeth cleaning. After coming home, Al was lethargic and his appetite steadily diminished to the point where I couldn't give him his insulin. I took him back to the vet last Saturday and he was admitted to the hospital where he remains. The diagnosis is pancreatitis. The doctors did an ultrasound and they noticed a cyst on his pancreas, but the doctor believes it's benign. Al has responded well to treatment and is once again eating. But there's something very strange going on with Al's blood glucose level (bgl). The vet has him on a dextrose drip. But Al's bgl drops markedly when he's taken off the drip. The vet said there is the possibility that the cyst is in fact malignant and actually be a "functional" in the sense that it causes production of insulin. At this point the vet is somewhat at a loss to explain this phenomenon. Tonight or tomorrow Al will start getting prednisone. Apparently it interferes with cell absorption of glucose and so the expectation is that Al's bgl will increase. Of course then we're back to using insulin to manage the diabetes. At this point my biggest fear is that Al has cancer and that I'll have to put him down, something for which I'm definitely not ready (is one every ready?). Al is 13 and still could live for several years. I'd appreciate some feedback on this one. Thanks and keep your fingers crossed for my little buddy. Richard |
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snip
The vet has him on a dextrose drip. But Al's bgl drops markedly when he's taken off the drip. The vet said there is the possibility that the cyst is in fact malignant and actually be a "functional" in the sense that it causes production of insulin. At this point the vet is somewhat at a loss to explain this phenomenon. There is a condition that happens frequently in ferrets called insulinoma which is similar in that small tumors occur on the pancreas and cause it to go into overdrive producing insulin, which puts the ferret into a hypoglycemic state. This condition is treated with a prednisone syrup (ferrets are hard to pill.) Tonight or tomorrow Al will start getting prednisone. Apparently it interferes with cell absorption of glucose and so the expectation is that Al's bgl will increase. Of course then we're back to using insulin to manage the diabetes. If the tumor is benign and your cats BG isn't going too low, I would be inclined to leave things as is if it keeps your cat in a non-diabetic state. It would be wise to use a glucose monitor and check your cats BG levels at home maybe twice a week in case the tumor grows larger and causes the pancreas to produce increasing amounts of insulin. If your cats BG levels are going too low, you should be able to tweak the dose of prednisone just enough to inhibit insulin production without bringing your cat back to a diabetic state. This is exactly the course of action taken when treating insulinoma. Megan "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." -Edmund Burke Learn The TRUTH About Declawing http://www.stopdeclaw.com Zuzu's Cats Photo Album: http://www.PictureTrail.com/zuzu22 "Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way." - W.H. Murray |
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snip
The vet has him on a dextrose drip. But Al's bgl drops markedly when he's taken off the drip. The vet said there is the possibility that the cyst is in fact malignant and actually be a "functional" in the sense that it causes production of insulin. At this point the vet is somewhat at a loss to explain this phenomenon. There is a condition that happens frequently in ferrets called insulinoma which is similar in that small tumors occur on the pancreas and cause it to go into overdrive producing insulin, which puts the ferret into a hypoglycemic state. This condition is treated with a prednisone syrup (ferrets are hard to pill.) Tonight or tomorrow Al will start getting prednisone. Apparently it interferes with cell absorption of glucose and so the expectation is that Al's bgl will increase. Of course then we're back to using insulin to manage the diabetes. If the tumor is benign and your cats BG isn't going too low, I would be inclined to leave things as is if it keeps your cat in a non-diabetic state. It would be wise to use a glucose monitor and check your cats BG levels at home maybe twice a week in case the tumor grows larger and causes the pancreas to produce increasing amounts of insulin. If your cats BG levels are going too low, you should be able to tweak the dose of prednisone just enough to inhibit insulin production without bringing your cat back to a diabetic state. This is exactly the course of action taken when treating insulinoma. Megan "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." -Edmund Burke Learn The TRUTH About Declawing http://www.stopdeclaw.com Zuzu's Cats Photo Album: http://www.PictureTrail.com/zuzu22 "Concerning all acts of initiative (and creation), there is one elementary truth the ignorance of which kills countless ideas and splendid plans: that the moment one definitely commits oneself, then providence moves too. A whole stream of events issues from the decision, raising in one's favor all manner of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, which no man could have dreamt would have come his way." - W.H. Murray |
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Laura R. wrote:
circa Wed, 17 Dec 2003 01:55:38 GMT, in rec.pets.cats.health+behav, Newsman ) said, At this point my biggest fear is that Al has cancer and that I'll have to put him down, something for which I'm definitely not ready (is one every ready?). Al is 13 and still could live for several years. I'd appreciate some feedback on this one. Thanks and keep your fingers crossed for my little buddy. Cancer is not necessarily a death sentence. Wait and see what it turns out to be, and if it *is* cancer, talk to a veterinary oncologist. Where are you located (approximately)? Laura Washington, DC (exactly). I go to Friendship Animal Hospital (www.friendshiphospital.com) and it's excellent. Richard |
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Laura R. wrote:
circa Wed, 17 Dec 2003 01:55:38 GMT, in rec.pets.cats.health+behav, Newsman ) said, At this point my biggest fear is that Al has cancer and that I'll have to put him down, something for which I'm definitely not ready (is one every ready?). Al is 13 and still could live for several years. I'd appreciate some feedback on this one. Thanks and keep your fingers crossed for my little buddy. Cancer is not necessarily a death sentence. Wait and see what it turns out to be, and if it *is* cancer, talk to a veterinary oncologist. Where are you located (approximately)? Laura Washington, DC (exactly). I go to Friendship Animal Hospital (www.friendshiphospital.com) and it's excellent. Richard |
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