From:
Bruce Williams, DVM
Date: 2001-03-22 07:58:00 UTC
Subject: Re: help-insulinoma to diabetes
Dear Claudia -
This is an unusual scenario, although we have seen other cases in the
past - usually when ferrets were administered high levels of pred and
proglycem. I am not sure what impact the dexamethasone had in this
case. One possibility is that there may be an impact of other
hormones from the pancreas (glucagon) or an adrenal tumor (cortisol)
in this case that are increasing the BG in spite of insulin
secretion, although this would be very rare. I've worked up a number
of islet cell tumors in diabetic animals for glucagon secretion, but
yet to find one. (plus the BG on these animals did not come down
following removal of the tumor in these cases, as would be
expected). But we do see glucagonoma in other species, so it would
not be surprising to come up with one in ferrets. The key is to
identify the hormone with a special test, which has not been done in
the ones "reported" in the literature.
Regarding the increased liver enzymes - they are not yet even in the
interesting range. 600 may be seen in ferrets on long-term steroids
or simply in those who are not eating well or regularly. AS your
ferret falls into both categories, I would be surprised if the
enzymes were NOT at this level.
Finally, in the cases of the proposed drug-induced diabetes,
removalof the drugs, or marked readjustment of the dosages were
largely successful in ameliorating the diabetic state.
With kindest regards,
Bruce H. Williams, DVM, DACVP
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