From:
CandiceBush@aol.com
Date: 2001-10-18 06:55:00 UTC
Subject: Update on Brutus/Diabetes/ Vet advice?
Brutus is my previously insulinomic ferret, 7 months post pancreas surgery,
18 months post 1 1/2 adrenalectomy. Was on lupron, pred 1.5 mg twice daily,
carafate, three weeks after starting melatonin developed high glucose
(500-600+). All meds have been weaned off. Labs are back.
Insulin levels low at 4.3 (normal is above 10)
WBC 2.0 (low)
Hct slightly low
K+ slightly low
Alt slightly elevated
Glucagon level judged "not indicated" because of low insulin level
Blood glucose was 500
At this point blood glucose, (which I check daily from a relatively painless
toe-pad stick using a Freestyle Monitor) is now running 240-400, still
drinking a lot and urinating copiously but looks pretty good. My vet and I
discussed starting insulin, but in view of the generally decreasing blood
glucose decided it may be safer to just monitor for a while and see if the
problem resolves on it's own. It seems risky to start insulin and risk an
insulin coma if his glucose bottoms out. If the glucose stays up, we will
start NPH insulin at 0.1 U twice a day and titrate to try to keep his glucose
about 200 dl/ml.
Pam, who has been through this, and the FHL archives have been very helpful.
Does anyone else have comments/suggestiosn?
cb