From:
Steve Austin
Date: 2003-07-10 23:53:26 UTC
Subject: Fasting Blood Glucose Levels
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <20030710.195330.2136.4.kazpat1@juno.com>
Many times the ferret can have little or no symptoms because they have
adapted to
the low blood sugar. It is still insulinoma. If he is otherwise healthy
consider exploratory surgery,
if not surgical candidate- consider prednisone if the vet agrees, and
continue to monitor the blood sugar.
Make sure gets good meals, and add some protein to the diet with chicken
gravy recipee, or meat baby food.
An enlarged spleen is not so uncommon in older ferrets.
A normal range for a blood sugar is above 70, I think at 70 on a home
meter I would consider it
low and repeat, below 60 I have no question it is too low. I would
confirm with the blood
from the vet, but make sure it is either spun down right away or sent out
right away because
when blood sits in the tube and is not separated the blood glucose will
drop.
The home glucometers are set to read a tad bit lower than the actual
number because in humans
who are diabetics and use them they will take action sooner to a low
sugar and avoid insulin shock
or just becoming symptomatic from the low sugar by waiting too long.
Patty
ps. 20 is too low without symptoms, makes me think the blood sat a bit
before spun down and
separated the serum. Also, if you never got a normal value at home,
check your machine on another
ferret,and yourself to make sure it is working.
On Thu, 10 Jul 2003 21:58:57 +0100 (BST) cyprus4211@aol.com writes:
> We did a 4 hour fasting glucose, the vet said add 20. He has no
> symptoms of insulinoma though.
>
>
>
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