In cats with newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus, use of a near-euglycemic management paradigm improves remission rate over a traditional paradigm

Abstract

The object of this retrospective study was to compare the effect on remission rates of a near euglycemic paradigm (NEP) to a traditional paradigm (TP) of glycemic control in cats with newly diagnosed diabetes mellitus. Medical records of 54 cats with naïve diabetes mellitus managed with low carbohydrate, high protein prescription diets, and twice daily subcutaneous glargine insulin injections were reviewed. Cats were assigned to an NEP or TP group based on frequency of evaluation of blood glucose concentration and the criteria used to assess glycemic control. The two groups were compared with regard to the incidence of clinical and biochemical hypoglycemia and remission rates. Multiple logistic regression was used to evaluate the association between remission and independent variables. Fourteen of 18 cats (78%) in the NEP group achieved remission, whereas five of the 36 (14%) of the TP group achieved remission (p < 0.001). For the NEP group, biochemical hypoglycemia was noted in 8/18 (44%) and clinical hypoglycemia was documented in 2/18 (11%) of the cats. In the TP group, biochemical hypoglycemia was noted in 12/36 (33%) cats and 5/36 (14%) had clinical hypoglycemia. In conclusion, management of newly diagnosed diabetic cats using an NEP of glycemic control results in higher remission rates without an increased incidence of observed clinical or biochemical hypoglycemia. Although an NEP appears to have benefit it should be evaluated further with regard to its overall and long term effects on health and quality of life as well as its overall cost effectiveness.