The effect of interday variation and a short-term stressor on insulin sensitivity in clinically normal cats

Abstract

To determine whether there is a day-to-day variation in insulin sensitivity in cats, we subjected six clinically normal cats to four insulin-modified frequently sampled intravenous glucose tolerance tests (FSIVGTTs) over 7 days. The insulin-modified FSIVGTTs were analysed by the minimal model method. Minimal model insulin sensitivity (SI) averaged 2.9±0.4×10−4min−1/μU/ml (range 1.9–4.6×10−4min−1/μU/ml), with a mean interday coefficient of variation (CV) of 35.4±6.4% (range 12.8–58.5%). Glucose effectiveness (SG) averaged 0.029±0.002min−1(range 0.024–0.037min−1), and showed less interday variability with a mean CV of 24.7±4.3% (range 7.9–39.3%). Insulin sensitivity was also measured after a short-term stressor (5-min spray bath) of sufficient magnitude to elevate blood glucose levels. The mean insulin sensitivity after the stressor was 3.6±0.8×10−4min−1/μU/ml (range 1.6–7.3×10−4min−1/μU/ml), which was not significantly different to the mean insulin sensitivity before the short-term stressor (P=0.237). The mean glucose effectiveness after the stressor was 0.046±0.004min−1(range 0.032–0.057min−1), which was significantly different from mean glucose effectiveness before the short-term stressor (P=0.003). We conclude that insulin sensitivity is highly variable from day to day in normal cats, and that hyperglycaemia in response to short-term stressors is probably due to increased hepatic glucose production, rather than peripheral insulin resistance.