UGA: CLINICAL TRIAL FOR DIABETIC CATS

From the University of Georgia

College of Veterinary Medicine:

UGA Veterinary Teaching Hospital

Clinical Trial Announcement

Study to determine the appearance of the pancreas in diabetic cats using computed tomography (CT) imaging. What we are looking for: Diabetic cats of any age, breed or sex that have been diagnosed with diabetes for at least one year (12 months) and are currently receiving insulin injections (once or twice daily).

About the study: Diabetes mellitus is an endocrine disease that is becoming increasingly common in cats. A large number of diabetic cats may go into remission after diagnosis and not require lifelong insulin therapy for control of their disease. Currently, there is no diagnostic test that can predict which cats will go into remission and thus provide useful prognostic information in regards to long-term treatment costs and quality of life concerns at the time of diagnosis. The purpose of this study is to determine the appearance of the feline pancreas (the organ that makes insulin to control blood sugar levels) on CT (Cat scan) in diabetic cats. This will allow future comparisons between healthy and newly diagnosed diabetic cats to be made. What does the study involve? Each cat enrolled in the study will receive the following: examination by a board-certified internal medicine specialist;

full biochemical health assessment (complete blood count, serum chemistry, urinalysis);

serum fructosamine (test of diabetic control);

SPEC pancreatic lipase immune-reactivity (test for pancreatitis);

total thyroxine (thyroid hormone level);

and a sedated CT with contrast. All procedures described above will be paid for by the study. **Enrolled cats can participate in the study and go home on the same day.** Contact information: If you have a patient that you feel would be a good fit for this study, please email Dr. Andrew Bugbee (abugbee@uga.edu) for further information or to discuss scheduling an appointment.