Loose-control of diabetes mellitus with protamine zinc insulin in cats: 185 cases (2005-2015)

This study evaluated the outcome of cats with diabetes mellitus treated with a loose-control approach using protamine zinc insulin and identified factors that influence the likelihood of remission and survival in these cats. A total of 185 client-owned domestic cats were followed until death, lost to follow-up, or the end of the 11-year study. These cats were treated primarily basing insulin dose adjustments on clinical response. Patient records were used to examine factors suspected of influencing success of diabetes management. The remission probability was 56.2%. Survival time ranged from 0 to 3808 days with a median of 1488 days. Recent pre-diabetic corticosteroid use, lower mean blood glucose concentration during treatment, and lower mean insulin dose significantly increased the likelihood of remission. A low-carbohydrate diet, occurrence of remission, lack of diabetic ketoacidosis at diagnosis, lower mean blood glucose value during treatment, and lower blood glucose value at diagnosis were significantly associated with increased survival time.