Feline Diabetic Remission Clinic<o:p></o:p>

The Royal Veterinary College is busy unravelling the riddle for the best treatment of diabetes mellitus in cats. <o:p></o:p>

Dr. Stijn Niessen and his team have officially launched a new Feline Diabetic Remission Clinic in the Queen Mother Hospital for Animals in Hertfordshire, to investigate the optimum methods to achieve good control, and ultimately diabetic remission, in diabetic cats.<o:p></o:p>

Cats examined through the new clinic will benefit from a host of incentives, including free food and insulin, as well as optimum diabetic management, with the support of Internal Medicine Specialists, while also contributing immensely to the current scientific knowledge on the best treatment for diabetic cats.<o:p></o:p>

As we all know, feline diabetes mellitus is a costly, chronic disease which can significantly decrease the quality of life of both cat owners and their pets. However, a proportion of diabetic cats can achieve diabetic remission and no longer require insulin therapy, which is increasingly considered the ultimate goal in treating diabetic cats. <o:p></o:p>

Early evidence suggests that good, early blood glucose control increases remission rates in diabetic cats. However, there is little evidence about which treatment protocol offers the best blood glucose control and chance of remission.<o:p></o:p>

The clinic is currently recruiting cats that have had diabetes for less than 4 months' duration for a clinical trial, examining the effect of new insulins on blood glucose control and remission rate.<o:p></o:p>

Enrolled cats will qualify for full underlying disease assessment at the referral hospital, several re-examination appointments, 12 months of prescription diabetic food, and 6 months of insulin therapy – all at no cost to owners. The latest updates on the clinic can be found on its Facebook-website: www.facebook.com/RVC.Diabetic.Remission.Clinic and the clinic can be contacted on fdrc@rvc.ac.uk or by calling CIC on 01707666605.<o:p></o:p>

We are also interested in receiving blood samples from all diabetic cats, regardless of duration of diabetes mellitus. In return we are offering free fructosamine, cholesterol and triglycerides, please see the sample submission form below. Newly diagnosed cats (diagnosis within the last 6 weeks) are also eligible for follow up samples for 4 months.<o:p></o:p>

Download the Diabetic Cat Submission form here http://www.rvc.ac.uk/CIC/documents/GHSubmissionformV14KM09JAN2014.pdf

Please note that samples older than 4 days may not provide reliable fructosamine results so we would advise against sending samples on a Friday.

Thank you very very much for helping us improve the welfare of cats with diabetes!

Diagnose a cat with diabetes: think of us!

Regards,

Stijn.