RVC seeks feline diabetes patients for trial following successful first run
The Royal Veterinary College (RVC) is calling on cat owners to take part in its latest study investigating the effects of supervised caloric restriction in diabetic cats who might benefit from weight loss.
The research aims to provide a new and effective form of treatment for diabetic cats, using dietary change to promote diabetic remission. Identifying treatments that can achieve diabetic remission will encourage many owners to pursue treatment and greatly improve the quality of life for diabetic cats.
As part of the trial, which started in March 2021, the research team at the RVC Diabetic Remission Clinic will assess the ability of a new feline prescription diabetic food to promote weight loss — and hopefully diabetic remission — in diabetic cats who are mildly to markedly overweight.
The study will take place over 12 months and cats joining the trial will attend between 5 — 7 outpatient appointments
Case study
Burmese Lester from
Frating in Essex joined the RVC’s feline diabetes trial in November 2021 after presenting to his primary care veterinary practice in October 2021 with increased at the RVC Queen Mother Hospital for Animals, near Potters Bar in Hertfordshire. Additional monitoring will also be conducted by owners at home.
Eligibility criteria include cats who have been diagnosed with diabetes mellitus in the past two years, are overweight to some extent (body condition score of 6 out of 9 or above), and treated with insulin twice-daily.
As part of the study, cats will be fed the test diet for the first 12 weeks, and the remaining time period will assess and monitor cats’ longer-term outcomes.
Cats and owners joining the trial will receive free underlying disease screening, free cat food for the 12-month period, free home blood glucose monitoring supplies, newly-developed glucose monitoring cat litter for use at home and dedicated diabetic care from the RVC clinic team.
Ruth Gostelow, lecturer in small animal internal
thirst and urination, and hindlimb weakness. He was diagnosed with diabetes, started twice-daily insulin, and was promptly referred to the RVC’s trial. Lester was able to stop insulin treatment only one week after joining the trial and has been in diabetic remission since. Despite the breed being predisposed to diabetes, Lester is the first Burmese to take part since the team started prospective feline diabetes trials approximately 10 years ago.
Lester’s owner Rachel medicine at the RVC, says: “The study has already proved incredibly successful; since it began, recruited cats have recorded a diabetic remission rate of approximately 75 per cent — an outstanding result compared to what is typically reported for diabetic cats.
The early success of the trial means we want to expand it, and now we need more vets and their cat owners to sign up.
“Although some cats will remain diabetic for the duration of their life, a proportion can achieve diabetic remission and stop insulin treatment.Achieving diabetic remission significantly increases their life expectancy, and pet well-being.”
Vets and pet owners can apply for the trial by emailing fdrc@rvc.ac.uk or telephoning 01707 666605. For cat owners wishing to apply directly, the RVC will communicate with respective practice vets to ensure trial suitability and to facilitate veterinary care throughout the trial.
Fortescue says:“Enrolling him on the RVC diabetic remission trial was the best thing I could have possibly done.
“Having the RVC holding my hand through this journey has been absolutely invaluable and I have no doubt that Lester’s early remission would not have happened if he had not been on the trial. I have watched Lester turn back into a happy, affectionate, and playful cat again as the symptoms of his diabetes have disappeared, and for that I am eternally grateful.”