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Objectives: To characterize the utility and safety of IV insulin aspart in the treatment of diabetes ketoacidosis (DKA) in dogs and to determine the times to resolution of hyperglycemia, ketonemia, and acidemia in dogs treated with IV insulin aspart., Design: Prospective noncontrolled single arm study of dogs with DKA between February 2010 and March 2011., Setting: University teaching hospital., Animals: Six dogs with spontaneous DKA and blood glucose (BG) concentration >13.8 mmol/L (250 mg/dL), pH between 7.0 and 7.35, and blood beta-hydroxybutyrate >2.0 mmol/L were treated with an IV continuous rate infusion (CRI) of aspart insulin. The time to biochemical resolution of DKA was defined as the time interval from when the IV CRI of aspart insulin began until marked hyperglycemia (BG concentration >13.8 mmol/L [250 mg/dL]), acidemia (venous pH <7.35), and ketonemia (beta-hydroxybutyrate concentration >2.0 mmol/L) resolved. Aspart insulin was administered as an IV CRI at an initial dose of 0.09 U/kg/h. The dose was adjusted according to a previously published protocol., Measurements and Main Results: The median time to biochemical resolution of DKA in dogs treated with insulin aspart was 28 hours (range, 20-116 h). Mean BG concentration decreased significantly from the time IV fluid resuscitation began (32.0 mmol/L [576 mg/dL]; range, 14.9-38.9 mmol/L [268-700 mg/dL]) until 6 hours later when IV aspart insulin CRI began (20.1 mmol/L [363 mg/dL]; range, 9.4-26.1 mmol/L [169-470 mg/dL], P = 0.03). No adverse effects were observed in association with IV insulin aspart administration. Median cost of hospitalization was US$3,477 (range, US$1,483-10,469). Median total units per kilogram of administered IV insulin aspart was 2.97 U/kg (range, 2.04-10.52 U/kg)., Conclusions: Intravenous CRI of insulin aspart is a safe and effective treatment for DKA in dogs. IV fluid resuscitation is recommended prior to insulin administration., (© Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society 2015.)

Objectives: To determine risk factors and outcome predictors in cats with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)., Design: Retrospective study. Inclusion in the DKA group required blood glucose concentration > 13.9 mmol/L (250 mg/dL), venous pH < 7.35, and urine or serum acetoacetate concentration greater than 1.5 mmol/L (15 mg/dL). Signalment and weight were recorded in all cats with uncomplicated diabetes mellitus (DM) without DKA and in all other nondiabetic cats examined during the study period. Clinicopathologic variables, concurrent disorders, and initial insulin intravenous (IV) continuous-rate infusion (CRI) concentration of 1.1 or 2.2 U/kg/240 mL bag of 0.9% NaCl, were examined for a possible association with outcome., Setting: University teaching hospital., Animals: Ninety-three cats with DKA, 682 cats with uncomplicated DM, and 16,926 cats without DM or DKA., Interventions: None., Measurements and Main Results: Cats with DKA were younger (median age 9.4 years; range, 1-17.9 years) than cats with uncomplicated DM (median 11.6 years; range 0.7-19.5 years, P < 0.0003). Siamese cats were overrepresented in the DKA group compared to the uncomplicated DM or nondiabetic group (P = 0.038 and P = 0.01, respectively). Poor outcome (defined as death due to disease or by euthanasia) in 36 cats with DKA (39%) was associated with increased initial creatinine, BUN, total serum magnesium, and total bilirubin concentrations (P = 0.007, P = 0.005, P = 0.03, P = 0.03, respectively). Cats treated with a higher concentration of insulin were less likely to have a poor outcome compared to cats treated with a lower concentration of insulin (odds ratio 0.14, 95% confidence interval 0.02-1.16, P = 0.02)., Conclusions: Cats with DKA are more likely to be Siamese than cats with uncomplicated DM. Poor outcome of cats with DKA is associated with increased initial creatinine, BUN, total magnesium, and total bilirubin concentrations. Good outcome was associated with a higher concentration of IV insulin CRI., (© Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society 2015.)

Objectives: To characterize the use of lispro insulin in dogs with diabetes ketoacidosis (DKA) and to compare the length of time required for resolution of hyperglycemia, ketosis, and acidosis, respectively, in dogs with DKA treated with lispro or with regular insulin., Design: Randomized prospective clinical trial performed between November 2006 and May 2009., Setting: University teaching hospital., Animals: Client-owned dogs with naturally occurring DKA. Dogs with a blood glucose (BG) > 13.9 mmol/L (>250 mg/dL), blood pH between 7.0 and 7.35, and a blood beta-hydroxybutyrate (BOHB) concentration >2.0 mmol/L were eligible to be enrolled into the study and were randomly assigned to receive an IV continuous rate infusion (CRI) of either lispro or regular insulin., Interventions: Lispro or regular insulin was administered as an IV CRI at an initial dose of 0.09 U/kg/h. The dose was adjusted according to a previously published protocol., Measurements and Main Results: Twelve dogs were enrolled into the study. The time to biochemical resolution of DKA was defined as the time interval from when the IV CRI of insulin began until marked hyperglycemia (BG > 13.9 mmol/L [>250 mg/dL]), acidosis (venous pH < 7.35), and ketosis (BOHB concentration >2.0 mmol/L) resolved. The median time to biochemical resolution of DKA in dogs treated with lispro insulin was significantly shorter (26 h; range 26-50 h) than in dogs treated with regular insulin (61 h; range, 38-80 h, P = 0.02). Median admission blood glucose concentration of all 12 dogs (24 mmol/L [432 mg/dL; range, 17.8-38.9 mmol/L [321-700 mg/dL]) decreased significantly with fluid resuscitation and prior to insulin therapy (20.5 mmol/L [369 mg/dL; range, 14.5-33.3 mmol/L [261-600 mg/dL], P = 0.0085). No adverse effects were observed in association with IV lispro insulin administration., Conclusions: Treatment of DKA in dogs with IV CRI lispro insulin is safe, and as effective as treatment with regular insulin., (© Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society 2012.)

Objective: (1) To determine the ability of a continuous interstitial glucose monitoring system (CGMS) to accurately estimate blood glucose (BG) in dogs and cats with diabetic ketoacidosis. (2) To determine the effect of perfusion, hydration, body condition score, severity of ketosis, and frequency of calibration on the accuracy of the CGMS., Design: Prospective study., Setting: University Teaching Hospital., Animals: Thirteen dogs and 11 cats diagnosed with diabetic ketoacidosis were enrolled in the study within 24 hours of presentation., Interventions: Once BG dropped below 22.2 mmol/L (400 mg/dL), a sterile flexible glucose sensor was placed aseptically in the interstitial space and attached to the continuous glucose monitoring device for estimation of the interstitial glucose every 5 minutes., Measurements and Main Results: BG measurements were taken with a portable BG meter every 2-4 hours at the discretion of the primary clinician and compared with CGMS glucose measurements. The CGMS estimates of BG and BG measured on the glucometer were strongly associated regardless of calibration frequency (calibration every 8 h: r=0.86, P<0.001; calibration every 12 h: r=0.85, P<0.001). Evaluation of this data using both the Clarke and Consensus error grids showed that 96.7% and 99% of the CGMS readings, respectively, were deemed clinically acceptable (Zones A and B errors). Interpatient variability in the accuracy of the CGMS glucose measurements was found but was not associated with body condition, perfusion, or degree of ketosis. A weak association between hydration status of the patient as assessed with the visual analog scale and absolute percent error (Spearman's rank correlation, rho=-0.079, 95% CI=-0.15 to -0.01, P=0.03) was found, with the device being more accurate in the more hydrated patients., Conclusions: The CGMS provides clinically accurate estimates of BG in patients with diabetic ketoacidosis.

The aim of this study was to retrospectively describe the outcome of 127 dogs with naturally occurring diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and to examine the association between outcome of canine DKA and clinical and clinicopathologic findings. Eighty-two (65%) dogs were diagnosed with DKA at the time of initial diagnosis of diabetes mellitus (DM). Eighty-seven dogs (69%) had one or more concurrent disorders diagnosed at the time of hospitalization. Commonly identified concurrent conditions included acute pancreatitis (52, 41%), urinary tract infection (21, 20%), and hyperadrenocorticism (19, 15%). Dogs with coexisting hyperadrenocorticism were less likely to be discharged from the hospital (P = .029). Of 121 treated dogs, 89 dogs (70%) survived to be discharged from the hospital, with a median hospitalization of 6 days. Nonsurvivors had lower ionized calcium concentration (P < .001), lower hematocrit (P = .036), lower venous pH (P = .0058), and larger base deficit (P = .0066) than did survivors. Time from admission to initiation of subcutaneous insulin therapy was correlated with lower serum potassium concentration (P = .0056), lower serum phosphorus concentration (P = .0043), abnormally high white blood cell count (P = .0060), large base deficit (P = .0015), and low venous pH (P < .001). Multivariate analysis showed that base deficit was associated with outcome (P = .021). For each unit increase in the base deficit, there was a 9%) greater likelihood of discharge from the hospital. In conclusion, the majority of dogs with DKA were not previously diagnosed with DM. Concurrent conditions and electrolyte abnormalities are common in DKA and are associated with length of hospitalization. Survival was correlated to degree of anemia, hypocalcemia, and acidosis.