Research Communications of the 24th ECVIM-CA Congress

Some of the authors are members of diagnostic laboratories (PennGen). Supported in part by the NIH OD #010939. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1)is a gastrointestinal hormone released in response to food intake that increases insulin secretion, inhibits glucagon secretion, slows gastric emptying and induces satiation. It is also assumed to stimulate beta-cell proliferation. GLP-1 agonists are successfully used in humans with type 2 diabetes mellitus usually either in combination with insulin or other anti-diabetic drugs. In healthy cats twice daily (exenatide) as well as once weekly (exenatide extended-release (ER)) application of GLP-1 agonists induced pronounced insulin secretion. Benefits of exenatide ER are the regimen of once weekly injection and less side effects. The objective of the study was to assess whether administration of exenatide ER in addition to standard treatment leads to improved glycemic control and higher remission rates in cats with newly diagnosed diabetes.