Cushings/IR - do you HAVE to starve for the test?!

itsonlyme

itsonlyme

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Mo is being re-tested on friday to see if her Pergolide is working and her insulin levels have sorted. Vet has said to starve, as was done for first test. But i'm sure i read somewhere that you shouldn't starve before the test?? :confused: Or did i just make that up?! :rolleyes: I would think that starving would give inaccurate insulin levels wouldn't it?
Can anyone confirm this for me?

Thanks very much. :)
 
I think you should be taking notice of what your vet said - if in doubt, ask them again.

My pony is being tested for EMS, my vet came yesterday and told me to take away any food at 10pm last night and she came at 9am this morning to take a blood sample to test his insulin level. She said if this was inconclusive, there was a second, more detailed test that would involve him being starved, blood taken and then him being given glucose and more blood being taken, this was to see if there was a spike in insulin. Maybe that is where your confusion is from ?
 
I have a cushings/IR pony. She is on Prascend which is the equine version of Pergolide. She has had a lot of blood tests over the last year and I have never had to starve her. She was on Metformin to get the insulin levels down but would not eat anything that had it in so had to give up on that for now. A different vet said to try cinnamon powder in her food daily and it seems to be bringing the insulin leavels down. Could just be coincidence but I have gone from having a very depressed pony to a happy 20 year old.: :)
 
Over the last 13mnth my mare has now had 8 blood tests for cushings and EMS and I have always been advised to starve for 12hrs before the test, if there is food being eaten and digested to increases the insulin levels and skews the test (think of a diabetic human not eating for 12hrs insulin would be at the lowest it could be).
Last time she was tested her insulin levels were back with normal range and she came off the metformin and only continued on pergolide.
 
Take a look at Jackie Taylor's "metabolic horse" email group. You can find it on the links page of her main website.

I think there are different schools of thought on whether or not to starve, or whether to test whilst they are on their normal diet routine, but I'm not well up on it so couldn't say exactlyl. But I'm sure you'll find the answer on Jackie's group.

Sarah
 
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