Help. Blood tests showing high insulin levels....anyone had experience if this?

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nikkirip

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Since November my 11.2 Dartmoor has looked a little off colour. First set of bloods showed elevated liver enzymes. The norm below 24 and his are 32. Liver bile acid elevated too and normal below 15 his were 17. He also tested positive for tape worm infestation. Second bloods showed liver enzymes 34 and bile acid normal at 15. But vet ran insulin tests off same bloods. Normal below 20 and his are 92.6. Doing a fasting test on Wednesday but now I'm panicked.

He's a good doer and native but never had laminitis and is 9. Could it really be EMS or whatever? How high is 92? Is there anything else that could have pushed insulin levels up particularly with other test results? What is the future for a pony like him?

Any help much appreciated.

Nikki
 
Hi my pony was diagnosed with EMS in November. Her insulin count was 900! Apparently this is not unusual. She hasn't had laminitis for a number of years but I manage her as such - low sugar diet, soaked hay, limited grass. She is currently on metformin (her course finishes next week). Don't panic, EMS is manageable and there is a future for your pony. Your vet will advise. PM me if you want more information.
 
EMS is managable, but you might have to be cruel to be kind! My shetland has EMS, he is turned out 24/7 but wears a muzzle for all of this time. He has never been on any drugs as we are managing his condition through retricting access to food and exercise.
I found that adding cinnamon to his diet really helped with his condition (with approval from the Vet). He suffered a mild case of lami in the summer and was lame, but after starting the cinnamon he very quickly came good!
 
My horse had levels above 250 when he had his lami attack, he was put on metformin and we have learnt to be cruel to be kind, he needs ALOT of exercise and reduced amount of food. Completely agree that it is managable, so get advice from your vet.

Also agree with the cinnamon powder, has also aided his weight loss & its cheap!
 
Agree with everyone above, it is indeed manageable, I manage to keep mine off metformin by feeding him low sugar everything, and trying to stay one step ahead - if he isn't being ridden for a few days, then I cut down his feed.

The winter is easier than the summer - but once you get into a good routine, and don't deviate, it becomes easier. In winter he goes out with all the others all day, but in summer I turn him out first thing then get him back in by mid morning before the sugar levels in the grass get too high. In the stable he has either the Marksway horsehage blue which is guaranteed below 3% sugar, or 12-hour soaked hay, depending on my budget!

He might go out again later for a few hours if he is being ridden, or he goes into the starvation paddock with some other fatties. I use metformin occasionally in an emergency (i.e. teenager turned him out into wrong field for a few hours - eek).
 
Hey!

If your horse has high Insulin levels he might be insulin resistant. This is the stage before full blown metabolic syndrome and is reversible with very careful management. That's not to say you can totally get rid of it, just reduce the effects and reduce the chance of him getting laminitis.

Don't panic!! I'm sure your vet will advise you in good time :)
 
Have a look on Dr Kellon's site - ecirhorse

There is a lot if info on there.

Also a calculator for you to plug the results into - gives a different picture from the calculation the labs do.

In the end of the day you may have to consider a course of metformin - it does help, and it is not expensive.
 
My friend was told up to 70 is normal and her mare was in the mid 7 hundreds and is still over 200 now she is a hat-rack.

I don't think you have that much to worry about at that level, it should be able to be controlled with exercise and diet.
 
Very interested in feeding cinnamon I have not heard of this before what effect does it have and what sort of amount are you giving ?
 
Thank you all for your help. I've spent a day reading and probably confused myself but feel calmer. The exit website was great. Thank you all for your support.
 
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