Insulin Resistance In Horses

Diabetes is a disease where the body is unable to produce or use insulin effectively. Insulin is needed for proper storage and use of carbohydrates. Without it, blood sugar levels can become too high or too low, resulting in a diabetic emergency. It affects about 7.8% of the population. The incidence of diabetes is known to increase with age. It’s the leading cause of end-stage renal disease in the US, and is the primary cause of blindness and foot and leg amputation. It is known to cause neuropathy in up to 70% of diabetic patients. Individuals with diabetes are twice as likely to develop cardiovascular disease. There are two types of diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2.

Diabetes, Diabetes Mellitus, is a chronic illness this means that it has no cure and the symptoms persist over a long period of time. This illness is a result of an imbalance of hormones, insulin, produced in the pancreas. Insulin plays an important role in how the body uses food. Insulin enables the cells in the bloodstream to absorb and use glucose for fuel. If the pancreas produces too little or no insulin or if the insulin doesn’t work properly the person may become diabetic. Therefore, diabetics are not able to properly convert food into fuels needed by the body to function, which can seriously lead to physical consequences.

In this paper, I will be discussing the equine genetic disease Hyperkalemic Periodic Paralysis (HYPP) or Impressive Syndrome. I will share the origins of HYPP through the genetic influence of an American Quarter Horse Stallion called Impressive. There will be coverage of the signs of HYPP and comparison to similar symptoms found in other ailments. I will explain the causes of HYPP attacks in regards to the abnormalities in afflicted horse’s potassium levels and voltage-gaited sodium channels. In closing, I will provide recommendations in management practices, prevention and possibilities for eliminating for HYPP from the equine industry.

Insulin resistance is the first physiological change occurring in type two diabetes. In these type two diabetic patients, insulin is unable to move glucose into liver, kidney and muscle cells although insulin is able to attach properly to the cell surface receptors. In order to rectify this, most patients with type two diabetes start secreting normal to very high levels of insulin, which can initially overcome this resistance. After a while, the pancreas cannot keep up with this high insulin production and the cells become resistant to glucose intake. Persistent hyperglycemia or high blood glucose levels are not desirable since this causes damage to the beta cells of the pancreas that produces the insulin hormone. This damage to beta cells further hampers insulin synthesis and patients at this stage are categorized as full-blown diabetic. Such patients consistently show a hyperglycemia state even after hours of fasting ( Hinkle & Cheever,

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) or Type 2 Diabetes is seen as a metabolic disease that is categorized by abnormally high blood glucose or hyperglycemia. Diabetes Mellitus is also formerly known as noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and is the most common form of diabetes that is seen. Insulin is a hormone that is supplied to the body that allows us to efficiently use glucose as fuel. When carbohydrates are broken down into sugars in the stomach glucose enters the blood circulation simulating the pancreas to release insulin in an appropriate amount to become used for energy. With diabetes mellitus the body does not properly make use of the insulin supplied for the body. This causes the pancreas to produced an extra amount if insulin which the body cannot keep up with, causing an imbalance to the blood glucose levels (American Diabetes Association, 2015). In the united states diabetes affects almost 29.1 million people, while the another 86 million people have pre-diabetes but do not know. It is also known as the 7th leading cause of death in the country in the recent years (MedicineNet.com, 2016). For a patient suffering from a chronic form of diabetes mellitus understanding how these mechanisms lead to the condition can be used as preventative measures. Potential consequences as well as the causes and clinical manifestations will ensure a better knowledge on the issue to monitor the condition.

The first ancestors of the modern horse bore little resemblance to the large, powerful domesticated animals of today. The very earliest ancestor of the horse would have resembled in its appearance the modern-day dog and had many omnivorous rather than herbivorous features, such as its tooth construction and density and its propensity for 'browsing' or foraging. Hyracotherium (or eohippus) measured about 10 inches at the shoulder and had an "arched back, short neck, short snout, short legs, and long tail" (Hunt 1995). It had 'toes' rather than a hoof: 4 toes in the front, and 3 in the back and "low-crowned teeth with 3 incisors, 1 canine, 4 distinct premolars and 3 'grinding' molars in each side of each jaw (Hunt 1995).

The digestive system of the horse consists of a simple stomach, small intestines, cecum, large and small colons, rectum and anus. The horse 's stomach is comparatively small for its size. The stomach of an average horse has a holding capacity of about two gallons. This may be the reason horses eat small but frequent meals. From the stomach food moves to the small intestine, which is the main site of digestion. The small intestine empties into the cecum. The cecum; along with the large colon; make up the large intestine. Digestion in the large intestine occurs by action of bacteria and protozoa. (arg.gov.sk.ca)

Twenty American Quarter Horse geldings, aged between four and eight years and weighing ideally 1,000 to 1,300 pounds, shall be used. All horses should ideally be non-athletes that were previously kept as pleasure riding horses. The horses will be completely evaluated clinically and ultrasonongraphically by veterinarians blinded to the study before the experiment to ensure that there are no preexisting health conditions to hinder healing, or any history or signs of previous injuries to the superficial digital flexor tendon. All horses will be placed in individual stalls and paddocks and adapted to their new daily routines for thirty days before the start of the experiment to allow acclimation. Any horses that obtain injury or disease during the course of the study will be removed from the study group to reduce confounding and returned to their provider.

“Other factors that may increase the risk of Cushing’s disease include obesity, type 2 diabetes, poorly controlled blood sugar levels and high blood pressure. While none of these factors are a direct cause of the condition, they are associated with higher prevalence of it.” (Endocrine Society, 2016) Cushing’s syndrome is most common in patients on high levels of steroid medications to treat chronic inflammatory disorders. (Williams, L., & Hopper, P., 2015)

When Atkin says “the use of drugs”, there are a variety of inhumane stimulates that could be referred to. Medications such as Lasix are highly desirable in the racing as world as they mask the side effects of exercise-induced pulmonary hemorrhage. EIPH occurs when blood escapes the system and penetrates into the horse lungs and airway. While tools like Lasix mask circulatory problems, drugs such as Phenylbutazone are even more disturbing. Typically used as an anti-inflammatory for injured horses, Phenylbutazone temporarily takes away the pain of a minor strain or bruise. However, trainers often administer 12 times the recommended dosage of this medication to all of their racing horses; injured or not. If a horse's injury is too severe, they

The basic cause for Equine Cushing's Disease is the lack of dopaminergic control within the intermediate lobe. As a result peptide hormones are overly secreted into the body. Melanotrophs of the intermediate lobe release pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) into the body. This is then split to form three hormones: α-melanocyte–stimulating hormone (α-MSH), β-endorphin (β-END)–related peptides and corticotropin-like intermediate peptide (CLIP). Normally, dopamine binds to 2 inhibitory receptors on the melanotrophs, stoping the production of hormones. This function is lacking in individuals with Equine Cushing's Disease. Consequentially hypertrophy, hyperplasia, and over production of POMC peptides occur in the intermediate lobe of the pituitary gland.

Although the majority of horses diagnosed with EMS are overweight and quite often considered “easy keepers” the lean horse can also be Insulin Resistant. There are some very distinct signs that would indicate your beloved equine may have EMS. All horses are at risk but genetics can play an even greater part for certain breeds, some of them being Quarter horses, Morgans, Paso Finos,

Cushing’s Syndrome is a condition that results from chronic exposure to excessive amounts of glucocorticoids circulating in the blood stream for an extended period of time. The disease was first reported by Harvey Cushing over one hundred years ago, yet the condition still plagues endocrinologists today. Reasons for this difficulty include the vast amount of often vague symptoms that the syndrome presents, most of which are found in a plethora of other conditions as well, combined with the multiple forms that the condition can manifest itself. Symptoms of Cushings Syndrome include, but are not limited to, weight gain, hirutism, easy bruising, hypertension, acne, facial plethora, muscle weakness, striae, depression,

This assessment will explain what the role of the liver and pancreas is and how it aids digestion, including what they produce and how this makes the digestive system efficient. It will also include the interaction of the circulatory and respiratory systems during exercise and at rest and how they work separately and together. Lastly, it will discuss what could go wrong with these systems and how it will affect the horse.

Diabetes Mellitus is “a group of metabolic diseases characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action or both. It is a disease which is caused by the insufficient insulin secretion or decrease in the peripheral effects of insulin. It is a serious problem in terms of morbidity and mortality. The hyperglycemia is associated with long term damage, dysfunction and failure of various organs especially the eyes, kidneys, nerves, heart and blood vessels. It’s associated with many complications which includes blindness of the eyes and amputations of the extremities. It is also associated with neuropathy, retinopathy, and cardiovascular diseases which lead to mortalities.