UK feline diabetes research trials recruiting now

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Alexi

Alexi

Member Since 2016
Did you know the Royal Veterinary College has a diabetes remission clinic where they are regularly conducting clinical trials? They are based in Hatfield, Hertfordshire.

Currently they are recruiting for two trials, one around treatments for acromegaly, and one looking at a long acting beta cell stimulant drug widely used in human medicine. (beta cells are the part of the pancreas that produce insulin)

Inclusion criteria for the diabetes trial are: diagnosed within the past 6 months (or in remission less than 4 months) and no steroids in the 3 months prior to diagnosis.

Monthly visits are needed to the clinic for six months where tests are done (and the results shared with your regular vet) and monthly injections administered, and they offer free food and insulin as part of the trial. You won't know whether your cat gets the active drug or a placebo as it is a double blind trial, but you do get the satisfaction of knowing you are helping other diabetic cats as well as some expert advice and help for free.

You can contact the clinic for more information via their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/RVC.Diabetic.Remission.Clinic or by emailing fdrc@rvc.ac.uk
 
Great info, Alexi. Could we tag UKers who may be interested..? I can think of a couple offhand but there have been quite a few lately. Don't have time to check at the moment, will try to make a list later or if anyone else reading this could do so that would be great!

Diana
 
Diana&Tom said:
Don't have time to check at the moment, will try to make a list later or if anyone else reading this could do so that would be great!
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I can't think of anyone at the moment who's reasonably local, Diana.... In the past there were several members who joined the previous RVC remission project, but I think all of those lived in or around London.... There may well be 'lurkers' though who will read Alexi's info and be able to act on it.
 
They are just off the M25/A1(M) near the Potters Bar junction so within reach of people with good motorway connections and with kittys that will tolerate a journey. In my experience transporting cats they just tend to fall asleep following the initial whinging.
 
Today Cappuccino and I went to the RVC, she has not ever done such a long journey before but with a liberal application of Feliway to her travel box and the radio on she coped very well and not a peep out of her after the first minute (mainly a bit of whinging I think because she had to be starved today for tests). She was a little stressed but then so was I by the time we got there, M25, say no more.

She has been entered into the trial and had her first injection today at the clinic. The whole visit took about 4 1/2 hours, plus travel time, she had blood testing, urine testing and an ultrasound. I have come home with insulin and food plus some expert discussion and advice. My vet had sent her medical records and her spreadsheet was reviewed in detail. They were wonderful and have my confidence. I had lunch in a pub. The next visit will be a lot shorter.

I am very excited that Cappuccino has the chance to help other diabetic cats. She may well go into remission on her own but without willing owners for such clinical trials new treatments cannot be developed, so if your cat meets the inclusion criteria and you are able to commit to the visits needed please do contact them for more information. Ultimately it is your decision whether or not to submit your cat to this but I see it as part of paying it forwards.
 
Alexi said:
I am very excited that Cappuccino has the chance to help other diabetic cats. She may well go into remission on her own but without willing owners for such clinical trials new treatments cannot be developed, so if your cat meets the inclusion criteria and you are able to commit to the visits needed please do contact them for more information. Ultimately it is your decision whether or not to submit your cat to this but I see it as part of paying it forwards.
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Wonderful!!! :bighug:

Alexi said:
...I had lunch in a pub.
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And I particularly like that part... :smuggrin:

Eliz
 
Prozinc and Purina DM canned, both of which she has anyway, the DM was started on the advice of a specialist due to GI issues which have completely settled, she has recently switched to Prozinc.
 
Cappuccino is doing really well, she has had her second injection of exenatide/placebo and her numbers are really dropping. She now has virtually no clinical signs of diabetes. Of interest is she has a nadir around the time her shot is due so she is on a sliding scale based on her +1 values for the most part. Do no try this at home folks, she is remotely monitored by the researcher and I get email contact every week. We did discuss Lantus but I prefer to stick with the Prozinc for now.

They are still recruiting so if you have any questions please do contact them.
 
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