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SAN DIEGO (CNS) – An interdisciplinary group of experts announced Monday that they were successfully documenting the sugar levels of a San Diego Zoo koala, with a blood glucose monitoring system designed for humans.
The male marsupial, Quincy, has type 1 diabetes, which means that he needs extra insulin to control his blood sugar, maintain his energy, build his muscles and gain weight. Previously, the koala needed to prick its skin several times a day to test its glucose level.
This month, veterinarians, Scripps Health endocrinologists, Dexcom biotechnology professionals and zoo specialists have placed Dexcom's G6 glucose monitoring system on Quincy to disturb the animal less often. . Like other koalas, Quincy usually sleeps during the day and prefers lonely behavior.
Cora Singleton, a veteran veterinarian at the zoo, said that the course of action was not usual.
"Very few koalas have been diagnosed and treated for diabetes," Singleton said. "We hope that this technology will work as well in koalas as in people, which will allow us to optimize its treatment with insulin while promoting its well-being during its illness."
Dexcom's G6 system began shipping to humans earlier this month.
The Quincy sensor and transmitter send blood glucose levels in real time to an intelligent device monitored by the guards. The system also has built-in alarms and alarms that proactively warn keepers of the koala before its blood sugar reaches dangerous levels.
"Hypoglycemia – an abnormally low blood glucose – is a safety problem, and the limiting factor to using the right doses of insulin, especially in an animal who can not tell us their symptoms" said Athena Philis-Tsimikas, vice president of the Scripps Whittier Diabetes Institute. "Continuous glucose monitoring now allows optimal dosing to better manage Quincy's diabetes."
The Diabetic State of Quincy was initially diagnosed by veterinarians at the Los Angeles Zoo, the previous home of the Koala. He was transferred to the San Diego Zoo to continue diagnosis and treatment.
Animal experts do not know what could have triggered Quincy's blood sugar problems.
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