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Quincy Queensland Koala has been equipped with the latest blood sugar monitor, hopefully resuscitating a problem for the diabetic marsupial.
Experts from the San Diego Zoo, where Quincy resides, teamed up with glucose monitor maker Dexcom and Scripps Health to help Quincy, who has type 1 diabetes (insulin deficient).
Instead of being bitten by the hairy ear several times a day, Quincy now has to agree to have a sensor gently implanted under his skin once every 10 days. The sensor wirelessly transmits measurements every five minutes, day and night.
Humans can even be helped by the knowledge gained in this unique treatment for an animal.
On June 1, Quincy received Dexcom's G6 Glucose Monitoring System, which was recently approved for humans by the US Food and Drug Administration. Dexcom donated the system. It has not yet revealed what the system will cost.
Scripps Health brought its expertise in diabetes and its knowledge of Dexcom's technology, said Dr. Athena Philis-Tsimikas, Vice President of the Scripps Whittier Diabetes Institute. The hospital system is also testing the G6 system as a replacement for frequent stings in patients who can not verbalize.
The zoo, of course, provides a detailed understanding of the koala's biology and behavior. Her guardians know how to train animals to tolerate uncomfortable procedures – like being stuck with a needle – with minimal stress.
Quincy came to San Diego from the Los Angeles Zoo, where his diabetes was diagnosed for the first time – a rarity among sleeping and arboreal eucalyptus eaters, native to the east coast of Australia.
This posed a problem. Koalas, despite their placid appearance, may be sensitive to being disturbed. But frequent blood glucose measurements are essential to maintain levels close to normal.
Too much blood glucose, or hyperglycemia, damages the body. Too little, or hypoglycemia, can cause fainting, unconsciousness or even death.
The veteran veterinarian of Scripps Health and San Diego Zoo, Cora Singleton, has looked closely at Quincy's state of health. It turned out that Quincy was really deficient in insulin, said Philis-Tsimikas, a diabetes expert.
So, other diabetes medications, some of which can be taken orally, were not enough. He needed injections. And his blood sugar required frequent testing.
It is there that Dexcom intervenes. A pioneer in the continuous monitoring of blood glucose, Dexcom has developed a series of systems that wirelessly send glucose level measurements from an implanted sensor just under the skin.
The information, updated every five minutes, allows guards to be informed of Quincy's status without having to disturb his sleep – and koalas like to sleep.
Previous Dexcom systems must be calibrated with skin pricks from time to time, although much less frequently than manual reading.
The G6 system dispenses with calibration. In addition, its sensor lasts 10 days; previous models lasted 7 days.
Working with Quincy, it's a bit like working with people who can not speak or explain what they feel, said Philis-Tsimikas. Patients may be unconscious, or too young to articulate their symptoms, she said. In such cases, blood glucose is the main measure of their condition.
In addition, many types of insulin are now available, she added. They have different properties, such as the speed of absorption and action. So, their effect must be closely monitored. In this case, koalas absorb insulin as much as humans.
Philis-Tsimikas said he hoped that diabetic children could be inspired by the story of a koala with their illness to be more vigilant in controlling their own blood sugar.
The power of a koala as a diabetes ambassador struck Philis-Tsimikas at a diabetes conference this week. After completing her presentation with a photo of Quincy, she heard Ann Albright, a diabetes expert at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
"She told me, Athena, that I had a koala (a stuffed toy) and that I had type 1 diabetes myself," Philis-Tsimikas said. "I think it could inspire a lot of kids."
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