Insulin Tolerance Test

insulin resistance

2 x sodium fluoride blood 1 ml

• fasting not required
• blood sample taken to determine baseline glucose (sample 0)
• then i.v. injection 0.10 IU of insulin/kg bdw
• repeat sampling to determine glucose after 30 min
• then feed promptly!

glucose

photometry

horse

1 day

Healthy horses have blood glucose levels of < 50% of the initial value 30 min after the injection of insulin and these levels should have risen back to the initial level at the latest after 2 hours.
Cave: risk of hypoglycaemia in insulin-sensitive horses