What Is Insulinoma In Ferrets?
What is insulinoma? Insulinoma is a tumor affecting a ferret's pancreas, which causes a cancer of the pancreas and destabilises the level of insulin in the ferret. This causes spikes in the quantity of insulin produced meaning that your ferret can become permanently hypoglycaemic (low blood sugar). Insulinoma usually affects older ferrets between the ages of 3 and 7 with no distinction as to sex. What are the symptoms? Fatigue Lethargy Weight loss Excessive salivation Vomiting Incoordination of paws Fits: During fits, your ferret may fall on their side and convulse. How is it diagnosed? The diagnosis of insulinoma can only be confirmed after multiple tests measuring the level of glucose in the blood. This level can vary over time. Hospitalisation for a whole day will therefore be necessary. If the ferret presents with a lower level than 0.7 grams per litre, they will need to undergo an echography of the abdomen or an exploratory laparotomy to confirm the presence of the nodules. What is the treatment? Treatment against insulinoma can be either surgical or medial: Surgical treatment: If the ferret is under the age of 6, a surgical operation is usually preferred. In consists of removing the pancreatic tumors that are visible to the naked eye. However, this operation doesn't guarantee complete recovery. It will however slow down considerably the progression of the disease. Medical treatment: This method consists of administrating medicine with a view to increasing the blood sugar levels. It doesn't cure the cancer but will slow its progression and treat the symptoms. If you have any doubts, it is best to take your ferret to the veterinary immediately because insulinoma spreads very quickly. You should therefore react quickly in order to minimise the damage to your ferret! Continue reading >>
Back To Client Info Index
Insulinomas General Information An insulinoma is a rare tumor of the pancreas of dogs and cats. These tumors release large amounts of insulin and cause a severe decrease in blood sugar (glucose) levels. Low blood sugar levels rapidly cause abnormal brain activity, leading to incoordination, weakness, collapse, muscle twitching, blindness, depression, extreme hunger and seizures. The cause of these tumors is unknown. Important Points in Treatment 1. Surgical removal of the tumor is the best treatment. We will not know how large the tumor is until the time of the surgery. If the tumor occupies a large portion of the pancreas, or if it has spread to other areas, complete removal may not be possible. We will attempt to identify any sites of metastasis (spread) and remove them in surgery. 2. Some patients with inoperable tumors can be maintained in reasonable health with dietary therapy and medication for some period of time. If we cannot find a tumor at the time of surgery we will continue with medical treatment and watch for signs that the diagnosis was correct. 3. Inflammation of the pancreas is common after surgery. Hospitalization is often necessary for several days after surgery. We want to make sure that the inflammation doesn't cause a problem for you after your pet goes home. 4. Blood sugar levels must be monitored closely during both medical and surgical treatment. After surgery you will need to watch for signs of recurrance of the tumor which may cause episodes of low blood sugar to return. If you start to see these you should contact us so we can document the recurrance. We will want to start medications to control the hypoglycemia. It would be very unlikely that we would recommend operating a second time. 5. Give all the medication as directed. Call the doctor i Continue reading >>
Hypoglycaemia
Patient professional reference Professional Reference articles are written by UK doctors and are based on research evidence, UK and European Guidelines. They are designed for health professionals to use. You may find the Dealing with Hypoglycaemia (Low Blood Sugar) article more useful, or one of our other health articles. Hypoglycaemia is defined as blood glucose <3.0 mmol/L; however, blood glucose <2.5 mmol/L is considered pathological and requires investigation[1]. The diagnosis of hypoglycaemia rests on three criteria (Whipple's triad)[2]: Plasma hypoglycaemia. Symptoms attributable to a low blood sugar level. Resolution of symptoms with correction of the hypoglycaemia. There are many causes of hypoglycaemia but it is most commonly the result of an excess of either insulin or oral hypoglycaemic medications combined with reduced sugar intake or increased activity. Hypoglycaemia adversely affects quality of life in patients with diabetes[3]. Epidemiology Hypoglycaemia is uncommon in people without diabetes[2]. Alcohol is the most common non-iatrogenic (non-physician) cause of hypoglycaemia in adults. People with diabetes treated with insulin or sulfonylureas[5]: Recurrent hypoglycaemia often responds to changes in diet or treatment but referral for structured education may be required (eg, to a Diabetes Specialist Nurse or a local education programme). Daytime non-severe hypoglycaemic episodes may have a significant adverse effect on day-to-day functioning[7]. People with diabetes with poor glycaemic control may experience hypoglycaemic symptoms with normal glucose concentrations ('false hypoglycaemia'). Ketotic hypoglycaemia (see under 'Presentation', below). Other drugs and toxins including pentamidine, quinine, paracetamol and toadstools. Rare causes (if insulin and Continue reading >>
You And Your Hormones
What is an insulinoma? Normally, the beta cells within the pancreas secrete insulin in response to rises in blood sugar after a person eats a meal and absorbs the carbohydrates within the meal. The role of insulin is to help the body use the carbohydrates to release energy and to keep blood sugar at normal levels. An insulinoma is a type of tumour called a neuroendocrine tumour (NET) that arises from the beta cells of the pancreas and causes problems by secreting too much insulin. Usually (>90%) these tumours are benign single lesions in the pancreas (i.e. they do not spread to other parts of the body). Occasionally, insulinomas may spread and develop secondary tumours beyond the pancreas, most often affecting the liver. These insulinomas are known as malignant. What causes insulinomas? It is unclear why insulinomas occur in most cases, although some occur as part of a genetic condition called multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1. What are the signs and symptoms of insulinomas? The symptoms of insulinomas can often be vague and non-specific. As insulinomas secrete too much insulin, this means that the blood sugar can drop to levels below normal. This can cause symptoms such as: sweating pallor racing of the heartbeat feelings of anxiety irritability or confusion unusual behaviour blackouts or seizures. These episodes can occur particularly when not eating for long periods (fasting), or first thing in the morning, but may occur at any time. Typically, eating or drinking foods that contain carbohydrate (such as bread, potatoes or pasta) relieves the symptoms. How common are insulinomas? Insulinomas are rare. It is estimated that one case is diagnosed every year per 250,000 people in the population. In the UK, this translates to approximately 250 new cases a year. Are insul Continue reading >>
What Is An Insulinoma?
An insulinoma is a tumor of the pancreas. That’s the organ that makes the hormone insulin, which controls your blood sugar. Normally, the pancreas makes more insulin when your blood sugar is high and less when those levels drop. But when you have an insulinoma, the tumor will keep making insulin even when your blood sugar gets too low. These tumors are usually small (less than an inch), and almost all of them are not cancer. In most cases, surgery can cure the problem. Symptoms Because these tumors make too much insulin, they can cause symptoms of low blood sugar, also known as hypoglycemia. You could have: Hypoglycemia can be dangerous. If your blood sugar drops very low, you could faint or go into a coma. Hypoglycemia is common in people with diabetes. It often happens because they took too much of their medicine, missed a meal, or got more exercise than usual, all of which can lower blood sugar. An insulinoma can also cause hypoglycemia when you haven’t eaten in a while, but it can happen at any time. What Causes an Insulinoma? It’s not clear why some people get these tumors. Women are slightly more likely to have them than men, and most people get them between ages 40 and 60. You’re also more likely to have an insulinoma if you have certain genetic diseases, including: Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 -- when tumors grow in glands that produce hormones Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome -- when tumors and cysts grow in many organs throughout the body Neurofibromatosis type 1 -- noncancerous tumors in the nerves and skin Tuberous sclerosis -- noncancerous tumors that grow in organs such as the brain, eyes, heart, kidneys, skin, and lungs Getting a Diagnosis It can be tough for doctors to diagnose an insulinoma. Its symptoms are the same as other common health prob Continue reading >>
What Is The Difference Between Enucleation And Excision?
enucleate means Biology - deprive of the nucleus. to remove (a kernel, tumor, eyeball, etc.) from its enveloping cover. General surgical perspective Enucleation is removal of mass without cutting or dissectimg it, and most importantly without it’s covering capsule. Enucleation is done in Fibroadenoma of breast Hemangioma of liver Leiomyoma of esophagus Chylolymphatic mesentric cyst Insulinoma involving head of pancreas Excision In surgery, the partial removal of an organ, tissue, bone or tumor from a body. According to the ICD-10-PCS and the Current Procedural Terminology, full removal of a tissue, bone, organ, or organ part should be termed resection, not excision, to denote that the whole, not a part, has been removed Continue reading >>
Insulinomas Faqs
An insulinoma is a tumour found on the pancreas and is known as a pancreatic endocrine tumour. These tumours release the hormone insulin which can affect blood sugar levels causing hypoglycaemic (hypos) episodes. Insulinomas can be benign or malignant. Insulinomas are quite rare and less than 10% are malignant. They are more common in the fifth decade of life and there is a higher incidence in women than men. Approximately 10% have multiple tumours. Approximately 5% of insulinomas are as a result of MEN1 syndrome. Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1 syndrome is an extremely rare condition caused by a faulty gene which can be inherited and causes a number of tumours to develop in the endocrine system. These tumours can be benign or malignant. If your consultant suspects that you may have MEN1 you will be offered a blood test to estimate levels of calcium and certain hormones in the blood. If the condition is confirmed you will be offered genetic counselling and a treatment plan will be designed for you. Arrangements will also be made for your children and siblings to be tested for MEN1. Insulin is a peptide hormone responsible for regulating fat and carbohydrate metabolism in the body. Insulin is produced by the pancreas, which lies behind the stomach. Insulin’s role is to remove excess glucose (sugars) from the blood which could be toxic. Once glucose levels drop to the normal range, insulin release slows down or stops. However insulinomas keep releasing insulin even when your blood sugar drops too low. High blood insulin levels cause low blood sugar levels (hypoglycaemia or hypos as they are generally known). Hypos may be mild making you feel anxious or hungry or can be severe leading to a loss of consciousness or seizures. The initial symptoms for an insulinom Continue reading >>
Canine Insulinoma
This article will address the canine insulinoma, a cancerous growth that produces an over- abundance of the blood glucose regulating hormone, insulin. Let's review some terms related to this discussion on canine insulinoma: Cancer - A general term frequently used to indicate any of various types of malignant neoplasms (see below), most of which invade surrounding tissues, may metastasize (see below) to several sites, and are likely to recur after attempted removal and to cause death of the patient unless adequately treated. Neoplasm - An abnormal tissue that grows by cellular proliferation more rapidly than normal and continues to grow after the stimuli that initiated the new growth ceases. Closely related to a tumor. Tumor - An abnormal growth of tissue resulting from uncontrolled progressive multiplication of cells and serving no physiological function. Closely related to a neoplasm. Malignant - Resistant to treatment; occurring in severe form, invades surrounding tissues and is frequently fatal. Benign - Denoting the mild character of an illness or the non-malignant character of a neoplasm. Metastatic - The shifting of a disease, from one part of the body to another. In cancer, the appearance of tumors in parts of the body remote from the origin of the primary tumor. Chemotherapy - Treatment of disease by means of chemical substances or medications. Exocrine gland - A gland that secretes a substance that ends up outside the body either directly or through a duct. Endocrine gland - A gland that secretes a substance internally as into the bloodstream. What is a canine insulinoma, where is one found and what affect does an insulinoma have on the dog? The canine insulinoma is a cancerous growth located on or within the pancreas of the dog. The pancreas is a secretory org Continue reading >>
Pancreatic Cancer (insulinoma) In Dogs
Insulinoma in Dogs Insulinomas are malignant neoplasms -- fast growing cancer cells -- of the beta cells in the pancreas. The beta cells primarily secrete insulin, among other hormones. Insulin produces a variety of effects in the body -- the primary one being to regulate glucose levels throughout the body's cells. Because insulinomas secrete excessive insulin, the blood stream becomes low in glucose (a condition referred to as hypoglycemia), which causes weakness or neurological problems. Symptoms and Types The most common symptom of an insulinoma is physical collapse, or loss of consciousness (syncope). Seizures, extreme weakness, and other neurological abnormalities are also common. Because the insulin is released periodically, symptoms are not consistent and frequency is not necessarily predictable. Diagnosis If your dog should collapse and a blood sample indicates low glucose, insulinoma will be highly suspected and your veterinarian will need to follow through with further tests to confirm it. However, multiple blood samples may need to be taken over a period of time to determine if there is a persistent low glucose concentration. Your doctor will need to determine the insulin concentration at the lowest glucose concentration. Withold food from your dog before tests are performed is essential for determining true glucose levels - your veterinarian will advise you on the appropriate way to conduct these short term fasts for your dog. An amended insulin:glucose ratio (AIGR) may be useful when your dog's insulin level is low, yet still in the normal range. Insulinoma is still suspected in these type of cases. If the insulin level is inappropriately high for the decreased glucose level, insulinoma may still be present. Ultrasound, computed tomography (CT), or magnetic Continue reading >>
Insulinoma: Causes, Symptoms, Treatment, Diagnosis
Insulinoma is the name that refers to a small tumor that develops in the pancreas which is responsible for producing high amounts of insulin. In majority of the cases, Insulinoma is a benign tumor but in some cases it can become malignant. Insulinoma tumors are extremely small and measure not more than 2 cm in diameter. The blood sugar levels in the body are controlled by the pancreas. The pancreas produces insulin which decreases the sugar levels in the body and stops producing it when the sugar levels become lower than normal. This is how normal blood sugar levels are maintained in the body. What happens in case of Insulinoma is that even if the pancreas stops producing insulin, the tumor which develops in pancreas continues to produce insulin thus the blood sugar levels keeps on decreasing which may result in some potentially serious complications like hypoglycemia which can cause dizziness, blurred vision, and in some cases unconsciousness. If not treated promptly, it may even become life threatening. Treatment for Insulinoma is normally surgical where the tumor is removed in its entirety. Once the tumor is removed the affected individual completely recovers from Insulinoma. The exact cause of Insulinoma is still not yet known and most of these tumors develop without any warning signs. Once an Insulinoma develops then the normal functioning of the pancreas is affected. Normally, the pancreas regulates sugar levels in the body through insulin. The greater the amount of insulin the lesser will be the blood sugar level. Once all of the sugar from the food is absorbed by the body for their functions the pancreas stops producing insulin and thus controls the levels of sugar in the body but with Insulinoma the tumor continues to produce insulin which may lead to severe co Continue reading >>
Insulinoma
insulinoma [in″su-lin-o´mah] a tumor of the beta cells of the islets of Langerhans; although usually benign, it is one of the chief causes of hypoglycemia. Miller-Keane Encyclopedia and Dictionary of Medicine, Nursing, and Allied Health, Seventh Edition. © 2003 by Saunders, an imprint of Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved. in·su·li·no·ma (in'sŭ-li-nō'mă), An islet cell adenoma that secretes insulin. insulinoma /in·su·li·no·ma/ (in″sdbobr-lin-o´mah) an islet cell tumor of the beta cells, usually benign, that secretes insulin and is one of the chief causes of hypoglycemia. insulinoma insulinoma A well-differentiated pancreatic endocrine neoplasm associated with Whipple's triad: (1) Symptoms and signs of hypoglycaemia; (2) Concomitant plasma glucose level of 45 mg/dL or less; and (3) Symptoms reverse with the administration of glucose. Amyloid is often found in insulinomas. Prognosis Insulinomas, especially if small, have an excellent prognosis. insulinoma Insuloma Oncology A pancreatic islet cell tumor, which is characterized by overproduction of insulin, resulting in hypoglycemia of sufficient severity to trigger a coma; insulinomas are typical of MEN I. See MEN I. insulinoma A rare tumour of the INSULIN -producing cells of the PANCREAS. Insulinomas can produce large quantities of insulin and lead to the dangerous condition of HYPOGLYCAEMIA. insulinoma a tumor of the beta cells of the islets of Langerhans; although usually benign, it is one of the chief causes of hypoglycemia. Continue reading >>
What Is Insulinoma?
What is Insulinoma? Home > Ferret FAQ > Health Issues > What is Insulinoma? Insulinoma is one of the most common forms of cancer diagnosed in ferrets. It’s a common misconception that insulinoma is a ferret’s version of diabetes, but in fact, insulinoma is the exact opposite of diabetes for ferrets. A ferret with insulinoma has cancer of the pancreas, which is when Islet cell tumors on the pancreas cause an overproduction of insulin. Insulin is a hormone which allows cells in the body to use glucose in the blood. Overproduction of insulin forces the glucose in the blood into the cells, which causes a drop in glucose level, or hypoglycemia. Diabetes in ferrets is when low levels of insulin render cells unable to use the glucose, causing an overabundance of glucose. This is known as hyperglycemia. So to summarize: Hypoglycemia = too much insulin = low blood sugar = Insulinoma Hyperglycemia = too little insulin = high blood sugar = Diabetes A normal blood sugar level for a ferret is anywhere between 90 and 120. When a ferret has low blood sugar (anything 70 or below), this is considered to be diagnostic of insulinoma. A fasting blood sugar test (no food for 4 – 6 hours before the test) can be administered by your vet, but what symptoms should raise the alarm? Weakness Lethargy Excessive Salivating Staring off with a dazed look Mouth ulcers Tremors Pawing at the mouth Hind leg weakness (this is one of the most common signs that is almost always attributed to insulinoma) Loss of coordination Vomiting Weight loss If your ferret is exhibiting one or more of these symptoms, a visit to an experienced ferret vet and a blood sugar test are highly recommended. If you see these symptoms and they stop, don’t assume that your ferret is alright. Insulinoma symptoms can come and Continue reading >>
Insulinoma In Ferrets
Most ferrets reported to have developed an insulinoma are about five years of age, but this disease can affect a pet as young as two years old. Some ferrets show obvious signs of disease, whereas others won’t show any clinical signs of illness at all-- or the symptoms may be intermittent. A ferret may become weak, stagger, and suddenly collapse when affected by the pancreatic tumor. These symptoms can worsen depending on how low the blood glucose levels have dropped. Ferrets often show a small period of improvement shortly after eating, due to the ready supply of glucose within food, but soon return to an ill state. Insulinoma in ferrets is a type of tumor that arise from the beta cells of the pancreas. The beta cells are specialized cells inside the pancreatic organ responsible for producing the insulin hormone. Insulin is a chemical that regulates a ferret’s blood sugars by decreasing the level of glucose circulating the blood. Since insulinomas produce insulin, the excessive amount of this special chemical decreases the body’s energy source, glucose, to dangerously low levels. An insulinoma can be either an insulin producing adenocarcinoma or an insulin producing adenoma. An adenocarcinoma is malignant, whereas an adenoma tumor is benign. Both cause ferrets to display similar symptoms, so a proper diagnosis is key. The severity of clinical signs associated with insulinoma depends on how the insulin-producing tumor has affected the ferret’s blood glucose. If the tumor has made the glucose drop extremely low, the symptoms will be severe, but if the glucose has not been affected greatly a ferret could display very minimal signs of disease. If a ferret is suffering from an insulinoma, pet owners should watch for clinical signs including: Intermittent episodes of Continue reading >>
Do Doctors Know When Their Patient Is Lying?
Perhaps they know if their patient is lying. I think that more often, they assume that since they aren’t seeing anything on a test that the patient is imagining that their symptoms are worse than they are. In my case, I was ill a lot as a child in school. I complained of being very, very tired after being active for a while. Pain in my chest became a problem. My pediatrician found nothing wrong and told my mom that “some people are more sensitive than others and feel pain where other people would just ignore it.” In my 20s, I had unusual results on every EKG that I took prior to any kind of surgery. No one ever mentioned it to me or my family. In my 30s, I began to run a slight fever all the time. I began to feel out of rhythm heartbeats. Again, testing found nothing except that I had a little high white blood count that they said caused the fever (99–100). I was told that everyone has heartbeats that are unusual at times. In my 40s, I was very, very ill with throwing up, heaving, not being able to eat yet I didn’t lose any weight, wheezing, stomach pain, cough, and extreme weakness. I was sent to a gastroenterologist who tested but found nothing very unusual. One day I began peeing pure blood and felt like I was literally going to die. I was admitted to the hospital for kidney issues, but again they found nothing in their tests. I was put on an anxiety medication along with ulcer medications. Shortly after, still having symptoms, I was sent to a general surgeon who found a very enlarged gall bladder. Surgery was delayed, though, becuase the EKG showed irregularities and the doctor was concerned about putting me under general anesthesia. I had to sign a waiver saying that I knew there was a danger but I agreed to the anesthesia anyway. Not once did anyone sugg Continue reading >>
What Happens If Our Blood Insulin Level Is Higher Than Normal?
hey you asked very interesting question, Type 1 and type 2 Diabetes are completely different diseases, but they share some common things like both show high level of sugar in blood, both suffer from severe side effect like neuropathy, nephropathy, blindness, heart failure, kidney diseases etc. etc. but their symptoms are same, As both diseases are different so most doctor don’t know how to treat you correctly. In type 1, we have no insulin production in our body, on the other hand type 2 has enough insulin is already present in the body. type 1 & 2 are 180 degree opposite to each other but the symptom is same, “high level of sugar in blood” And in between there is type 1.5 diabetes, where Pancreas are producing enough insulin to stay well, but that insulin are very small in quantity and unable to maintain normal blood sugar . you will be alive having high insulin in blood. high insulin will make you fatter day by day because liver has only insulin receiver, when ever it saw high insulin it tries to store glucose from blood after some times liver becomes full of glucose when its stock house is full, then it starts converting glucose into fat for fixed deposit in body muscles and tissue. this may leads to weight gain, obesity, and will attract more diseases., if you want to reverse your diabetes and want to live Drug & Diabetes free life, just drop a mail at [email protected] , i challenge to make you free from drug and diabetes. Most of us have less knowledge about Diabetes. we accept the symptom as a cause of Diabetes. whole market is running with conspiracy to sell drug and medication to cure and control. no one think about actual cause, its like putting ice on hot plate to make it cool instead of removing burning flame present below it your drug will bring y Continue reading >>
