Glucose and insulin dynamics associated with continuous rate infusion of dextrose solution or dextrose solution and insulin in healthy and endotoxin-exposed horses.

The research paper explores the effects of continuous infusion of dextrose solution or a combination of dextrose and insulin on glucose and insulin levels in healthy horses versus horses exposed to endotoxins. They found that insulin infusion at a rate of 0.07 U/kg/hours was effective at preventing hyperglycemia when given concurrently with dextrose solution, and the horses did not become hypoglycemic during infusion, suggesting this method is safe.

Research Methods

• The study involved 9 adult mares that were tested in two separate phases. During the first phase, four horses were given saline solution as a control group and four were given a 20% dextrose solution intravenously for a period of 360 minutes.
• In the second phase, the horses were split into two groups: group 2 were healthy horses administered with both dextrose and insulin simultaneously while group 3 consisted of horses that had been administered with an endotoxin known as lipopolysaccharide 24 hours before the dextrose and insulin infusion.
• Throughout both phases, a balanced crossover study design was utilised and blood samples were collected regularly to measure plasma glucose and insulin concentrations to assess the impact of the two administered solutions.

Research Findings

• The research found that when dextrose solution was infused alone, it resulted in hyperglycemia for most of the infusion period. A significant increase in insulin concentration was noted in the group 1 horses that were given dextrose, compared to the control group who were given only saline solution.
• The average insulin concentration in group 2 (where dextrose and insulin were administered together) was found to be significantly higher throughout most of the dextrose and insulin infusion period compared to both the control group and group 1.
• It was observed that there was no significant difference in mean glucose levels between group 2 and group 3 (endotoxin-exposed horses).

Conclusions

• The researchers concluded that insulin infusion at a rate of 0.07 U/kg/h was successful in preventing hyperglycemia when given concurrently with a dextrose solution.
• A significant insight from this study is that this infusion rate did not result in hypoglycemia during dextrose solution infusions, suggesting that this method is safe for use in horses.