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San Diego Zoo outfits diabetic koala, Quincy, with glucose monitor

By Kelcie Willis, Cox Media Group National Content Desk

A koala at the San Diego Zoo (not pictured) was given a continuous glucose monitor to help zoo workers manage his type 1 diabetes. (Photo by Nathan Rupert via Flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/nathaninsandiego/4445135388/ (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0))

By Kelcie Willis, Cox Media Group National Content Desk

SAN DIEGO, Calif. — Experts at the San Diego Zoo have successfully equipped a koala with diabetes with a glucose monitor designed for humans.

The San Diego Tribune reported that the zoo experts worked with Scripps Health and glucose monitor company Dexcom to monitor Quincy the Queensland koala's Type 1 diabetes. It is not clear how Quincy got the condition, according to KFMB, but it has rarely been documented in koalas.

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Dexcom's G6 continuous glucose monitoring system was donated by the company. The system means the marsupial will no longer have to get his ears pricked multiple times a day to test his glucose levels.

"Very few koalas have been diagnosed with and treated for diabetes," Cora Singleton, DVM, senior veterinarian, San Diego Zoo Veterinary Services, said in a statement. "Quincy currently requires insulin injections, which are based on his blood sugar level. With a continuous glucose monitor, we may be able to monitor Quincy's glucose levels throughout the day without having to disturb him. We are hopeful that this technology will work as well in koalas as it does in people, thus allowing us to optimize his insulin therapy while promoting his welfare during his illness."

Quincy the Diabetic Koala

Quincy the koala has diabetes, but thanks to new technology we don't have to prick him multiple times a day to track his blood glucose levels. We're very excited for this koality of life improvement. 🐨

Posted by San Diego Zoo on Monday, June 25, 2018

According to a news release from Scripps Health, the procedure to place the monitor on Quincy went well.

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