In the first case of its kind reported, the giant anteater in Edinburgh was diagnosed with diabetes!

The giant anteater at Edinburgh Zoo is being treated for diabetes, with keepers relying on a device normally used in humans to monitor its condition.

In the first reported case of its kind, the anteater Nala was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes.

Supervisors trained her to take daily insulin injections, while a donated glucose monitor was used to ensure she was getting the correct dose.

Dr Stephanie Motta, resident veterinary surgeon at the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland, said Nala was diagnosed after showing symptoms similar to those of humans with diabetes.

Motta said: “The rangers first found out that something was wrong when Nala was losing weight despite eating the same amount, or sometimes more than usual. We did a full health check under general anaesthesia, did a lot of tests, and found out that Nala was infected with the virus. Type 1 diabetes.
While the condition is known to occur in domestic cats and dogs and in tamandua – a type of anteater – in the wild, no other cases have been reported in giant anteaters.

“Our guards did an amazing job quickly training Nala to take her insulin injections every day, but the challenge for us was how to constantly monitor her blood glucose levels to ensure she was getting the perfect dose. Taking blood daily wasn’t an option, and we initially started monitoring the levels,” Motta continued. Through urine samples, we decided to contact some of the companies that produced human glucose monitors to try to simplify the process, and find a way that is least intrusive for Nala.”

Dexcom, the leading provider of this technology, donated the monitor to the charity, and they were able to apply it during one of its training sessions, which allows checking their blood glucose levels through a remote app.

Due to her beautiful personality, Nala is the perfect candidate for this technology, and her amazing team of guards, to manage her condition in the best possible way.