Diabetic Koala Gets Glucose Monitor At San Diego Zoo

SAN DIEGO, CA – A diabetic koala at the San Diego Zoo is getting the help he needs, thanks to a new glucose monitor.

The koala, named Quincy, has type 1 diabetes. He needs insulin injections, which are based on his blood sugar levels.

To better manage Quincy's blood sugar levels, endocrinologists from Scripps Health, biotechnology professionals from Dexcom and animal care specialists from the San Diego Zoo recently hooked the koala up with a continuous glucose monitoring system.

"With a continuous glucose monitor, we may be able to monitor Quincy's glucose levels throughout the day without having to disturb him," Dr. Cora Singleton, a senior veterinarian at the San Diego Zoo, said in a statement. "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 now wears Dexcom's G6 Continuous Glucose Monitoring System, which is the latest innovation in diabetes management technology. The new monitoring system started shipping to people with diabetes earlier this month.

The sensor and transmitter placed on Quincy sends his blood sugar levels in real time to a smart device monitored by his caretakers. With the new technology, veterinarians will no longer need to prick the koala's ears multiple times each day to test his blood glucose levels. The system also has built-in alarms and alerts that will notify Quincy's caretakers before his blood sugar reaches dangerous levels.

Very few koalas have been diagnosed with and treated for diabetes, Singleton said.

Quincy was initially diagnosed with diabetes by veterinarians at the Los Angeles Zoo, where he was living at the time. He was transferred to the San Diego Zoo for continued advanced diagnosis and treatment.

Diabetes has rarely been documented in koalas, according to the San Diego Zoo. Animal care experts do not know what may have triggered the condition in Quincy.

Photo taken June 15, 2018 by Ken Bohn, San Diego Zoo.