Steroids and Insulin: The Hidden Trigger of Catastrophic Laminitis
About this episode
This episode discusses the link between corticosteroid injections and insulin spikes leading to severe laminitis in horses.
In this episode Nancy McLean checks into recent equine herpes cases and focuses on new research linking corticosteroid (triamcinolone) joint injections to insulin spikes and severe laminitis. They review the case of Fiona, a competitive mare who developed fatal laminitis after sacroiliac injections, and summarize ongoing studies at NC State funded by the Chromatic Fund. The researchers are comparing single high-dose versus repeated low-dose steroid protocols, finding undiagnosed insulin dysregulation in many sport horses and recommending insulin testing before steroid treatments. The clinical study is expected to conclude by spring 2026.
People in this episode
Host: Nancy McLean
Topics covered
- equine health
- laminitis
- steroid treatments
- insulin dysregulation
- equine research
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: NC State, Chromatic Fund
Products: triamcinolone
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