I am repeating an earlier post on InsulinWise because it's important. It is being heavily advertised to veterinarians as being "research proven" but I can't help thinking most vets haven't actually read it.  There was research, but it's hardly convincing:

The study on InsulinWise was released in the May 2020 issue of JEVS; Dr. Manfredi lead author.

They used both a high and low dose group - with no difference in results.

There were 15 horses in the study, Morgans and Arabians. All were originally diagnosed by either oral sugar test or intravenous testing, not by having elevated baseline insulin.  At the time of original diagnosis 3 years before the study, only 3 had fasting insulin over 10 uIU. Before supplementation, only 3 had fasting insulin over 20 with the group average being 15. In other words, these were all very mild cases that would not be diagnosed as EMS by the conventional "reference ranges" or the commonly used blanket upper "normal" of 20 uIU (see previous posts on normal fasted insulin).

Despite being very mild, five of these 15 cases did not respond at all to the InsulinWise (33.3%).

Of the ones that did respond to a 6 week course of the supplement, only the 60 and 75 minute insulin levels (after oral glucose load) showed a statistically significant but clinically very minimal insulin drop from an average of around 60 to an average of 50 uIU at 60 minutes. There is currently debate over what the upper limit at 60 minutes should be. Some say 60 uIU and some say 45. Studies of normal horses often show peaks as low as 20 uIU.

Adiponectin levels showed a minimal increase. The adiponectin assay used was found to be invalid in another study (Menzies-Gow et al, EVJ 2019). There was no change in leptin, triglycerides, TNF-alpha, or fat deposits. There was no change in body condition score or fat deposits.

No one on this list has reported a good result and some have had the horse worsen.

Cost is around $2.00/day.
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Eleanor in PA

www.drkellon.com 
EC Owner 2001

I shared all of this information with my vet. I printed everything here and gave it to her.  She still wasn't willing to try Metform or Invokana until we tried Insulin Wise first. I think part of the problem is that I'm in Michigan and MSU grads always refer there for advice. The MSU connection to the study makes it "golden". She said Metform doesn't work long term, which I know,  but still think it would be helpful to get her numbers down initially, and that there isn't enough research on Invokana.
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Leigh and May
Michigan
Joined 2020
https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/files/Leigh%20and%20May
https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/album?id=260799

Dr K
Do you mind if I share this? I was just in a “discussion “ about this, amazing that instead of actually doing the research, and because their vet says it works people refuse to believe there is no proof of it actually working. I find it ironic that this vet is refusing Invokana but will back InsulinWise.


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Bobbie and Desi
NRC Plus March 2020
Utah, Nov 2018

https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/files/Bobbie%20and%20Desi

https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/album?id=78821

 Sure. Share away - just also provide the link to this group.
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Eleanor in PA

www.drkellon.com 
EC Owner 2001

To clarify,  I want to try Metform or Invokana and I don't believe the Insulin Wise is going to get results. I told her that I'd give it 6 weeks and retest. If we haven't gotten results then we either try one of the others or I'll find a vet that will.  Thankfully May is doing well in the mean time, and it's a money back product.
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Leigh and May
Michigan
Joined 2020
https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/files/Leigh%20and%20May
https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/album?id=260799

Hi Leigh, just to weigh in, I had Vinnie on Insulinwise for 2 years during which ti.e he had a repeat laminitis which then I was instructed to give 2 scoops per day.  I finally stopped in June of 2020 when his insulin numbers skyrocketed.  I really don't think it helped insulin at all. I liked that it had quercetin and reseravtrol for joints but it wasn't worth the cost.  
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Nancy and Vinnie and Summer
Oakley, Ca
Joined Nov 2018
https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/files/Nancy%20and%20Vinnie 
https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/album?id=245855

Summer
https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/files/Nancy%20and%20Vinnie/Summer 
https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/album?id=249104

Just my two cents worth: Vet strongly recommended Insulin Wise. We used this expensive stuff for a long time, then vet said double the dose. No improvement whatsoever.
Serious junk. Don’t waste your money....
Of course we follow ECIR protocol to the letter - Always have, always will....
Williams/Dubrow ‘08.

I hope you asked for your money back.  This company has a satisfaction guaranteed policy https://www.kppvet.com/customer-support/ .  That doesn't seem wise with a product where it is already known that 1 in 3 horses have no effect and even mild cases show minimal benefit but the reality is that most people probably won't bother to ask for their money back. Maybe if they did we'd see less of this kind of thing.
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Eleanor in PA

www.drkellon.com 
EC Owner 2001

P.S.  It was noted right in the article that higher dose didn't make any difference.
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Eleanor in PA

www.drkellon.com 
EC Owner 2001

I will absolutely get my money back. 
Are their files here with Invokana research? I've looked here and done searches on my own,  but haven't been able to find anything. 
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Leigh and May
Michigan
Joined 2020
https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/files/Leigh%20and%20May
https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/album?id=260799

A paper has been submitted for publication but I can't post it here until it is accepted. I have an information file I can send to your vet if you let me know the e-mail address.
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Eleanor in PA

www.drkellon.com 
EC Owner 2001

Thank you for this.

My vet also recommended it for Haven and he developed a persistent cough after just a couple of days... persistent as in one deep cough every couple of minutes.  

lisa
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Lisa and Haven
Independence, MN
2015

Haven's case history: https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/files/Lisa%20and%20Haven 

Haven's photos: https://ecir.groups.io/g/CaseHistory/album?id=261155