| Diabetes Mellitus in Cats |
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OverviewWhat is diabetes mellitus?Diabetes mellitus (aka "Sugar Diabetes") is a serious condition caused by a deficiency of insulin produced by the pancreas. This results in an excessive amount of glucose or sugar in the blood. Diabetes mellitus affects an estimated one in four hundred cats, and is seen more frequently in middle to old-age cats and is more common in males than females. Symptoms and DiagnosisWhat are the symptoms of diabetes mellitus?The symptoms diabetes are generally related to the higher blood glucose levels and the inability of the cat to use that glucose as a source of energy The most common clinical signs seen are:
These symptoms may vary or not be as noticable depending on the lifestyle of the cat. For example, you may not notice your outdoor cat drinking more than usual if she is drinking from puddles, outdoor dog water dishes, or any other standing water. Indoor cats that are fed moist food get more water from the food itself, and so may not drink a noticable extra amount from the water dish. How is diabetes mellitus diagnosed?Diagnosis is made based on the above symptoms in conjunction with persistently high blood glucose (as determined by blood tests) and the presence of glucose in the urine. There are other causes, particularly stress, that may temporarily raise glucose levels, so it is important that the diagnosis is made on a series of tests over a period of time. TreatmentHow is diabetes mellitus treated?Diabetes mellitus is a treatable condition through long-term care. The first steps in treatment is to rectify any predisposing causes of diabetes, such as obesity or any medications that may be affecting glucose levels. If there are no predisposing causes, or if their correction doesn't lead to resolution of the diabetes, treatment is required. A small proportion of cats respond to oral hypoglycemic medication, but most will need daily insulin injections. When first starting treatment the right dosage of insulin will need to be determined over a series of hospital visits. Once dosage is set and the glucose level is brought within the normal range, your cat will need a small dose of insulin once or twice a day. Very small needles are available which cause no pain to the cat, and within a short period of time the procedure becomes routine. Administration times, dosages and type of insulin will be determined by your veterinarian. Home CareHow do I monitor my cat's diabetes?Monitoring can be done in part through the collection of occasional blood samples by your veterinarian, but it is particularly valuable to keep accurate records of the following information: Daily records:
Weekly record:
In addition to these records, it can be beneficial to measure glucose levels in the urine. Kept at regular intervals, urine glucose levels can be an important aid in marking progress trends. What happens if my cat receives too much insulin?If a cat receives too much insulin, it is possible for the blood sugar level to drop dangerously low. It is important to be very careful in giving the correct dose of insulin. The typical signs displayed by a cat with a very low blood sugar level are weakness and lethargy, shaking, unsteadiness and even convulsions. If a diabetic cat shows any of these signs it is important to seek immediate veterinary advice or attention. In mild cases of hypoglycemia, you may observe "wobbling" or "drunken" walk or appearance and the cat may not arouse when you call or pet them. In cases of mild or early hypoglycemia, you should administer approximately a tablespoon of corn syrup, honey or sugar solution by mouth. If more severe signs are displayed such as ataxia or severe incoordination and unsteadiness during walking, or convulsions, you should seek immediate veterinary care. Your veterinarian can advise you on specific emergency treatment of low blood sugar in your cat. |
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