Diabetes Mellitus
What is diabetes mellitus in cats?
Diabetes mellitus is also known as “sugar” diabetes. It is a common but complex disease where the cat either doesn’t produce or doesn’t properly use insulin, similar to human diabetics. After a cat eats, the carbohydrates, fats, and proteins are broken down into smaller components that can be used by the body. Glucose is one component. It provides the energy needed to sustain the cat’s life.
The hormone Insulin is produced in the pancreas and is responsible for regulating the level of glucose in the bloodstream. When there’s not enough insulin or it’s not working well, the cat’s body starts to break down fat and protein that it has stored up, to use as energy source instead. When this happens, the cat will eat more food while it loses weight. The cat will have high sugar bloodstream levels, which need to be eliminated. It’s dumped into the urine. The sugar in the urine leads to excessive urination and thirst. Cat owners may see these 4 signs of diabetes mellitus: weight loss, increased urination, large appetite, and more water consumption.
Diabetes mellitus can affect any cat, but it most often occurs in older, obese cats. Female cat are not afflicted as often as male cats. It’s not known what the exact cause of the disease in cats is. Obesity is the major predisposing condition. Hormonal diseases, and certain medications (e.g., megestrol acetate and corticosteroids like prednisolone) have all been linked to the disease.
How do you tell if your cat has diabetes?
The diagnosis is based on physical examination findings, laboratory test results, and the persistent presence of abnormally high levels of sugar in the blood and urine. Immediate treatment is necessary, once diabetes has been diagnosed.
Diabetes will shorten a cat’s lifespan if it’s left untreated. Ketoacidosis may develop if it’s left untreated. This is a dangerous, sometimes fatal condition that is indicated by diarrhea, lethargy, loss of appetite, vomiting, dehydration, weakness, and breathing abnormalities. Diabetes can also cause liver disease, an unhealthy skin and coat, or secondary bacterial infections. Diabetic neuropathy, a related disorder, may cause cats to become weaker, especially in the hind legs, impairing their ability to jump and causing them to walk with their hocks touching the ground.
The severity of the disease will determine the type of treatment. Fluid therapy and short-acting insulin injections are required for cats with ketoacidosis. For cats that are not severely ill, your veterinarian may recommend a treatment plan that includes insulin injections or oral medications, along with dietary changes.
