Feline Diabetes

           Diabetes is a growing medical condition, not only for humans, but also in our furry felines as well. Diabetes if left untreated, can drastically affect your cat’s quality of life and lifespan over all.  But the good news is that feline diabetes is manageable!

            So what is feline diabetes?   Diabetes (diabetes mellitus) in kitties simply means that your cat is no longer producing enough insulin or they are not able to process the insulin they have made, therefor they have excess glucose (sugar) in their bloodstream.  Insulin is a very important hormone that is secreted by the pancreas and is used by the body to help regulate and balance the glucose levels in the blood.  There are three types of feline diabetes: Type 1, Type 2 and Type 3

 Type 1 Diabetes:

This form of diabetes is very rare in the cat and occurs when the pancreas is not able to produce enough insulin to regulate the glucose (sugar) in the blood stream which causes persistent high glucose levels in the blood.

Type 2 Diabetes:

The most commonly diagnosed type is type 2 diabetes.  This occurs when the cat is producing insulin like normal, but the cells in the cat’s body don’t respond to the insulin that is being produced.  This causes an increase in glucose (sugar) in the bloodstream and the cat becomes hyperglycemic (high blood sugar).  

Type 3 Diabetes:

Type 3 Diabetes is also less common and occurs as a secondary condition to another primary disease which is causing damage to the pancreas. 

            There are various signs and symptoms to watch out for that may suggest further testing for diabetes in your cat.  Watch for:

• Increased thirst
• Sudden increase in appetite
• Sudden weight loss (despite an increase in appetite)
•  Increased urination
•  Increased lethargy

 Your cat’s diet is also very important, especially if they have diabetes.  The majority of cats diagnosed with feline diabetes are diagnosed as overweight as well.  (Though, keep in mind if your cat has had unregulated diabetes for some time, it may be underweight)  Additionally, most veterinarians recommend that diabetic cats should be on an all wet food diet that is high in protein and low in carbohydrates.  Dry cat foods are very high in carbs, which even for a non-diabetic cat can be very hard to break down leading to obesity, but in a diabetic cat can cause their blood sugar levels to fluctuate.  Even grain-free dry food diets contain a lot of carbohydrates.  Wet cat food also contains a lot more water, which is essential for your cat!  Cats are notorious for not drinking enough water and wet cat food is a great way to get them that extra H2O!

 

Exercise is another important aspect of keeping your diabetic cat happy and healthy.  Simply playing with your cat daily will help a great deal.  Toys on strings and hand-held lasers are fun and interactive toys that will help you exercise your cat.   Also, toys that stimulate your cat to play on their own when you are not home are also great!

            In some cases though, your cat’s diabetes will need to be regulated with diet and exercise as well with the administration of insulin injections.  Your veterinarian will work closely with you and your kitty to develop a regimen for testing and controlling your cat's blood sugar levels.