What is Feline diabetes?

Diabetes mellitus is very common with cats and occurs because of the failure of the insulin hormone to be able to balance blood glucose levels.

Just as in humans, glucose is needed by the cells of the body to use as energy. Once the food is eaten, glucose will enter the blood system and insulin is secreted which is the signal for the cells of the body to start the procedure of changing the sugar eaten into a useable form of energy - that is in a healthy body. The more food eaten the more insulin is produced. All of this is very carefully maintained by the body - the blood glucose level does not go too low or too high.

A cat develops Type 1 diabetes because the pancreas does not secrete enough insulin or Type 2 diabetes when the cells of the body do not react to insulin that is produced. Either type of diabetes causes the blood glucose levels to go too high since the body is not able to process glucose. During the early stage of diabetes, the cat can gain weight because of increased appetite when the insulin levels rises or falls. So despite having a normal appetite, the cat still loses weight because the body is not able to change sugar into energy, so basically the diabetic cat begins starving to death.

The typical sign of diabetes in cats is excessive urination and is possibly the reason you brought your cat into the vets. The cat that has diabetes develops hyperglycemia (high blood glucose levels) and begins to pass the excessive amounts of sugar into their urine (glucosuria). With the build up of glucose in the urine, the body's response is to try to flush the excessive sugar from the kidneys with urination. This of course causes excessive thirst (polydipsia). Polydipsia together with excessive urination (polyuria) is typical symptoms of diabetes in cats. The PU/PD will be controlled as soon as the cat's diabetes is under control.

Diabetes occurs in cats of any sex, breed, or age but it usually happens in obese older cats. It also more commonly affects males. The cause of diabetes in cats is not exactly known but some theories are genetics, pancreatic disease, obesity, a hormonal imbalance or certain drugs can all possibly be a factor. Or it could be a combination of causes.

The vet will need to runs some test as well as examine your cat to be able to diagnose the cat as having diabetes. Blood and urine tests will also need to be run. The treatment for your cat's diabetes involves insulin injections at least once or twice a day. A small number of cats' diabetes may be controlled with diet and oral medication.

Don't despair if your cat develops diabetes and needs insulin injections. Many cats are being treated for diabetes and go on to live active and long lives.

Learn More about Feline Diabetes

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