If your cat has been diagnosed with diabetes mellitus (DM), do not worry that you are in good company. Unfortunately, DM is a growing problem in cats, probably due to the growing rate of obesity.
What exactly is diabetes? Diabetes mellitus is an endocrine problem in which your cat's pancreas does not produce enough insulin. With DM, the body does not produce enough insulin, the hormone that pushes sugar ("glucose") into the body's cells. Without insulin, body cells starve for sugar. Unfortunately, this then causes the body to produce more and more sugar (trying to feed the cells). That's why your cat's blood sugar is so high (what we call "hyperglycemia"). Without insulin, the sugar can not enter the cells. Therefore, you must administer it twice a day with a tiny syringe.
The good news about DM in cats? Unlike DM in dogs, DM can be transient in cats. what does that mean to you? If your cat has only been diagnosed with DM, do not panic - with aggressive follow-up, short-term insulin injections, weight loss and a change in diet, this may not be a lifelong disease for your cat!
It is important to recognize the clinical signs of diabetes mellitus in cats. The sooner you realize this, the faster we can treat it and the better the long-term prognosis for your cat. Signs of DM in cats are:
The cat laying on it is back
Larger urine lumps in the litter box (eg excessive urination)
See your cat more in the water bowl (eg over-drinking)
Dilute urine (eg less foul-smelling urine in the cat litter box)
obesity
Muscle loss over the back
Hungry act
lethargy
Walking "deeper" in the hind legs (eg hocks) due to diabetes neuropathy (nerve problems)
Types of Diabetes Mellitus
In veterinary medicine, there are two types of diabetes mellitus: Type I DM and Type II DM. Cats develop the latter type, which is referred to as Type II diabetes.
Type I DM (which is more common in dogs) is when the body does not produce insulin. Type I DM requires lifelong insulin therapy.
Type II DM (more common in cats) occurs when the body produces low levels of insulin but not sufficient levels. Type II DM is often associated with obesity, which makes the body insulin resistant. With aggressive treatment of type II diabetes can be transient, requiring only a change in diet and short-term insulin therapy (months). Therefore, one of the reasons why vets are always fighting against pet obesity!
Treatment of diabetes mellitus
While the diagnosis DM is not a death sentence, it can be a costly disease because treatment is required. The good news is that as a committed cat owner, you can help make diabetes disappear quickly - within 1-2 years, if not earlier! This is because DM is often transient in cats and with appropriate therapy (including insulin injections, diet changes, and veterinary care) your cat can be treated successfully - and even cured. Note, however, that DM can be fatal if left untreated, and that hormone supplementation (insulin) and follow-up can be costly.
The treatment of diabetes depends on how early the DM was diagnosed. The sooner you see the signs, the sooner you see a vet, and the faster your cat gets insulin, the less long-term damage your pancreas will be! Keep in mind that you must visit your veterinarian more frequently with your cat, as DM monitoring and treatment involves frequent blood tests (eg, blood sugar curves).
In cats, initial treatment may include diet changes, oral medications, weight loss, and insulin therapy. Keep in mind that some cat watchers will only try a diet change at first. However, recent studies have shown that the earlier you start insulin therapy, the healthier your pancreas will be.
Special features of the treatment
In the treatment of DM, dietary changes are often recommended. In cats, a change in diet involves a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet (similar to Purina DM ™ or canned cat food). Simultaneous weight loss is also a must!
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