Feline Diabetes ~ Pawprints and Purrs, Inc.

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Any health care links located here are NOT to replace a veterinarian visit; please take your cat to a vet immediately at any sign of odd behavior or any symptoms of illness or injury. Call your vet and describe your cat's symptoms with any of your concerns about the cat's well-being. Your veterinarian may discover changes in your cat's health that you have overlooked. It is always better to err on the side of caution.

Feline Diabetes

Diabetes is a very complex condition, in which a cat is unable to control his blood sugar (glucose) levels. It affects one in 400 cats. Diabetes mellitus is one of the most commonly diagnosed metabolic diseases in cats. However, the diagnosis can sometimes be complicated by hyperglycemia resulting from stress. Stress hyperglycemia (the presence of an abnormally high concentration of glucose in the blood) can approach the serum glucose levels of diabetes, and can in some instances be high enough to cause glucosuria (a condition in which glucose is discharged in the urine - diabetes mellitus). Measurement of serum fructosamine concentration in cats is used to distinguish stress hyperglycemia from the hyperglycemia of diabetes mellitus.

Serum fructosamine levels are significantly higher in untreated or poorly controlled diabetic cats compared with stressed or ill non-diabetic cats with hyperglycemia.

Fructosamine may also be a useful monitor of glycemic control in diabetic cats. Well-controlled diabetic cats have significantly lower serum fructosamine levels than poorly regulated diabetic cats.

A cat's blood glucose levels are controlled by the hormone insulin. This is produced by his pancreas, an organ lying close to his stomach that also produces some enzymes needed for digestion. Diabetes develops when beta cells lose function, certain proteins build up within the pancreas, or the body becomes resistant to insulin - sometimes as a consequence of obesity.

The disease appears to be most common in cats over six years old and in males, particularly those who have been neutered. Certain breeds may be more at risk than others, but evidence of this is still unclear. Obesity is also considered to be a factor, although its precise role in this condition is not yet clear either.

An affected cat passes more urine than normal: this is because, when blood glucose levels are too high, glucose is lost together with water through the kidneys. Other symptoms may include:

Increased thirst, due to the increased production of urine.

Altered appetite: this is sometimes increased, but more commonly decreased.

Weight loss.

Poor coat condition.

Lethargy.

Depression.

If your cat exhibits any of the above symptoms, take him to your vet as soon as possible. Many of the signs of diabetes are also common to other conditions, so your vet will consider the history of your cat's symptoms carefully and will then examine him thoroughly. He should carry out blood tests and urine tests (checking for glucose in the urine).

Even if your cat does have high blood sugar, it doesn't necessarily indicate diabetes. Sometimes, animals under stress or on medication develop a temporary elevation of blood glucose (transient hyperglycermia). Your veterinarian may suggest repeating the blood and urine tests in a few days.

To determine whether your cat needs insulin, your vet will measure blood glucose. If the glucose level is only slightly above normal, your vet may suggest dietary management and oral hypoglycemic agents before resorting to insulin injections. But cats with persistent and pronounced hyperglycemia usually require insulin. About 70-80 percent of feline diabetes patients fall into this latter category.

Cats with diabetes must eat regularly to guard against insulin overdose, but guardians also need to control food intake so the cat doesn't become obese. One strategy is to feed the daily food allotment in measured installments. Clinicians usually recommend two or three meals per day.

Some diabetic cats benefit from special diets rich in fiber. Fiber tends to slow down digestion, thus preventing sudden spikes of blood glucose. High fiber foods can also help obese cats lose weight - which can decrease the need for insulin in some cats. But never shift your cat's diet without first consulting with your veterinarian. It a diabetic cat finds a new food unpalatable, he may eat less, throwing his blood glucose out of whack.

A cat who has untreated diabetes will - sooner or later - become depressed, vomit, breathe more rapidly than normal, stop passing any urine at all, and will eventually go into a coma and die. If he gets too much insulin or doesn't eat enough food, his blood sugar could dip dangerously low levels (hypoglycemic shock), causing seizures and even death. To be on the safe side, always make sure your cat is interested in food before you administer insulin. Keep careful track of injections so that your cat doesn't get a double dose from two separate caretakers. When in doubt, no insulin is better than too much.

If your cat is acting very sluggish, is having a seizure, or is unconscious, you must raise his blood glucose level immediately. If possible, get your pet to eat something. If the animal is too "out of it" to eat, dip a cotton ball or your finger into Karo syrup (or maple syrup, in a pinch) and swab it over your cat's gums. The gums will absorb some of the sugar, which should help bring your cat out of shock. Once your cat begins to respond, immediately take him to your vet.

Managed diabetic cats can live full and happy lives, but they do need careful tending because of the dangers of an insulin overdose. To be safe, keep your diabetic cat indoors. If your cat hasn't yet stabilized on his insulin dose, stay alert for trouble during insulin peaks (about four to eight hours after each injection, depending on the type of insulin).

Cat Diabetes Links for Additional Information:

Cornell Vet School - Feline Diabetes
Diabetes in Cats
Diabetes Mellitus in Cats

Page URL: http://www.sniksnak.com/cathealth/diabetes.html

Resource References:
Cat Doctor, Dr. Mark Evans
Cat Owner's Question and Answer Book, Bradley Viner
Catnip Newsletter, February 1998, Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine