Health Tips and Wellness Tips

Feline Diabetes Is Treatable

Cats With Feline Diabetes Can Still Lead A Happy Life

by: Marc de Jong

Your cat has feline diabetes.” If this is your vet’s message after examining your beloved friend, it will come as a shock. Yes, your cat has a serious disease. But you can treat it!

I got the message myself early 2003. My (then) 10-year-old neutered cat Duvelke had been urinating and drinking more than usual for a few weeks. First it was thought to be connected with a previous medication.
But after urine and blood tests the veterinarian was certain. “Your cat has feline diabetes.”

 

Diabetes

Diabetes is a growing problem in this country. With our
population at an all time high in weight gain and a low in
health care, the problem is only growing.

Diabetes is a disease of the metabolism. Our metabolism is
what the way our bodies use digested food for energy and
growth.

Most food that is processed through our bodies is broken
down by digestive juices into a sugar called glucose.
Glucose is the fuel our bodies run on.

When we eat, and our food is processed, the pancreas is
supposed to produce the right amount of glucose from our
blood automatically and release the right amount of insulin
into our blood.

In people with diabetes, little to no insulin is produced
or the bodys cells dont respond correctly to the insulin
that is produced. Therefore the glucose builds up and
overflows into the urine and passes out of the body.

This is how the body loses its main source of fuel even
though the bloodstream contains good amounts of the natural
glucose.

There are three types of diabetes, type 1, type 2 and
gestational diabetes. People who have type 1 are known as
insulin-dependent.

This is an autoimmune disease where the bodys natural
system is fighting against another part of the body. In the
case of type 1 diabetes, the system attacks the insulin
producing cells and destroys them.

Therefore the pancreas can produce little to no insulin.
These people are in need of daily injections of insulin to
live. Five to ten percent of diabetes cases are type 1 in
the US. 

Now what is diabetes?

Blood contains sugar (glucose). The blood sugar level is controlled by the hormone insulin, which is produced by the pancreas. If this organ produces not enough insulin, we speak of diabetes.

Symptoms of feline diabetes differ. Duvelke started to pass more urine than usual, and had an increased thirst as a result of this. Other possible symptoms are weight loss, decreased appetite, lethargy and a poor coat condition.

Cats with untreated diabetes will become inactive, vomit regularly, stop urinating and fall into a coma. But if you treat feline diabetes correctly, your cat might still be able to lead a long and happy life. It does take effort and dedication, though.

Your cat will need to get food at set times, and preferably should stay indoors.

And – this is essential - you will have to give your cat insulin shots. Once a day, often two times daily. Your vet will determine the quantity and tell you how to do it. It is not scary!

But keep an eye on your friend. Your cat should have had food before getting the insulin shot! If not, a hypoglycemic shock (a ‘hypo’) may occur. This is also possible if your cat gets too much insulin. And this is really dangerous. If you are not there to help, your cat might die from a hypo.

Duvelke has had a few hypos since 2003. He survived. How? By putting glucose in his mouth, on the inside of his cheeks. Honey on his tongue also worked well.

Duvelke’s quantity of insulin has been reduced considerably the past year. And he’s doing really fine. If you didn’t know about his disease, you would assume he is a perfectly healthy cat.



About The Author


© 2004, Marc de Jong. Journalist, web site builder and cat lover Marc de Jong lives in Belgium. He is the owner and editor of www.cat-pregnancy-report.com on which you will find a longer, more detailed version of this article.

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