EDMOND — Diabetes mellitus or sugar diabetes occurs in cats, as in dogs and humans. In cats, it is primarily a disease of middle-aged to older animals, however. It is rarely seen in cats younger than eight years of age and is more common in males than females. Cats that are overweight, and especially those that are obese, have a much higher incidence. Diabetes results when the pancreas either does not produce enough insulin or the insulin is ineffective in its function.

If diabetes is left untreated, it is fatal. If diagnosed early on and effectively treated, the cat can live out its normal lifespan. Once diagnosed, diabetes can never be cured, but it can be controlled.

The first step is to get an accurate diagnosis. You as the owner may first notice an increase in water consumption. Naturally the other big sign is an increase in urination, many times being seen as inappropriate urinations on the carpet or in other places besides the litter box. You also may see an increase in appetite and weight loss, vomiting, lethargy, an unkempt coat and possibly a dropped stance in the hind limbs. If advanced, the cat may express severe infections, especially of the urinary tract but also seizures and end-stage coma.

The high blood glucose levels that occur with diabetes are too much for the kidneys to handle and the excess glucose spills over into the urine. The presence of glucose in the urine creates a perfect breeding ground for bacterial growth and recurrent urinary tract infections.

The problem is that many, if not all of these signs, also may be due to other diseases. If you see any of these signs in your cat you should contact your veterinarian immediately. The sooner any disease, especially diabetes, is diagnosed and treated, the better the long-term prognosis. Both bloodwork and a urinalysis will be checked as part of the diagnostic procedures.

Once a diagnosis is confirmed, the treatment likely will include both a dietary change and regular doses of insulin. The key to good treatment is to determine an appropriate dose of insulin that will stabilize and maintain the cat’s blood glucose level without taking it too low or too high over any 24-hour period. The type and frequency of insulin administration, as well as the dosage will vary for each cat.

Once established, the dose will change as the cat ages and its physiology changes. Periodically a glucose curve, i.e. checking the blood glucose level every 1-2 hours during a 12-hour period or longer will be helpful. Depending upon the variation of the glucose concentration over time, the dose of insulin may be increased or the frequency changed to one, two or three times a day.

Oral drugs such as glipizide are rarely effective in cats, and various forms of insulin may need to be tried before the best one for your cat is found.

Frequent monitoring will be necessary by your veterinarian. Initially a test will be done in two to four weeks, then regularly as needed to maintain an effective dose. Another blood test can be done that takes a single blood sample and that measures the average blood glucose level during a three- to four-week period. This is becoming the test of choice.

The new diet your veterinarian will recommend usually will consist of higher levels of proteins and complex carbohydrates; it will be high in fiber and low in fat. Some cats resent having their diet messed with, but this should be strongly encouraged and supported by you. The diet alone can have a huge influence on the treatment outcome and its long-range effectiveness. Occasionally the dose of insulin can be decreased with the correct supportive diet. The diet also lowers blood levels of fat that tend to be elevated in diabetic cats.

Obesity puts a strain on the ability to treat diabetes successfully and every effort should be made to decrease the cat’s weight to a more normal level. Your veterinarian should assist with this weight loss to avoid a sudden weight loss that may be potentially life-threatening in cats. A good weight-loss program and constant monitoring to closely regulate insulin dosing can allow a cat to live out its normal lifetime.



DR. M. MARGARET KING, a longtime Edmond veterinarian, is a guest columnist. If you have any questions for her, send them to 1900 S. Bryant, Edmond, OK 73013.