Diabetes mellitus in cats, much like in humans, is a condition where the body struggles to produce or effectively use insulin. This leads to elevated blood glucose levels, impacting a cat’s energy and overall health. This guide offers cat owners an in-depth understanding of feline diabetes, covering risk factors, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment options, and crucial at-home monitoring techniques.
The cells in a cat’s body rely on glucose for energy. Insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, acts as the “key” that unlocks cells, allowing glucose to enter. When insulin production is insufficient (Type I diabetes) or the body’s cells become resistant to insulin (Type II diabetes), glucose builds up in the bloodstream. Feline diabetes is most commonly the Type II form. It’s estimated that between 0.2% and 1% of cats will develop diabetes during their lifetime, highlighting the importance of understanding this disease.
Risk Factors for Feline Diabetes
Several factors can increase a cat’s risk of developing diabetes. Recognizing these risk factors allows owners to take proactive steps to mitigate them. Key risk factors include:
- Obesity: Overweight cats are significantly more likely to develop diabetes. Maintaining a healthy weight is crucial.
- Age: Older cats are more susceptible to diabetes.
- Inactivity: Lack of physical activity contributes to insulin resistance.
- Gender: Male cats tend to be diagnosed more often than females.
- Glucocorticoid Use: Steroid medications can increase the risk.
- Breed: While not universally true, some studies suggest Burmese cats may have a higher predisposition.
One of the most effective preventative measures is maintaining your cat’s healthy weight and encouraging play to promote physical activity.
Recognizing Clinical Signs of Feline Diabetes
Early detection is crucial for effective management. Be alert for the following common signs:
- Weight Loss: Despite a normal or increased appetite, your cat may lose weight. This happens because the body can’t use glucose effectively and starts breaking down fat and muscle for energy.
- Increased Thirst and Urination (Polyuria/Polydipsia): High blood glucose overwhelms the kidneys, causing excess glucose to spill into the urine. This draws extra water into the urine, leading to increased urination and, subsequently, increased thirst to compensate for fluid loss.
In rare cases, uncontrolled diabetes can cause nerve damage in the hind legs, leading to a “plantigrade” stance (walking on the hocks).
Diagnosing Feline Diabetes
A veterinarian diagnoses diabetes by identifying consistently high blood glucose levels and glucose in the urine. However, a single elevated blood glucose reading might not be conclusive due to stress hyperglycemia (temporary elevation due to stress). In such cases, a fructosamine test, which provides an average blood glucose level over the past two weeks, can be useful.
Additional tests may be recommended to rule out other underlying conditions contributing to the symptoms, such as urinary tract infections, kidney disease, pancreatitis, or hyperthyroidism.
Treatment Options for Feline Diabetes
The primary goals of feline diabetes treatment are:
- Normalizing blood glucose levels.
- Preventing or controlling weight loss.
- Minimizing excessive thirst and urination.
- Avoiding hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) due to treatment.
Treatment typically involves a combination of insulin therapy and dietary changes. Newer oral medications might also be suitable for some cats. Treatment plans should be customized to each cat’s needs in consultation with a veterinarian.
- Insulin Therapy: Insulin injections are a cornerstone of treatment. Different types of insulin, such as lente insulin (Vetsulin), ProZinc, or glargine, vary in cost, duration of action, and concentration. The veterinarian can help you choose the best option for your cat, ensuring you use the correct syringe size (U-100 or U-40) for the chosen insulin type. Injections are typically given subcutaneously (under the skin) every 12 hours.
- Dietary Therapy: A low-carbohydrate diet is beneficial for managing blood sugar in diabetic cats. Several prescription diets are available in wet and dry forms. A wet-food-only diet may be particularly advantageous. For overweight cats, a controlled weight loss plan, monitored by a veterinarian, is crucial.
- Oral Medications: SGLT2 inhibitors are a newer class of oral medications approved for feline diabetes treatment in 2023. They work by increasing glucose excretion through the kidneys, helping to lower insulin resistance and potentially improve pancreatic function. These medications are suitable for newly diagnosed, otherwise healthy cats who haven’t been treated with injectable insulin.
Monitoring Your Diabetic Cat
Regular monitoring is essential for managing feline diabetes effectively. This involves both veterinary check-ups and at-home observations.
- Blood Glucose Curves: These curves involve checking blood sugar levels before insulin injection and then every 1-4 hours throughout the day. This helps determine the appropriate insulin dose and ensures blood sugar doesn’t drop too low.
- At-Home Monitoring: Many owners learn to perform blood glucose curves at home using a glucometer validated for cats. Blood samples can be collected from an ear vein or paw pad. Continuous glucose monitoring systems, where a small monitor is implanted on the cat’s skin, are another option.
- Fructosamine Concentration: If blood glucose curves are not feasible, a fructosamine test can provide an average blood glucose level over the past two weeks.
- Monitoring with SGLT2 Inhibitors: For cats on SGLT2 inhibitors, regular bloodwork, including ketone levels, and physical examinations are vital, particularly at the beginning of treatment.
Important: Never adjust your cat’s insulin dose without consulting your veterinarian.
Prognosis and Remission in Feline Diabetes
While there’s no cure for feline diabetes, with proper management, cats can enjoy a good quality of life. Early and aggressive treatment can lead to diabetic remission in some cases, meaning the cat can maintain normal blood sugar without insulin. Factors associated with a higher likelihood of remission include early diagnosis, treatment with glargine insulin, and absence of other health issues. Even cats in remission should continue a low-carbohydrate diet and undergo regular monitoring.
Potential Complications
- Hypoglycemia (Low Blood Sugar): Insulin therapy and SGLT2 medications can sometimes lower blood glucose too much. Signs include weakness, lethargy, vomiting, incoordination, seizures, and coma. Immediate action is required: offer your cat its regular food. If the cat refuses to eat, administer oral glucose (honey, corn syrup, or dextrose gel) and seek veterinary attention immediately.
- Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA): Uncontrolled diabetes can lead to DKA, a life-threatening condition where the body starts breaking down fats for energy, producing ketones that make the blood acidic. Hospitalization is necessary for treatment.
Home Monitoring Tips
Monitor your cat’s overall well-being, including activity level, demeanor, water intake, urine production, appetite, body weight, and medication dosage. Regularly communicate with your veterinarian to ensure optimal diabetes management.
By understanding feline diabetes, recognizing the risk factors and symptoms, and working closely with your veterinarian, you can provide your cat with the best possible care and help them live a happy and healthy life.
