Diabetes in cats, also known as feline diabetes mellitus, is
an increasingly common disease affecting 1 out of every 400 cats. Obesity is
the leading risk factor for diabetes.
“Overweight or obese cats are two to four times more likely
to develop diabetes than cats with a healthy body weight,” says board-certified
veterinary nutrition specialist Dorothy Laflamme, DVM, PhD, DACVN.
Diabetes is a progressive disease. In the early stages, a
cat may try to compensate for the body’s inability to metabolize glucose by
increasing food consumption. Symptoms of early diabetes are frequent urination,
increased thirst and appetite, and unexplained weight loss. Kidney disease and
hyperthyroidism are two diseases that can mimic the symptoms of diabetes. A
veterinarian can diagnose diabetes using blood and urine tests.
All diabetic cats are started on insulin. Your veterinarian
will decide which kind of insulin to use, what dose should be administered, and
will show you how to give these injections at home. Don’t worry, the needles
are very small and many cats don’t even know they’re being injected. Your cat
will need monitoring to determine the response to treatment, this may include
both blood tests and indicators you use in the litter box. Dietary changes to a
high protein, low-carbohydrate diet are essential to help diabetic cats
regulate blood sugar levels. The good news is that 70% of these patients
eventually do not need insulin.
Some cats may require hospitalization following a diabetes
diagnosis. These cats are typically suffering from a condition known as
diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), which occurs when fatty-acid by-products build up
in the blood stream. These byproducts, known as ketones, build up because of
the cat’s inability to metabolize glucose. Symptoms of DKA include the smell of
acetone on the cat’s breath (similar to nail polish remover), extreme lethargy,
vomiting, and rapid, labored breathing.
Without intervention, a severely diabetic cat may slip into
a diabetic coma and even die. Diabetes can also lead to other health
complications, including kidney and bladder infections, abnormal gait due to a
neuropathy, and muscle loss.
Most cats, however, do not require hospitalization. Dietary
changes and appropriate treatment can help manage diabetes. A low carbohydrate,
high protein canned diet can help control diabetes and may even lead to
remission. Your veterinarian can make specific dietary recommendations for your
cat.
