All about cats
Diabetes in cats is most similar to type II diabetes in people: the blood sugar becomes elevated because the cat’s insulin is either ineffective or not produced in sufficient quantity. If not treated accordingly, it can become a life-threatening condition.
Treatment. Diabetes is definitely treatable and need not shorten an animal’s lifespan or life quality. However, diabetes is life-threatening if left alone. Untreated , the condition leads to increasingly weak legs in cats , and eventually malnutrition, ketoacidosis and death.
With some stable diabetic cats (who show little weight loss or illness) we may try diet change alone and monitor blood glucose levels over a month or two. Most cats , however, need insulin injections at least in the beginning of treatment to normalize their blood sugar levels and stop the illness cycle.
Without insulin , people with type 1 diabetes suffer a condition called Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA). If left untreated, people die quickly and usually alone. The tragic loss of life from DKA can be prevented. If insulin became freely accessible and affordable, lives could be saved.
Eighty to ninety-five percent of diabetic cats experience something similar to type 2 diabetes but are generally severely insulin dependent by the time symptoms are diagnosed. The condition is treatable, and if treated properly the cat can experience a normal life expectancy .
Stabilization of the Diabetic Cat . As there is individual variation in the response to insulin, an initial trial or stabilization period is undertaken. This stabilization period is usually 3-6 months. Specific therapy to minimize complications should be initiated along with insulin therapy.
They are usually euthanized because they are so ill that the prognosis is poor due to ketoacidosis and/or other diseases like renal failure and neoplasia. Others in this group are euthanized because owners are not financially capable of caring for a diabetic cat or have no desire to do so.
This creates hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, also called insulin shock. Hypoglycemia can result in weakness, seizures and eventually coma or death if not treated. If the cat is about to go into a coma, he may drool, shiver, or appear disoriented, glassy-eyed and sleepy. These are signs that he’s losing consciousness.
No. I have a lot of friends and family who think it’s okay to let their pet die at home versus having to bring them to a veterinarian for humane euthanasia. You may think you’re sparing your pet the “stress of a veterinary visit,” but in fact, your intentions (while well intended) are, to put it bluntly, wrong.
” Diabetic remission occurs when a cat maintains a normal glucose level for more than four weeks without insulin injections or oral glucose regulating medications.” The primary goal of treating diabetes is to regulate blood glucose quickly and reach a point where the cat no longer needs insulin therapy.
Cats need to be on a low-carbohydrate diet. The bad news is that none of them are dry . Dry foods , every one of them, contain too much carbs for diabetic cats . Click here for a huge list of suitable cat foods . You can use any food on the list that has 7% carbs or less.
If your cat does not eat, do not miss a dose of insulin unless the anorexia lasts more than 48 hours . If you must miss a dose or two of insulin (occasionally), do not be concerned. Your cat’s blood glucose will get too high for a day or two but will not cause great problems.
Skipping a meal is typically no big deal. But if you have diabetes , missing meals can throw off the important balancing act between food intake and medication. The result is blood sugars that are too low (hypoglycemia) or too high (hyperglycemia) — and that’s dangerous.
The 16 Best Foods to Control Diabetes Fatty Fish . Some people consider fatty fish to be one of the healthiest foods on the planet. Leafy Greens. Leafy green vegetables are extremely nutritious and low in calories. Avocados. Eggs. Chia Seeds. Beans . Greek Yogurt. Nuts .
People lose on average around eight years from their life expectancy after developing diabetes . The best way to avoid the condition altogether is by keeping moderately lean and taking some regular light exercise.”