The glucose in the blood is derived from the food your pet eats and is required for the normal function of all the cells in the body.
A hormone called Insulin is needed to bring the glucose from the blood into the cell where it is needed.
Diabetes is a condition where the body is unable to move glucose from the blood into the cells, either by a lack of production or resistance to the hormone Insulin.
Diabetes in cat can be different to diabetes in dogs.
- Although most of the signs and treatment options are the same, there are some small fundamental differences between dogs and cats that affect their treatment.
- Some cats can become diabetic for a short period of time, then return to a normal state. This makes close monitoring of blood glucose and initial stabilisation even more important and challenging.
- They also have a higher protein requirement in their diet than dogs, so restriction is not recommended.
- Cats often graze through the day rather than taking individual meals, if this is the case then food needs to be on offer at all times, which can prove challenging if your cat is overweight! We shall help you with weight management clinics if this is the case.
- Cats are not generally taken for walks and can be quite lazy, so controlling weight by exercise is much more difficult.
Signs and Treatment
The following handout from International Cat Care Organisation gives detailed information on diabetes in cats: Diabetes Mellitus - International Cat Care
