Cats With Feline Diabetes
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We all know diabetes. Many people have it, especially in these days of fa(s)t food and soft drinks. There's no cure and sometimes it's fatal.
Cats can have diabetes too. One in 400 cats apparently gets it, mainly middle-aged and older cats. Neutered males and fat cats are at higher risk.
Now what is feline diabetes? And how can you recognize it?
Blood contains sugar (glucose). The blood sugar level is controlled by the hormone insulin, which is produced by the pancreas. If this organ produces not enough insulin, we speak of diabetes.
Symptoms of feline diabetes differ. Duvelke started to pass more urine than usual, and had an increased thirst as a result of this. Apart from that, he behaved like always.
Other symptoms, common in advanced cases of feline diabetes, are weight loss, decreased appetite, lethargy and a poor coat condition.
One word of warning: a high blood sugar level may also be the result of medication or stress.
A vet can only make a proper diagnosis after a series of blood and urine tests.
Cats with untreated diabetes will become inactive, vomit regularly, stop urinating and fall into a coma. But If you treat feline diabetes correctly, your cat might still be able to lead a long and happy life. It does take effort and dedication, though.
Your cat will need to get food at set times, and preferably should stay indoors. And – this is essential - you will have to give your cat insulin shots. Once a day, often two times daily. Your vet will determine the quantity.
“Insulin shots? That’s scary! I’m not a vet. Can I do it?”
That was the first thought I got when the veterinarian told me how to treat Duvelke.
But it is not scary.
Don’t worry about air bubbles. Don’t worry about blood.
If you do it the way described, you will not inject straight into a vein. And your cat will feel almost nothing.
Keep the insulin in your fridge. Use special insulin syringes and replace them regularly. Using a new one for each shot might become a bit expensive, but do it at least every few days.
Yes, you can do it!
Once you are used to it, it is almost as easy as feeding your cat.
But keep an eye on your friend. Your cat should have had food before getting the insulin shot!
If not, a hypoglycemic shock (a ‘hypo’) may occur. This is also possible if your cat gets too much insulin. And this is really dangerous.
If you are not there to help, your cat might die from a hypo.
A hypo occurs when the blood sugar drops at an extremely low level. First your cat might become restless. Then it gets dizzy spells or seizures. It will lose eyesight and eventually fall into a coma. If nothing is done, your cat will die.
Duvelke has had a few hypos since 2003. He survived. How?
By putting glucose in his mouth, on the inside of his cheeks. Honey on his tongue also works well, as long as the cat is still capable of swallowing.
Repeat it every five minutes until your cat starts to recover. A cat with a hypo does not have the force to offer resistance to opening the mouth.
Report every hypo to your vet.
He may advice to lower the quantity of insulin.
Duvelke is doing really fine. As I write this, it's three years since Duvelke got ill, and it's two years now since he had his last hypo. If you didn’t know about his disease, you would assume he is a healthy cat.
Sometimes vets also advice to put a diabetic cat on a diet rich in fiber.
This may also help fat cats to lose weight. However, never put your cat on a diet without consulting your vet.
Feline diabetes is chronic. But not completely. There are cases known of cats that didn’t need insulin anymore after a few months or years of treatment. But most will need insulin for the rest of their life.
Symptoms of feline diabetes may also indicate another disease. Click here to learn more.
Update: Unfortunately at May 27, 2006, Duvelke closed his eyes forever, aged 14, and leaving us with some of the most beautiful memories a cat can ever give. According to the vet his death was not immediately related to diabetes, but to
chronic kidney failure.
