Feline diabetes is caused by a decreased response to the insulin that is being produced by the pancreas. Older, less active, and overweight cats are predisposed.
Symptoms:
- Increased drinking
- Increased urination
- Increased appetite
- Weight loss
- Vomiting
- Lethargy
Diagnostics:
As the symptoms of diabetes are very similar to other disease processes, such as Cushing’s disease, hypothyroidism, kidney in addition to a thorough history and physical examination, your veterinarian will likely recommend:
- Complete Blood Count (CBC)
- Blood chemistry
- Thyroid hormone level
- Urinalysis
- Urine culture
- Blood pressure
- Pancreatic lipase testing (to rule out underlying pancreatitis)
- Abdominal ultrasound
Treatment:
While diabetic cats can produce insulin, they still benefit from insulin therapy to improve the body’s response to circulating insulin. Cats generally respond best to long-acting insulins, such as Lantus (glargine) and Levemir (detemir).
Cats also require dietary management, which generally consists of high protein/low carbohydrate diets. Studies have shown that over 60% of diabetic cats fed a high protein diet will have a decrease in their insulin requirements, some even going into insulin-dependent remission. Canned food tends to be preferred over dry as most high protein dry foods are very calorically dense and will most likely lead to increased weight gain.