What is Feline Diabetes? Symptoms and Treatment Explained in Detail by a Veterinarian

Due to improved living environments for cats and a significant increase in owners opting for spaying/neutering, many domestic cats are now overweight.

When humans are overweight, many people worry about lifestyle diseases like diabetes.

Did you know that cats can also develop diabetes?

Like humans, cats can develop diabetes due to obesity.This article will explain feline diabetes.

What is Feline Diabetes?

When an animal eats, food is broken down into nutrients like sugar and absorbed into the bloodstream. Sugar in the blood provides energy for the body, but it cannot function effectively just by being in the bloodstream. Blood sugar is taken up by the body's cells and utilized as energy with the help of insulin, a hormone secreted by the pancreas.

Diabetes is a condition where the pancreas either stops producing insulin entirely or produces insufficient amounts. Due to this insulin deficiency, blood sugar levels become high, and sugar (glucosuria) is detected in the urine.

Feline diabetes tends to be more common in male cats. Obese and older cats have a higher risk of developing diabetes. It can also be caused by pancreatitis, tumors, or infections.

In cats, it is said that diabetes is often not caused by a complete lack of insulin production, but rather by insulin being produced but not functioning effectively.

Cats can experience temporary hyperglycemia due to stress. Some cats measured at a veterinary hospital show blood sugar levels high enough to suspect diabetes. The diagnosis is made based on blood sugar levels and a parameter called fructosamine.

What are the symptoms of diabetes in cats?

Diabetes manifests in various symptoms. Let's explain each of them.

Increased Thirst and Urination (Polydipsia and Polyuria)

When blood sugar levels rise, body fluids are drawn into the blood vessels, leading to an increase in urine volume. As urine volume increases, the body becomes dehydrated, causing an increase in water intake. This condition is called polydipsia and polyuria.

Increased Appetite (Polyphagia)

With diabetes, blood sugar levels increase, but because the cells cannot utilize this sugar for energy, the body goes into a state of starvation. This leads to increased food consumption.

Weight Loss, Emaciation

Diabetic cats tend to lose weight despite eating a lot. Although they have high blood sugar, the cells are not supplied with sugar, so the body enters a state of starvation. As a result, the body tries to break down proteins and fats for energy, leading to weight loss.

Changes in Gait

Normal cats walk on their toes with their hind heels raised. However, diabetic cats walk with their heels flat on the floor.

Ketoacidosis

As diabetes worsens, fat breakdown increases, and the broken-down substances are converted into ketone bodies by the liver. Since ketone bodies are weakly acidic, the blood becomes acidic (acidosis). This disrupts the body's ion balance, leading to vomiting and diarrhea. The cat's body will emit a sweet, fruity odor like rotting apples (acetone breath). If it worsens further, the cat can fall into a coma. The mortality rate also increases in a state of ketoacidosis.

Can Feline Diabetes Be Cured? What are the Treatments?

The goal of diabetes treatment is to control blood sugar levels.

Dietary Therapy

If diagnosed with diabetes, dietary therapy is implemented. By feeding a carbohydrate-restricted therapeutic diet, weight management and sugar intake are controlled.

In cases of feline diabetes, blood sugar levels may decrease if obesity is resolved.

Insulin Therapy

If blood sugar levels cannot be controlled with dietary therapy, insulin therapy is initiated. Insulin injections help stabilize blood sugar levels.

Insulin injections are given subcutaneously twice a day. Since this needs to be done daily, owners will administer the injections at home. The amount of insulin varies for each cat, so owners must receive instructions from a veterinarian on the dosage and injection method.

If too much insulin is given, the cat may experience hypoglycemia, leading to listlessness, vomiting, or drooling. In such cases, administer glucose orally and immediately take the cat to a veterinary hospital.

Summary

Feline diabetes may potentially be curable if obesity and inflammation are resolved, making the cat more responsive to insulin and stabilizing blood sugar levels. For prevention, it is necessary to prevent obesity, avoid stress, and prevent infections.In particular, obesity can be managed through diet. Ensure your cat receives the necessary amount of food. If diagnosed with diabetes, always switch to a therapeutic diet.

If insulin treatment is being administered, always inject the exact amount instructed by the veterinarian. Regular check-ups are essential to monitor the cat's diabetic condition. Ketoacidosis and hypoglycemia can be life-threatening. If your cat's condition seems unusual, immediately visit your regular veterinarian or an emergency veterinary clinic if it's nighttime.

Regular health check-ups are also important.

Health check-ups often include not only blood tests but also urine tests and ultrasound examinations. Diabetes is often discovered by chance.

Schedule health check-ups once or twice a year to manage your cat's health.