For today’s feline Friday post we’re raising awareness about diabetes mellitus, one of the most common hormonal disorders in cats. It’s mainly a middle and old-aged cat condition, so if your cat falls into this age bracket, do read on to make sure you’re alert to signs of the disease.
Diabetes occurs when there is a lack or complete absence of the hormone insulin in the body. Insulin is essential in controlling the amount of glucose in the bloodstream at any given moment, and enables glucose to either be taken up by cells and used for energy or stored and released as needed. Without insulin, blood glucose levels are ineffectively regulated and can become dangerously high or dangerously low with serious health implications.
The most common signs that your cat may be suffering from diabetes are increased urination, drinking more, weight loss, and in some cases an increased appetite. If you notice any of these indicators, please give us a ring!
Once we’ve confirmed diagnosis, we’ll talk about changes to your cat’s daily routine, such as reviewing diet and feeding times, and most cats will need daily insulin injections which you can give at home with a special insulin pen. It can be daunting at first, but becomes easy with practice and the needle is so small that most cats don’t feel a thing. Feline diabetes needs careful owner management but the reward of seeing your cat return to being more like their old selves is huge!
This is beautiful Indiana, who was recently diagnosed with diabetes and was in practice last month for a blood glucose curve test. Here he is having his blood glucose levels read. We’re delighted he’s responding so well to his treatment. Well done Indiana for being such a brilliant patient!