Diabetes Mellitus

Although the exact cause of Diabetes Mellitus is not known, several factors are known to be involved including genetics, diet, obesity, age, and complications from injury and illness. Despite extensive research (especially in the field of human medicine), there is no known cure. Therefore, once it has been diagnosed, medical treatment is used to control the disease (not cure it). This usually involves daily administration of insulin for the remainder of the pet’s life. The oral form of insulin is NOT effective in most animals.

Although most owners dread the thought of giving insulin injections to their pet, the process is usually quick and painless. Most pets tolerate it well. It is important that the diabetic pet’s routine be stable, so treatment is most successful for owners who can maintain a regular schedule of insulin injections, feeding and exercise. Once properly regulated, the majority of diabetic pets can maintain normal lives. Home care involves daily administration of insulin and feeding a well-regulated high quality diet. A high-protein, high fiber, low-carbohydrate commercial food made for diabetes treatment should be fed at a CONSTANT time and quantity level.

The amount of food ingested will affect the amount of insulin required. The diabetic dog should usually be fed twice daily to coincide with the peak insulin levels. When and how much food is fed will depend on what type of insulin is used and how often it is administered. Cats are sometimes meal fed but in many cases food is left out for the cat to nibble at will., since cats don’t usually gulp down a big meal at a set time of day as dogs do. Constant moderate exercise is important for dogs to properly maintain the daily insulin requirement.

For female diabetic pets, Ovariohysterectomy (spaying) should be performed as soon as possible due to complicated interactions between insulin and the female hormones secreted by the ovaries. Anesthetic procedures are slightly more risky for diabetic pets but in most cases once a pet is stabilized on insulin routine surgeries such as spaying or dental cleanings can be done safely. Although diabetes commonly causes kidney and heart damage in people, these complications are not very common in pets. Cataracts do sometimes develop as a complication of diabetes in cats and dogs.

During the first few weeks of treatment, several consultations and tests are necessary to properly regulate the patient to insulin therapy. If the pet was severely ill on admission to the hospital treatment may involve extensive intensive care. A severely high blood sugar over many days leads to a life threatening condition called ketoacidosis, which is treated with IV fluid therapy as well as insulin.

The pet usually stays in the hospital for one to five days to establish a “glucose curve”, which is a series of blood sugar tests to graph the blood sugar level’s response to the insulin over the coarse of a day. How fast the pet can go home depends on how quickly the ideal type of insulin and dosage schedule can be determined. Some pets do better on one type of insulin than another and every patient responds to the insulin a little bit differently, so it takes some trial and error to establish the right protocol. Changes in insulin dosage, frequency of injection, diet, or exercise may be required. Once the pet is stable and can be sent home, rechecks of the blood sugar level can usually be done on an outpatient basis.

Cats are usually harder to regulate on insulin as their blood sugar levels can go up dramatically when they are stressed. Getting accurate blood sugar levels in the veterinary hospital can be more difficult. Sometimes it’s possible to obtain blood from cats at home with a prick to the ear, allowing testing to be done with less stress to the cat.

The veterinary staff at your pet’s hospital will show you how to administer insulin, how to monitor urine sugar levels, especially in dogs, and will usually recommend a specific diet made to help stabilize blood sugar levels.

        You are unable to administer the insulin as directed.

Your pet develops weakness or fatigue after exercise, begins to shake or tremble, seems mentally confused or seizures. This may result from low blood sugar levels caused by refusal to eat, sudden vigorous exercise, or from vomiting of a meal. Excessive insulin dosage may also cause these problems. Giving several tablespoons of corn syrup or honey may control the low blood sugar episodes but your pet should still be seen by the veterinarian.

          Your pet experiences difficult breathing, weakness, depression, or will not eat.

          Your pet develops diarrhea or vomits.