You've just learned that your cat has feline diabetes. If you're like most people, you're feeling scared and overwhelmed. But this disease doesn't have to be a death sentence for your beloved friend. It's treatable, and with proper care, your kitty can live a long, happy life with you.
Even if your furry friend is older, you may decide to go ahead with treatment. It depends on how healthy he is. Quite a few older felines with this illness have lived for many years. You do need to be committed to providing him with loving care.
What is feline diabetes? Your kitty's pancreas produces insulin, a hormone that keeps his blood sugar levels balanced. When the food he eats is digested, the starches and carbohydrates in it are broken down into glucose, a simple sugar. This sugar passes through the walls of his digestive tract and into his bloodstream.
If your kitty's pancreas doesn't produce enough insulin (type 1), or his body doesn't use the insulin effectively (type 2, characterized by insulin resistance), glucose builds up in his bloodstream and causes his blood sugar level to get too high. Elevated blood sugar levels can cause liver and kidney disease, gastrointestinal problems, and make him more prone to getting infections. If the level gets too high, he could go into a coma and die.
Your kitty's body passes the extra sugar into his urine, which then causes his kidneys to try to flush it out of his body. This excessive urination (polyuria or PU) causes him to be extremely thirsty (polydipsia or PD). These are classic symptoms of diabetes, whether you're a kitty or a human.
Other symptoms include an increase in appetite, along with weight loss. He may be lethargic. In some felines the first symptom is diabetic neuropathy, which is weakness in his back legs. He may walk or stand on his hocks (the "elbows" on his back legs) and be unable to stand on his back feet. This is a result of nerve damage caused by high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes is more common in overweight people, and it works the same way in your furry friend. Fat cells produce a substance that causes your body's cells to resist insulin, which is common in type 2 diabetes. Controlling your feline's weight is the best way to prevent and treat this disease. Older, overweight males are at the highest risk.
There are many treatment options for this disease. Some kitties need insulin injections once or twice a day, while others respond well to dietary changes and losing weight. You may want to consider holistic treatment too.
Clear communication is essential. If you have questions, don't be afraid to ask them. It's necessary to find someone responsible who can not only feed your kitty properly, but who is able to check his blood sugar and give insulin injections. A relative or good friend who is willing to learn how to do these things is worth their weight in gold! If there isn't anyone you can trust, you may need to board your buddy at the vet's office.
While there is no cure for cat diabetes yet, hopefully you and your kitty friend will be companions for many years to come.
Even if your furry friend is older, you may decide to go ahead with treatment. It depends on how healthy he is. Quite a few older felines with this illness have lived for many years. You do need to be committed to providing him with loving care.
What is feline diabetes? Your kitty's pancreas produces insulin, a hormone that keeps his blood sugar levels balanced. When the food he eats is digested, the starches and carbohydrates in it are broken down into glucose, a simple sugar. This sugar passes through the walls of his digestive tract and into his bloodstream.
If your kitty's pancreas doesn't produce enough insulin (type 1), or his body doesn't use the insulin effectively (type 2, characterized by insulin resistance), glucose builds up in his bloodstream and causes his blood sugar level to get too high. Elevated blood sugar levels can cause liver and kidney disease, gastrointestinal problems, and make him more prone to getting infections. If the level gets too high, he could go into a coma and die.
Your kitty's body passes the extra sugar into his urine, which then causes his kidneys to try to flush it out of his body. This excessive urination (polyuria or PU) causes him to be extremely thirsty (polydipsia or PD). These are classic symptoms of diabetes, whether you're a kitty or a human.
Other symptoms include an increase in appetite, along with weight loss. He may be lethargic. In some felines the first symptom is diabetic neuropathy, which is weakness in his back legs. He may walk or stand on his hocks (the "elbows" on his back legs) and be unable to stand on his back feet. This is a result of nerve damage caused by high blood sugar levels.
Diabetes is more common in overweight people, and it works the same way in your furry friend. Fat cells produce a substance that causes your body's cells to resist insulin, which is common in type 2 diabetes. Controlling your feline's weight is the best way to prevent and treat this disease. Older, overweight males are at the highest risk.
There are many treatment options for this disease. Some kitties need insulin injections once or twice a day, while others respond well to dietary changes and losing weight. You may want to consider holistic treatment too.
Clear communication is essential. If you have questions, don't be afraid to ask them. It's necessary to find someone responsible who can not only feed your kitty properly, but who is able to check his blood sugar and give insulin injections. A relative or good friend who is willing to learn how to do these things is worth their weight in gold! If there isn't anyone you can trust, you may need to board your buddy at the vet's office.
While there is no cure for cat diabetes yet, hopefully you and your kitty friend will be companions for many years to come.
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