What Are the Stages of Feline Diabetes?

What is Feline Diabetes?

• Diabetes in cats is similar to the disease in humans. The pancreas produces too little insulin, or the body stops responding to insulin the way that it should. Because insulin regulates the amount of glucose (blood sugar) in the blood, this means that the body winds up with very high blood sugar.

Symptoms

• You might suspect diabetes if your cat is eating and drinking more, acting lethargic and urinating a great deal. In spite of its hearty appetite, it might also be losing weight. Lab tests at the veterinarian are needed to confirm the diagnosis.

Stages of Feline Diabetes

• Early on, there might be no signs at all. In later stages, you will notice the symptoms listed above. If the disease goes untreated, it can result in bad skin conditions, poor coat, kidney damage and blindness. Eventually, an untreated cat will fall into a coma and die.

Insulin Treatment

• Cats whose insulin levels are not where they should be will have to take twice daily injections. These are given at home by the owner, but they are easy to give and do not hurt the cat. Alternatively, some cats do well on an oral medication. Your cat's glucose will be checked regularly.

Diet

• Obese cats are especially prone to diabetes, but even if your cat is not obese, she will probably be put on a special diet. Underweight cats will be fed a diet to help them increase their weight. According to the Cornell Feline Health Center, some cats respond best to a high-fiber, high-carb diet, but others do best with low carbohydrates.

Prognosis

• Feline diabetes is not a death sentence. Caring for a diabetic cat requires a dedicated owner who is willing to provide the care and monitoring necessary for the entirety of the cat's life. Treatment is not difficult, time-consuming or expensive, but it requires commitment. If you follow your veterinarian's advice, you will have a happy, healthy kitty for years to come.