Using carnosine to treat diabetic animals is relatively new in veterinary medicine. The known research has not been done on cats, and the drug is not FDA-approved for treating a disease that is often debilitating to the animal and costly to the owner. Although carnosine has no known side effects and is an effective antioxidant, the majority of veterinarians continue to use the traditional insulin therapy.
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Significance
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Feline diabetes mellitus is the inability of the body to process glucose. Symptoms include rapid weight loss, increased intake of water, increased urine output, weakness, vomiting and sudden cataract formation, leading to blindness. Without treatment, animals often suffer kidney failure, become comatose and eventually die.
Function
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According to a recent French study, L-carnosine protects against the adverse effects of higher glucose levels on renal, brain and eye cells. A 1 percent solution of N-Acetyl carnosine used in the eyes is reported as a non-surgical treatment for cataracts.
Benefits
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By altering glucose metabolism in diabetics, carnosine could be effective in lessening the symptoms and increasing the lifespan of the patient. The optic solution may reverse cataracts and delay or prevent further formation.
Considerations
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The known research on L-carnosine has been done only on diabetic dogs, rabbits and rats--not felines.
Warning
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L-carnosine and N-Acetyl carnosine are not approved by the FDA as treatment for diabetic cats at this time. The approved veterinary treatment includes insulin therapy, regular monitoring of blood glucose levels and dietary management.
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