Diabetes mellitus, or DM, occurs in an estimated one out of every 500 dogs and one out of every 400 cats.
DM usually occurs in middle-aged dogs (6 to 9 years) with females being three times more likely to develop the condition than males.
The most commonly affected breeds include German shepherd dogs, schnauzers, beagles, poodles, golden retrievers, and keeshonds.
There is no breed predisposition among cats, but castrated males are more commonly affected. DM has been diagnosed in cats of all ages, but typically occurs in older cats.
The cells of the body use a sugar known as glucose for food. Glucose can only be absorbed and utilized by the cells in the presence of insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas.
If insulin is not available to move glucose into the cells it accumulates in the bloodstream creating a condition called hyperglycemia.
Most dogs and 5-20 percent of cats are affected by Type I or "insulin dependent" diabetes, a condition where the pancreas produces no insulin at all.
The remaining 80-95 percent of cats will suffer from Type II or "non-insulin dependent" diabetes, a condition where the pancreas produces some insulin, but not enough.
The most commonly seen signs of DM in cats and dogs include excessive drinking, excessive urination, excessive eating, weight loss or weight gain, and dehydration.
In cats the rear legs may become weak or wobbly (due to nerve damage). In dogs, vision problems and cataracts may become apparent.
To diagnose DM your veterinarian we use a complete blood count, serum chemistry and urinalysis.
These tests will be used to confirm a persistent fasting hyperglycemia and identify concurrent infections.
The goals of treatment are to reduce or eliminate the signs associated with persistent hyperglycemia and to prevent cataracts, nerve damage and other diabetic complications.
This means a low carbohydrate diet for cats and a high-fiber, moderate carbohydrate diet for dogs. Numerous prescription diets are available. Insulin injections will probably need to be given once or twice a day. Although this may seem daunting at first, most people do quite well with just a little practice.
Cats and dogs may be treated with animal insulin or with human synthetic insulin.
The type of insulin used will vary between pets and may require some experimentation.
If left untreated diabetes is life threatening. However, early diagnosis and treatment may prevent nerve damage, blindness, and even lead to remission in many cats.
Because early diagnosis is so important, our hospital offers wellness blood testing during yearly exams. As always, if you have any questions or concerns contact your veterinarian.