Important to Know: Diabetes in Pets

In this section we give a deeper look at specific conditions to help raise awareness of what is out there, what can be done and what tests can be used to improve our pets’ health. This month it is diabetes.

Diabetes Mellitus (Diabetes)

Diabetes is an increasingly common disease being seen in our pets.  It can severely impact on our pet’s quality of life so being aware of how to spot the symptoms, what to do to try to prevent its development, and understand what treatment options are possible, is important.

What is it: 

Diabetes is the common name given to Diabetes Mellitus.  It is caused by the body not being able to produce enough insulin, or the body not able to respond to the insulin that is being produced.   

What happens in the disease?

Insulin is vital for our cells to use and process glucose, a sugar.  Without insulin, the body is unable to absorb the glucose from the blood and the glucose concentrations build up, causing hyperglycaemia.  

With this build-up of glucose in the blood stream is where the body’s problems begin.  The extra glucose in the blood starts to leak into the urine via the kidneys and this excess of sugar causes water to follow into the bladder at a higher volume than is safe for the body, a process known as osmotic diuresis.  The loss of fluid into the bladder means our pets have to drink far more than normal to compensate and remain hydrated.

Cells, being unable to use the glucose, tire easily and require the body to look elsewhere for energy. This leads to fat being broken down faster and less efficiently than is ideal and causes the release of ketones.  In extreme cases, the ketones can lead to collapse and changes in behaviour.

A lesser-known impact of diabetes is on the eyes. The extra glucose in the blood can also cause cataract formation. The lens absorbs the sugar and water follows in a similar way to the bladder.  This excess of water in the lens causes it to rupture, meaning once formed we are unable to reverse the changes without surgery.

How is it diagnosed:

Diabetes is diagnosed through a combination clinical symptoms, blood and urine tests.

Patients may have a combination of signs such as:

-      Excessive urinating, or accidents in the house

-      Drinking a lot more than normal

-      Losing weight, in particular muscle mass

-      General tiredness

These symptoms can be caused but other diseases and so blood and urine tests are needed to confirm the suspicion.  In both of these tests high levels of glucose are present.

How is diabetes treated?

In most cases diabetes is treated through supplementing the bodies insulin and stabilising the diet.   The insulin requires twice daily injecting and needs a dedicated carer for the pet!

The insulin dose required vary depending on the individual and regular checks are needed to ensure the optimal dose is administered.   In the early stages of treatment, multiple glucose curves may be required to fine tune the dosing.

Diet change can be effective in both cats and dogs to help manage diabetes, switching to a high fibre food, or specialist diabetic diet.  

Can it be cured?

In dogs, diabetes cannot be cured.  In cats however, some can go into remission, or be stabilised on diet plans that preclude the need for insulin. Every patient is different and ongoing monitoring is needed in all pets.

What can I do to prevent it:

Diabetes formation is often influenced by many factors.   Family genetics can make a pet more likely to develop the condition, whilst other diseases, such as pancreatitis, obesity, immune-mediated issues or certain viruses, can damage the cells responsible for insulin production.

Of these, obesity is the one we can target to reduce susceptibility, so weight management is crucial from an early age.

Conclusion

Diabetes Mellitus is a serious condition affecting the body’s ability to produce, or respond to insulin. The lack of insulin causes glucose to build up in the blood and this has an impact on many cells in the body. Common signs include weight loss, drinking more, urinating more and tiredness. In dogs, blindness can occur through cataract formation. Diagnosis is through using a combination of blood tests and urine tests. Control is generally through insulin use, along with a high fibre diet and careful weight management.