| There are two main reasons why your cat may | | | | more at risk of developing diabetes than females |
| suffer from diabetes: | | | | are. There are many causes for diabetes, but |
| - the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, | | | | there is not an exact cause known yet. It is |
| this is known as diabetes type 1; | | | | believed that obesity, pancreas problems or |
| - the body does not respond to insulin as it should; | | | | genetic predisposition can lead to diabetes. |
| this is diabetes type 2; | | | | Furthermore, some medications are also thought |
| The cats that suffer from diabetes can not take | | | | to increase the risk of developing diabetes. |
| advantage of glucose as they should, thing that | | | | To diagnose diabetes means to do several tests, |
| leads to some conditions like: | | | | examinations. If there are any signs of diabetes, |
| - hyperglycemia, which means high levels of sugar | | | | then a veterinary must be seen. He/ she will then |
| in the blood; | | | | do a physical examination and some test to see if |
| - subsequent glucosuria, meaning that there is | | | | diabetes is the case. The presence of high |
| sugar in the urine; this condition can lead as well to | | | | quantities of sugar in urine and blood is a sure sign |
| some conditions, that we can also refer to as | | | | of diabetes. |
| symptoms of diabetes: polydipsia, which is | | | | After diagnosis, comes treatment. Diabetes is |
| excessive thirst and polyuria, which means | | | | treated according to the severity of the disease. |
| excessive urination; | | | | Therapy with fluid may be often used in diabetes |
| Another result of diabetes in cats is loss of | | | | types to correct dehydration. The most used |
| weight. Although, cats do not loose their appetite, | | | | treatment of all in diabetes cases is with insulin |
| because their body can not use the glucose as it | | | | injection. Cats that do not suffer from any other |
| should, loss of weight occurs. As the diabetes | | | | illness, should be given one insulin injection once or |
| progresses, some other symptoms will appear as | | | | maybe twice a day. Furthermore, it is essential |
| well. Vomiting, dehydration, weakness and | | | | that when suffering from diabetes, the diet must |
| eventually loss of appetite will happen in a cat that | | | | also be controlled. |
| suffers from diabetes. | | | | So as you can see, there is no difference |
| Diabetes is a disease that usually affects older | | | | between diabetes in animals and humans. |
| cats or those that are obese. Male cats are also | | | | |