Diabetes

Diabetes is a relatively common disease in dogs and cats. It is seen most often in middle-aged to older pets. The disease can occur spontaneously or secondary to another disease process.

Symptoms:

· Excessive drinking/urination

· Increased appetite

· Inappropriate urination

· Weight loss

· Lethargy

Treatment:

Diabetes is usually managed with the injection of insulin, consistent feeding schedules, consistent diet, regular exercise and the treatment of other diseases that may be present.

Monitoring:

Blood tests are needed to establish the diagnosis, identify other problems and to monitor the control of the blood sugar once your pet is on insulin. For some pets this may require a few trips to the veterinarian and others may require many. Urine testing is also a useful tool, but adjustment of insulin based on a single urine test strip should never be made. Most diabetic animals will at some time become unregulated even though everything seems to be going well. A search for any other new diseases or problems should be made and the pet re-regulated.

Complications:

For dogs, the formation of cataracts can occur rather frequently. This is not nearly as common in cats.

Another problem to watch for is a hypoglycemic crisis, (dangerously low blood sugar.) This can occur any time the pet doesn't eat properly, receives too much insulin, becomes deregulated, encounters a highly stressful event or many other situations. Signs to watch for are weakness, unresponsiveness or at worst, seizures or coma. If you suspect your pet is having this problem, administer a teaspoon of Karo syrup or honey orally and call your veterinarian immediately. Remember low blood sugar can be dangerous, but high blood sugar is not - if in doubt, administer syrup.

Insulin handling:

Insulin is a fragile drug yet it must be mixed prior to each administration. The vial should be rolled between the hands and gently turned upside down and back up repeatedly. Do not shake it as if it were a can of spray paint. It is imperative that the insulin be properly mixed to ensure accurate dosing. Insulin should be kept in the refrigerator. If it is accidentally left out a few hours or overnight, it will still be okay, but return it to the refrigerator as soon as possible. Also, a new bottle of insulin should be purchased every 3 months to ensure the drug is fresh.

Syringe disposal:

Insulin syringes need to be disposed of properly. Please return them to your veterinarian or many human pharmacies have appropriate containers available for disposal. You should not put them out in your regular trash.

Commitment:

Having a diabetic pet requires everyone in the household to understand the need for consistency in the day to day life of the pet. While diabetes sounds very ominous, it is a treatable disease and the pet should have a good quality of life if properly monitored.