Diabetes

Diabetes mellitus in cats

Insulin is an essential hormone in energy metabolism. It regulates the level of glucose circulating in the bloodstream and enables it to enter cells to provide them with energy. It also influences fat metabolism and adipose tissue activity. Insulin is produced by the pancreas, and in diabetes mellitus, that production is reduced, preventing glucose from entering the cells. The excess of glucose remaining in the bloodstream results in hyperglycaemia, in which case the body tries to eliminate the excess glucose through the urine and replace the lack of energy for cells by producing beta-hydroxybutyrate from fat as an alternative energy source.

Diabetes mellitus is usually classified into three types of disease:

• Type I diabetes mellitus results from complete or nearly complete destruction of beta cells. This is a rare type of diabetes in cats.
• Type II diabetes mellitus is different because some insulin-producing cells remain, but the amount of insulin produced is insufficient. Either there is a delayed response in secretion, or the tissues of the cat’s body are relatively resistant to insulin. Obesity is a predisposing factor in type II diabetes, which is the most common type of diabetes in the cat.
• Type III diabetes results from insulin resistance caused by other hormones and can be due to pregnancy or hormone-secreting tumours.

Type II diabetes mellitus is common in cats. It creates a condition in the body called insulin resistance, where there is insulin in the body, but the pancreas produces too little of it, or it is not effective enough. Peripheral insulin resistance may be transient at first but can lead to the depletion of pancreatic beta cells, in which case the cells are no longer able to produce enough insulin. In type II diabetes, the liver also releases too much glucose into the bloodstream, which the cells do not absorb enough of. This is called insulin resistance, meaning that the body is, in a way, resistant to insulin.

In cats, the causes of diabetes are rarely genetic. Lifestyle plays a major role in feline diabetes. Often, the diabetic cat is a lazy, overweight, middle-aged neutered male living indoors. Excessive body weight is responsible for a significant proportion of feline diabetes. Some medications, such as contraceptives or corticosteroids, may increase the risk of diabetes. Pancreatitis can also contribute to the onset of diabetes, and Burmese cats have been found to be susceptible to the disease.

Polydipsia and polyuria are the most common signs of diabetes mellitus in cats. A cat owner usually begins to suspect diabetes when a cat drinks more than usual. The cat may also urinate more than usual and have recurrent urinary tract infections. It may lose weight despite having a good appetite and eating a lot. Another common sign of DM in cats are recurrent and chronic dermatological problems.

Diagnosis and treatment of diabetes

When diabetes is suspected, blood and urine samples are taken from the cat. The diagnosis is often confirmed by the general symptoms that are appropriate for diabetes. A urine sample is taken to check if there is an abnormally high level of glucose in the urine that the body is trying to eliminate. The urine may also contain so-called ketones, which are produced when the body tries to use fats instead of sugars as its energy source. In diabetes, the body is not able to effectively use the sugar in the blood as an energy source, so the body compensates for the lack of energy from sugar by burning fatty acids. Glucose excreted in the urine due to diabetes may also cause urinary tract infections.

When diabetes is suspected, the aim is to rule out other diseases that can cause diabetes-like symptoms, such as hyperthyroidism, liver or kidney disease, and pancreatitis. Inflammatory diseases can cause insulin resistance.

Hyperglycaemia means dangerously high blood sugar levels. Though not as acute as hypoglycaemia, if hyperglycaemia arising from diabetes mellitus is left untreated, it can cause a life-threatening condition known as diabetic ketoacidosis. In hyperglycaemia, the body is unable to utilize blood sugar for energy and begins to use body fats instead. In this case, so-called ketones begin to form, which acidify the blood and cause dehydration, upsetting the electrolyte balance. The most common symptoms are increased drinking and urination, apathy, loss of appetite, and severe dehydration. In ketoacidosis, a cat’s breath may also begin to smell sweet. Ketoacidosis usually requires hospitalization, during which hydration is restored, the electrolyte balance is corrected, and the cat is given insulin to lower the dangerously high blood sugar levels.

A diabetes diagnosis typically requires insulin therapy. The medication is administered as a subcutaneous injection, but tablet medication can also be given if the cat agrees to swallow it and the pancreas is still functioning to some extent. Feline diabetes is known as transient diabetes. Some other illness or stressor may cause latent diabetes to develop into a clinical illness, but once the predisposing factor is removed, feline diabetes may improve. Unlike dogs, some cats survive without medication either completely or indefinitely if the initial insulin therapy has been effective. The best results are obtained with a combination of initial insulin medication, weight loss, and increased exercise. Especially in the early stages of treatment, regular blood glucose measurements are important, and regular follow-up visits to the vet are necessary. However, the cat may become stressed at the doctor’s office, which can impair the insulin response for up to several days. In this case, monitoring should be arranged at home.

An essential part of treating diabetes in an overweight cat is proper diet and weight loss. The proper veterinary diet should be high in protein with moderate fat and an appropriate amount of soluble and insoluble fibre to slow absorption of glucose into the bloodstream. The diet of a cat with diabetes should have a low glycaemic index.

Brit VD Diabetes

Brit VD Diabetes veterinary diet is designed to support the treatment of diabetes by equalizing postprandial blood sugar levels. The protein source in Brit VD Diabetes is easily digestible chicken, which promotes the maintenance of muscle mass. With a low glycaemic index, chicken protein helps balance postprandial blood sugar. Because diabetes has a negative effect on fat metabolism, the food has a low fat content (13%), which can reduce the risk of formation of toxic ketones and the body’s use of fat for energy instead of sugar.

Brit VD Diabetes contains yellow pea as a source of carbohydrates with a low glycaemic index and an excellent ratio of soluble and insoluble fibre. Yellow pea is highly digestible and absorbable and is also a good source of protein. Brit VD Diabetes is fortified with the amino acid taurine, which is known for its beneficial effect of increasing insulin sensitivity.

Brit VD Diabetes is a gluten-free diet that can reduce the risk of hypersensitivity to gluten. The amino acid L-carnitine is added to the food because it plays an important role in fat metabolism and the maintenance of muscle mass.

The low-fat content of Brit VD Diabetes helps in weight management. Glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate serve as building blocks for articular cartilage and have chondroprotective properties, which particularly support mobility in overweight cats. Selenium and vitamins C and E are added to Brit VD Obesity to act as antioxidants and reduce oxidative stress. The omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA affect fat metabolism and promote long-term glucose balance. The live probiotic E. faecium is added to the food to promote healthy bacterial flora in the gut.