By Raeshell Rozet
FUZZBALL, A 12-YEAR-OLD KITTY, HAS DIABETES THAT WAS UNTIL RECENTLY CONTROLLED BY DIET. HE NOW RECEIVES DAILY INSULIN SHOTS, WHICH HAVE HELPED HIM TO BECOME MORE ACTIVE, HEALTHY, AND PLAYFUL.
The word "diabetes" can strike fear into the heart of any cat owner. Relax. Diabetes is a treatable medical condition. It is not possible to cure diabetes. The journey requires hard work and dedication, but a cat with diabetes can lead a long, healthy life. Diabetes is a common illness found in felines. Cat owners need to learn how to identify signs of the condition and seek treatment early.
A Closer Look at Diabetes
Diabetes results when the body is unable to appropriately use insulin to moderate glucose levels in the bloodstream. Glucose is a sugar that the body uses for energy. Insulin initiates the breakdown of glucose into a form that cells can consume. The pancreas secretes just enough insulin to process the glucose.
There are two ways that diabetes presents itself. Type 1 diabetes stems from the inability of the pancreas to generate an adequate supply of insulin. Type 2 diabetes results from the body not being able to utilize insulin at the cellular level. In either case, the end result is too much glucose left unused in the bloodstream. Although there is an excess of glucose available, the body deteriorates and starves due to its inability to process the sugars (Feline Diabetes, 2007).
What are the Chances My Cat Will Develop Diabetes?
According to Marcia King in her article "Living with Feline Diabetes," it is estimated that one in 400 felines develop this disorder. The disease tends to primarily occur in male cats over the age of six. Another risk factor seems to be obesity. Obese cats are four times more likely to develop the disease (King, 2007). It is important to keep in mind that any cat can develop diabetes; if you have any suspicions you should consult your veterinarian.
What Signs Should I Look For?
There are hallmark signs of diabetes. As a cat owner you should watch for disproportionate thirst, increased urination, change in appetite, lower activity level, and neuropathy (a condition which causes weakness in the rear legs). Other signs might include a poor coat and bacterial infections (Feline Diabetes, 2007).
How Do I Find Out If My Cat Has Diabetes?
There is no one in the world who knows your cat better than you do. If you have suspicions of the presence of diabetes, it is important that you consult with your veterinarian. Together, you and your cat's veterinarian can become powerful allies in recognizing and treating diabetes. Be prepared to give your veterinarian specific details about any changes you may have noticed in your cat's behavior.
The symptoms of diabetes can be found in other medical conditions as well. Your veterinarian will need to perform a physical exam and blood and urine tests to determine if diabetes is the underlying cause. The blood and urine tests will indicate if there is a high level of sugar in the body fluids (King, 2007). Your veterinarian will use the results of the physical exam and glucose level tests to arrive at a diagnosis and starting point for treatment.
My Cat Has Diabetes. What Happens Next?
The key to a good treatment plan is to remember that every cat is different. It may take a period of trial and error for your veterinarian to find the right combination of diet and medicine. Even after your cat's diabetes is well managed, you will have to keep a close eye on your cat's behavior to make sure that the treatment plan doesn't need to be adjusted. Successful treatment of diabetes is dependent upon your perseverance and open communication with a trusted veterinarian.
Your veterinarian will give you instructions about feeding and diabetic medication. In a few cases, diabetes can be controlled through oral medication and a strict diet. The majority of diabetic cats require one to two daily injections of insulin. Your veterinarian will demonstrate the proper technique for administering the shots. Most cats are not troubled by the daily injections.
Your veterinarian will also give you instructions on how to monitor your cat's glucose level and recognize signs of insulin overdose. The good news is that with proper care and treatment, many diabetic cats have a long, happy life. If you are considering not treating your pet, please remember that most cats do not mind the daily injections, and without treatment diabetes is usually fatal (Feline Diabetes, 2007).
A Final Note: Don't Go It Alone!
Don't underestimate your need for a support system. There are web sites devoted to caregivers of pets with chronic diseases. You will need friends who understand your devotion to your cat. There will be times when you cannot be there for your cat. It is important to have a trusted backup caregiver who knows how to administer insulin injections and who has the ability to obtain emergency care for your pet if necessary (Feline Diabetes, 2007). Most importantly, you will need to find a veterinarian who is knowledgeable about diabetes, and one with whom you can build an open line of communication.
Diabetes is not the end, but a new beginning for you and your cat. Life will change, but where there is challenge there is also opportunity to grow. You will learn to watch your cat more closely and be attuned to your pet's needs. You will not take your pet for granted. And at the end of the day, nothing compares to the soft purr of a devoted kitty to tell you that it is all worth it.
References and Resources
Cat Diabetes for Beginners. [Online] Available: www.felinediabetes.com
[As viewed 2007, Jan.25]
Diet and Exercise for Diabetic Cats [Online] Available: www.bddiabetes.com
[As viewed 2007, Jan.25]
King, Marcia. Living with Feline Diabetes [Online] Available: www.netpets.com/cats/reference/diabetes.html
[As viewed 2007, Jan.25]
Paw Prints & Purrs Inc. Feline Diabetes [Online] Available: www.sniksnak.com/cathealth/diabetes.html
[As viewed 2007, Jan.25]
Feline Diabetes Online Forum:
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/Felinediabetes
Diabetic Cats Dietary Management Online Forum:
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/DiabeticCatsDM 
About the Author
Raeshell lives in a lively house with two boys and two dogs. She loves writing for animal rescue organizations. She dedicates her volunteer work for cats in the memory of her best childhood friend (and cat), Peanut Butter, who lived to be a wise twenty years old!
About Fuzzball the Kitty
Fuzzball is twelve years old and was a diet-controlled diabetic when he was living with his human mom and cat littermate sister, Maxine. When his mom passed away, he was adopted but the adoptive home did not work out.
He then went to live with Jean, who took Fuzzball and Maxine in as foster cats at that time. With all the stress of the loss of the only person they had ever lived with since kittenhood, and the moves, Fuzzball became an active diabetic with a very high blood glucose level.
Jean was very apprehensive about managing Fuzzball's diabetes and giving shots, but realized if she didn't, she would not be helping him at all. Jean's vet taught her how to give the shots. Fuzzball goes in for blood glucose level checks periodically, and is more active, healthy, playful, and is grooming himself, too!
Jean says it was the best thing she could have done for him, and she is so glad that she gave it a try.