Jornada Veterinary Clinic
2399 Saturn Circle
Las Cruces, NM 88012
382-1710
Diabetes
Diabetes mellitus is a disease caused by the deficiency of insulin. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas, and is necessary for body tissues to use blood sugar. Without insulin, sugar remains in the blood and eventually passes into the urine. This causes increased urine production and thirst. Hunger increases because the body cannot use the sugar in the blood. As the disease progresses chemicals called ketones accumulate, resulting in vomiting and dehydration. Eventually coma and death occur in untreated animals. Though diabetes is not curable, it can be controlled with proper insulin administration.
When we diagnose a pet with diabetes, it is generally due to abnormal bloodwork and urinalysis results. We usually see an increase in the amount of glucose in the blood, along with glucose or ketones in the urine.
Pets can exhibit weakness, muscle atrophy or decreased limb reflexes. They may also develop cataracts and liver problems as a result of diabtetes.
Treatment of diabetes can be difficult. It depends on the animal’s response to treatment. Some pets are easy to regulate; others can be difficult.
Dogs should be fed a high fiber diet. Research shows this is the most effective type of food to help regulate
diabetes. We recommend Hills W/D or Purina DCO to be fed twice daily.
Cats should be fed a high protein low carbohydrate diet. This is the most effective food to treat cats with diabetes.
It is also recommended cats receive canned food for the majority of their diet. We highly recommend Purina DM for cats with Diabetes.
Once your pet is diagnosed with diabetes, a dose of insulin will be prescribed. These insulin injections are simply given under the skin between the shoulder blades. Again, it is very important that these injections be given at the same time everyday. A new syringe should be used for each injection. Insulin and syringes are available at Jornada. Insulin is measured in units. Therefore, you will be instructed to give your pet (for example) 2 units of insulin twice daily.
It is very important to monitor pets with diabetes. Once your pet has been on insulin for approximately a week, we will need to draw blood and check the glucose levels. You should feed your pet and give the insulin as you normally do. The pet will need to be left with us for the day. We will draw two samples, one around 9am, and the second sample around 3pm. This will give us information needed to help regulate the insulin that you need to give. Based on this information, we may adjust the amount of insulin you need to administer. Until your pet is fully regulated, we may need to check glucose levels every 2 weeks. Once your pet has become regulated, we may run another test to check the Fructosamine levels. This will depend on how your pet is doing, and what the doctor recommends.
It is very important that your pet ALWAYS eat prior to the administration of insulin. If your pet does not eat and you administer insulin, you may cause your pet to go into HYPOGLYCEMIC shock. This occurs when the glucose level is too low, and the pet may become comatose, have seizures, or die. This is why it is also important to monitor your pets’ glucose level. (You don’t want to give too much insulin!) It is recommended to keep Karo Syrup on hand in case of a hypoglycemic crisis. You can rub syrup on the gums.
Hormones present during “heat” and pregnancy can antagonize the effects of insulin. Diabetic patients should be spayed. Medications can also antagonize the effects of insulin. Caution should be taken with Sulfa, Miconazole, or anti-inflammatory drugs.
Overweight patients must loose weight in order to help regulate diabtetes.
Consistency is the key! Diet, exercise, and insulin must be the exact same everyday!
Please remember each diabetic case is different. All pets respond in different ways.