Managing Diabetes in Dogs and Cats
Diabetes is a common disease encountered in both cats and dogs. As a vet, I have seen that an essential aspect of successful diabetes management is to ensure that the pet owner is capable of administering insulin, able to recognise the signs of inadequately managed diabetes, and able to monitor blood glucose levels from home. I strive to educate pet-owners on how to effectively treat, manage and monitor their diabetic pets. For cats, diabetic remission is possible if given the appropriate treatment, which includes them enjoying a good quality of life, with positive response to treatment, and an avoidance of hypoglycaemia. Diabetic dogs will always require exogenous insulin therapy and full diabetic remission is very rare, but managing symptoms through correct and informed treatment will be effective. The following information aims to give you an overview on how to undertake diabetes treatment for your pet.
Insulin therapy is still the main course of action to treat our pet’s diabetes, yet there are numerous palliative care methods, such as non-insulin therapeutic medication and dietary management, are also highly effective. Non-insulin therapeutic agents include Sulfonylureas to promote insulin secretion, alpha-glucosidase inhibitors to inhibit intestinal glucose absorption and reduce postprandial hyperglycaemia, as well as incretins that are metabolic or gastrointestinal hormones. The goals of dietary therapy are to optimize body weight with appropriate protein and carbohydrate levels, fat restriction, and calorie and portion control. The primary goal is weight loss in obese pets, or stopping diabetes associated weight loss. As a general rule, diabetic cats should be fed a high-protein diet to maximise metabolic rate, limit the risk of hepatic lipidosis during weight loss, improve satiety and prevent lean muscle mass loss. For dogs, a diet that will correct obesity, optimise body weight, and minimise postprandial hyperglycemia is recommended.
This report found that a key aspect of diabetes management in pets is monitoring. A controlled diabetic is defined by the absence of clinical signs and hypoglycemia. Here are four ways to monitor your diabetic pet from home. Firstly, make sure that your pet is at their ideal body weight. For home blood glucose curves, capillary blood is effective. The aim is to keep blood glucose levels below the renal threshold (200 mg/dL in dogs, and 250-300 mg/dL in cats). Thirdly, urine glucose can be measured through dipsticks, but it must be remembered that these are not always accurate in dogs. Lastly, pet owners should keep a daily log of appetite, thirst, and insulin dose administered.
All in all, I believe that the best care for diabetic pets requires the commitment and coordinated efforts of both the veterinary healthcare team and the pet-owner. As an addition to traditional insulin treatment is the option of palliative care for dogs and cats which focuses on dietary therapy and non-insulin therapeutic agents. For this reason, I am convinced that providing pet-owners with the proper education and supporting them along the diabetes treatment plan is essential. No matter what, treatment can consist of trial and error, ups and downs, so stick with me, stick with your vet’s guidance to help your pet regain a good quality of life.