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DIABETES
MELLITUS Diabetes is an endocrine disorder in dogs and cats characterized by high blood sugar (hyperglycemia). It occurs when the pancreas cannot produce enough insulin to meet the body’s energy requirements. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to transfer glucose (blood sugar) into glycogen so that it can be utilized by the body for energy. When insulin levels are low, glucose cannot move into the cells and the glucose level in the blood rises to abnormally high levels. Clinical
signs of Diabetes include increased urination, increased drinking,
weakness, rapid weight loss, and depression.
Pets may have either an increased or decreased appetite. Some animals develop cataracts.
Secondary complications include infections (especially of the
urinary tract), other hormone disorders, and ketosis. Diabetes
usually occurs because the pancreas has been damaged. Predisposing conditions can be:
obesity (over weight), diet, stress, drugs, infection, and hormonal
abnormalities. TREATMENT Treatment
requires a committed owner. Diabetes
is a managed disease, there is
no cure. You, the owner, must
be willing to monitor and treat your pet on a DAILY basis. Diabetes in pets, as with humans, can be controlled with
insulin injections, diet, and exercise management.
With such therapy, your pet can lead a happy and comfortable life. HOME
CARE Your
pet needs to have daily injections of insulin for the rest of it’s life.
Oral medication is rarely effective for diabetic animals.
Also, unlike humans, dietary management alone will not control the
disease. The injection is
given just under the skin between the shoulder blades and the neck area.
Because a small needle is used, there is MINIMAL pain for your pet.
The Doctor will demonstrate how to give this injection;
and, remember, the hospital staff is here to help you care for your
pet. We welcome your
questions. THE
INSULIN DOSE The
type of insulin and daily dose are tailored to meet each individual
animal’s needs. Some pets
may need once daily dosing while others may require insulin injections
twice daily. The amount and
type of food and exercise will also affect the required insulin dosage.
Frequent monitoring of your pet’s blood glucose levels will help
refine insulin treatment. The
goal of treatment is to achieve a blood glucose level between
120-200mg/dl. When blood
glucose monitoring consistently reaches this level, the pet is considered
to be regulated. Not ALL pets
regulate easily. DRAWING
UP THE INSULIN Insulin
should be kept refrigerated at all times.
Roll the bottle gently between your hands prior to drawing the
insulin into the syringe.
“Insulin
syringes” are specially designed syringes for accuracy and ease of
measuring the insulin. We
recommend ULTRA-FINE needle 3/10cc syringes.
These are 27 gauge needles for U-100 insulin usage.
These syringes are to be used only one time. You are welcome to bring the used syringes to our hospital
for disposal. Please make sure
that these syringes are kept stored out of the reach of children.
The
correct dose of insulin is measured at the TOP of the plunger (the end of
the plunger nearest the needle). HOW
TO GIVE AN INJECTION
“Sterilizing”
the skin with alcohol is not necessary, and may be counterproductive if it
stings and causes your pet to want to avoid the injection. FEEDING It
is important that the diet be consistent both in nutritional content and in
the amount consumed. Table
scraps and varied diets will interfere with your pet becoming regulated.
Studies performed indicate that diets with high fiber, high
carbohydrate, fixed formula foods lower insulin requirements and blood
glucose levels. Fiber also
slows the absorption of glucose from the intestinal tract and decreases
hyperglycemia. We recommend
feeding the Vet’s Choice Diets—either the High Fiber Formula or the
Weight Formula. If your pet
will not eat either of these foods, consult with the Doctor about what would
be considered an appropriate diet. Obesity
decreases the body’s responsiveness to insulin and results in dangerously
high blood sugar levels. Correct
dietary management is a critical part of successfully managing the diabetic
patient. As a general rule, the
diabetic patient should be fed multiple small meals throughout the day to
help maintain a constant blood sugar level.
If your pet is sometimes reluctant to feed or it’s appetite is
inconsistent; make sure that it
eats a small amount of food BEFORE you
give the insulin injection. If
insulin is given and the pet does not eat properly, it can go into
hypoglycemic shock. Signs that
indicate hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) include:
change in mentation (irritability, depression, drunkenness),
lethargy, muscle trembling, and seizures.
EXERCISE There
are no restrictions for your pet’s normal activity. However, recommend that your pet’s activity be regulated so
as to keep the insulin requirements as consistent as possible. SPECIAL
CONSIDERATIONS Diabetic
animals are more susceptible to other health problems such as:
increased incidence of infections, delayed healing, cataracts, kidney
disease, heart disease, pancreatitis, gastrointestinal problems, and nervous
system disorders. Diabetic
animals should not be bred because it is extremely difficult to control
diabetes during pregnancy and may cause a life-threatening situation. COST The
cost of caring for a diabetic pet is an important consideration.
Cost will vary depending on any additional health problems that may
occur. To estimate your costs,
diabetes treatment should be broken down into:
initial diagnostic work-up, stabilization, and maintenance.
Please discuss your concerns with the Doctor at any time. Beyond
the monetary cost, there is a time commitment required of the owners.
This commitment may not seem easy, but it can be very rewarding for
both pet and owner. Your
commitment adds to the quality of your pet’s life and is paid back in
years of healthy companionship. Questions
you have concerning your pet’s health are welcomed by the hospital staff. IMPORTANT
INSTRUCTIONS FOR YOUR PET Give
your pet ____ units of _____________ insulin ________times daily. If
your pet does not eat, DO NOT give
the insulin and call the Doctor. Monitor
your pet’s appetite, activity, drinking, and urination for a subjective
evaluation of how your pet is responding to treatment.
A pet that suddenly begins drinking and urinating frequently suggests
that the diabetes is no longer controlled; and that pet should be brought in
to check the blood glucose level. As
the diabetes gets under control, your pet should begin gaining weight. Keep
honey or Karo syrup on hand for emergency treatment of hypoglycemia.
Should you suspect that your pet is hypoglycemic (“crashing”),
immediately give the Karo and take to the veterinarian.
If your pet is unable to swallow, rub the Karo onto the gums.
Any time that you have any questions regarding the health of your
pet, do not hesitate to call the Doctor.
Bring
your pet back on ______________ for a blood glucose test.
This test needs to be performed ______ hours after the insulin
injection. Until your pet is
regulated, this testing will be done frequently.
When consistent results are achieved, the time periods between
testing will slowly be prolonged. PLEASE
DO NOT HESITATE TO CALL SHOULD YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS OR QUESTIONS. HOME
GLUCOSE MONITORING You
may need to monitor your diabetic pet at home for the presence or absence of
glucose in the urine. HOW
TO TEST YOUR DOG FOR GLUCOSE
HOW
TO TEST YOUR CAT FOR GLUCOSE
CHANGING
THE INSULIN DOSAGE BASED ON URINE GLUCOSE TESTING This
is not as accurate as blood glucose testing and should never replace blood glucose testing as the sole means of regulating
diabetes.
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Note: This article is provided by Claws & Paws Veterinary Hospital® for informational purposes only. |
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