Can a cat be diabetic without insulin injections?
With early, aggressive treatment of diabetes, many cats will enter a state of diabetic remission, meaning they are able to maintain normal blood sugar levels without insulin injections.
What should I expect when my cat goes into diabetes?
And I can offer some pointers to help keep the kitty in remission. Cats are usually type 2 diabetics, meaning they may yet produce insulin but don’t react to it as well as they should. This is called insulin resistance.
When to take blood glucose test for cats?
A glucose curve helps the vet to ensure your cat is receiving the correct insulin dose by tracking how her blood glucose level responds through the day. After the cat has her morning meal, an initial blood draw is taken just before her morning insulin injection.
Can a diabetic cat go into remission?
Some cats may later become type 1 (insulin dependent diabetics), but initially we have a chance of turning their diabetes around. Dogs, unfortunately, are most often type 1 diabetics. It would be quite rare for a diabetic dog to go into remission.
With early, aggressive treatment of diabetes, many cats will enter a state of diabetic remission, meaning they are able to maintain normal blood sugar levels without insulin injections.
What does it mean when a cat is diabetic?
When there is not enough insulin produced by the pancreas, or the cat does not use it effectively, glucose cannot enter the cells and high levels of glucose build up in the bloodstream. This condition is called diabetes. What are the signs of diabetes?
Which is the best insulin for diabetic cats?
Glargine, is a human medication that is long acting and maintains more consistent glucose levels. Detemir is a synthetic insulin that has a long duration of activity. Both of these newer insulin products can help promote remission in cats by achieving quick glucose control.
How often should I give my cat insulin?
Nevertheless, this may be an option occasionally for cats that are very difficult to inject with insulin. Most diabetic cats will need to have their diabetes managed with daily or twice daily injections of insulin, just as is needed for many humans with diabetes.
How often should I give my Cat an insulin shot?
Cats with diabetes need constant attention. They eat a special low carbohydrate diet to reduce the amount of glucose in the body. Even so, most cats require insulin injections twice daily to keep blood glucose in check. The injections are administered under the skin in rotating sites, preferably at the same time each day.
What is the best treatment for feline diabetes?
These goals are best achieved through a combination of insulin and dietary therapy. Injectable insulin is a mainstay of treatment for feline diabetes. Unlike humans with Type II diabetes, oral medications to reduce blood sugar such as glipizide have not shown to be consistently effective in cats.
Can a diabetic cat go into a coma?
If a diabetic cat is being treated with insulin injections, he faces complications from a possible insulin overdose. This creates hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, also called insulin shock. Hypoglycemia can result in weakness, seizures and eventually coma or death if not treated.