Cats are just like humans in many ways. Like humans, cats have varying attitudes and personalities. They can also have health issues like humans. One concerning health issue for cats is diabetes. Diabetes is a chronic disease. When a cat doesn’t get enough insulin or the insulin isn’t responding as it should, this causes diabetes in cats (Rand). Insulin is a hormone that breaks down sugar levels for the body’s cells. Without insulin, sugar levels increase.
The symptoms of diabetes could be weight loss or weight gain, drinking more water than average, frequent urination, and decrease or increase in food consumption. Diabetes isn’t curable in cats or humans, but diabetes can be fatal if left untreated. The best thing for cats with diabetes is safe management of the condition using the following treatments:
1. Exercise
Overweight and obese cats are at a high risk of getting diabetes. A little exercise for your cat can go a long way. Just by playing with your cat with either a toy ball or even a piece of string would be enough exercise for your cat to reduce body fat. Taking a cat for a walk can even help increase their cardiovascular health and reduce body fat. Reducing body fat in cats can lower and even eliminate diabetes.
2. Insulin shots
Of course, if there are concerns about your cat’s health, you would want to visit the veterinarian. Veterinarians may suggest getting your cat on an insulin shot regimen. These injections are usually implemented twice a day to keep blood sugar stabilized. While cats are on this shot, they must eat a regular diet of high protein and low carbohydrates. Meal times and shots usually coincide together, so sugar levels aren’t disrupted and can continue to be regulated.
3. Feline diabetes diet
The most important thing to do in reducing diabetes in cats is changing their diet. Giving cats a high fiber diet was supposed to help them before, but what happened with this diet is that cats can lose both fat and muscle, then gaining that weight back while trying to recover lost muscle. Cats eating a high protein and low carbohydrate diet can help them lose weight while retaining muscle (Dr. Greco). Dry cat food is high in carbohydrates, but wet food is high in protein, and is easier to portion.
4. Remission
When a cat is in remission from diabetes, that means that the cat has normal glucose levels, and no longer needs treatment. One in four cats usually achieve remission after treatment. Unfortunately, one in three cats will relapse and have diabetes again (Reusch). It is important for your cat to get enough exercise and have a high protein and low carbohydrate diet, so your cat can live a happy, healthy, long life.
