Diabetes mellitus is one of the commonest endocrine diseases of middle-aged to older cats. Most feline cases resemble human type 2 diabetes, which is why cats, unlike dogs, can go into remission. Success depends on the right insulin, a low-carbohydrate diet, home monitoring and a client who understands the plan.
Key facts
Diabetes mellitus at a glance- Species and system: cat; endocrine pancreas.
- Cause: relative or absolute insulin deficiency; islet amyloid (from islet amyloid polypeptide) with beta-cell loss and insulin resistance from obesity, drugs and other disease.
- Classic presentation: polyuria, polydipsia, polyphagia and weight loss; sometimes a plantigrade stance from neuropathy.
- Diagnosis: persistent hyperglycaemia plus glucosuria; fructosamine helps exclude stress hyperglycaemia.
- Treatment: insulin plus a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet; SGLT2 inhibitors for selected new cases.
- Zoonotic or reportable: no.
What's inside
12 sections in the full guide- Key facts
- How the NAVLE tests this
- Cause and pathophysiology
- Clinical signs
- Diagnosis
- Differential diagnoses
- Treatment and management
- Prevention, control and public health
- Prognosis
- Quick review
- Test yourself
- References
The full guide also has 5 tables, 3 self-test questions and 9 references, available to NAVLE members.
Read the full study guide
The full guide is part of every NAVLE plan, with diagnosis and treatment tables, figures, a quick review and self-test questions. Start a free trial to try the question bank, or log in if you are already a member.