Diabetes mellitus is caused by an absolute or relative deficiency of insulin. Animals with an absolute or relative deficiency of insulin are called diabetics.

Insulin deficiency can develop for different reasons:

The most common signs of diabetes mellitus are:

Your veterinarian will measure your cat’s blood glucose and test your cat’s urine for the presence of glucose and ketones and for a urinary tract infection.

Persistently high blood glucose levels along with glucose in the urine usually mean that your cat has diabetes mellitus. Diabetic cats may also have a urinary tract infection.

Cats and of all ages can get diabetes. Diabetes most typically occurs in older cats. Castrated male cats are affected most commonly. In Australia and the UK there is an increased prevalence of diabetes in Burmese cats.

Problems associated with diabetes are generally seen in long standing cases, these include hindlimb weakness in cats.

Cats with diabetes mellitus drink and urinate a lot. They may also have a good or increased appetite but usually lose rather than gain weight. Other common diseases where some or all of these signsare also seen include:

To reach a definitive diagnosis of diabetes mellitus your veterinarian will test your cat’s blood glucose and urine glucose and ketones.

With dedication, the correct treatment, lifestyle and adequate monitoring a diabetic cat should have the same expected life span as a non-diabetic cat of the same age.

No. Freezing will destroy the insulin and reduce the effectiveness of the product. If a vial of insulin accidentally freezes in the fridge, it should be discarded and a new vial should be used.

Insulin should be stored upright, protected from light, between 2 and 8°C. If the insulin vial has been accidentally stored outside the refrigerator consult your veterinarian for advice on whether the insulin can still be used or not.

Insulin should be stored in a refrigerator and not frozen. It is usually advised that any pharmaceutical product should be disposed of around one month after opening.

Do not try to top up the insulin dose. It is best to leave your pet until the next insulin dose is required and then continue as normal. A brief period of high blood sugar (hyperglycaemia) due to too low an insulin dose is not as serious or as dangerous as the possibility of causing low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) by topping up with too much insulin.

Contact your veterinarian and explain the situation.

Monitor your cat carefully for signs of low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia):

If you see any of these signs try to encourage your cat to eat a small meal or if this fails rub some glucose solution or honey onto your pet’s gums.
Read more in the emergencies section of this website.

The following signs may indicate hypoglycaemia:

If you see any of these signs try to encourage your cat to eat a small meal or if this fails rub some glucose solution or honey onto your pet’s gums.
Read more in the emergencies section of this website.

It is perfectly safe for your diabetic pet to receive their annual vaccinations. In fact, this annual check up also gives your veterinarian a good opportunity to give your pet a complete check up. By keeping your diabetic pet healthy, there will be fewer fluctuations in his/her insulin requirements.

Your diabetic cat may need an anaesthetic for a minor procedure like teeth cleaning. Mouth infections could affect your cat's insulin requirements so keeping teeth clean is advised.

Normally animals need to have an empty stomach before they are anaesthetized. A diabetic pet that has not been fed needs less insulin. Your veterinarian will advise you how much insulin to give your pet before it is admitted or may wish to administer a reduced dose of insulin for you. Usually a diabetic pet is administered intravenous fluid therapy during anaesthesia. This is a means of giving fluid to the animal when it cannot drink itself. Apart from needing a reduced amount of insulin and fluid therapy (which is also given to some non-diabetic animals undergoing anesthesia), your diabetic cat is not at any additional risk from anaesthesia compared with a normal cat of the same age.

Diabetic cats must be fed regularly. Some cats prefer eating small amounts throughout the day. If this is your cat’s habit, your veterinarian probably will not try to change it. Many cats simply refuse to eat different food. If your diabetic cat will not eat the diet prescribed, your veterinarian will advise you on another suitable diet. If your cat is overweight, your veterinarian will advise a weight management programme to help reduce its weight gradually. Weight loss will make your cat’s diabetes easier to manage.

Diabetes mellitus is caused by an absolute or relative deficiency of insulin. Animals with an absolute or relative deficiency of insulin are called diabetics.

Insulin deficiency can develop for different reasons:

No. Diabetes insipidus, also known as “water diabetes” is caused when large amounts of dilute urine are produced. It is a far less common condition than diabetes mellitus. Diabetes insipidus is caused by problems in part of the brain or in the kidneys. There is no glucose present in the urine of animals with diabetes insipidus.

The most common symptoms of diabetes mellitus are:

Your veterinarian will measure your dog’s blood glucose and test your dog’s urine for the presence of glucose and ketones.

Persistently high blood glucose levels along with glucose in the urine usually mean that your dog has diabetes mellitus.

Dogs and of all ages can get diabetes. Diabetes most typically occurs in middle aged to older dogs.

Problems associated with diabetes are generally seen in long standing cases; these include cataracts in dogs.

Dogs with diabetes mellitus drink and urinate a lot. They may also have increased appetite but usually lose weight. Other common diseases where some or all of these signs are also seen include:

To reach a definitive diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, your veterinarian will check your dog’s blood glucose concentrations and look for the presence of urine glucose and ketones.

With dedication, the correct treatment, lifestyle and adequate monitoring, a diabetic dog should have the same expected life span as a non-diabetic dog.

No. freezing will destroy the insulin molecules and the product will no longer work. If a vial of insulin accidentally freezes in the fridge, it should be discarded and a new vial should be used.

Insulin should be stored upright, protected from light, between 2 and 8°C. If the insulin vial has been accidentally stored outside the refrigerator, consult your veterinarian for advice on whether the insulin can still be used or not.

Insulin should be stored in a refrigerator and not frozen. It is usually advised that any pharmaceutical product should be disposed of around one month after opening. .

Do not try to top up the insulin dose. It is best to leave your pet until the next insulin dose is required and then continue as normal. A brief period of high blood sugar (hyperglycaemia) is not as serious or as dangerous as the possibility of causing low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) by topping up with too much insulin.

Contact your veterinarian and explain the situation.

Monitor your dog carefully for signs of low blood sugar (hypoglycaemia):

If you see any of these signs try to encourage your dog to eat a small meal or if this fails, rub some glucose solution or honey on your pet’s gums.
Read more in the emergencies section of this website.

The following signs may indicate hypoglycaemia:

If you see any of these signs try to encourage your dog to eat a small meal or if this fails, rub some glucose solution or honey on your pet’s gums. Read more in the emergencies section of this website.

It is perfectly safe for your diabetic pet to receive their annual vaccinations. In fact, this annual visit also gives your veterinarian a good opportunity to give your pet a complete check up. By keeping your diabetic pet healthy, there will be fewer fluctuations in its insulin requirements.

Normally animals need to have an empty stomach before they are anaesthetized. A diabetic pet that has not been fed needs far less insulin. Your veterinarian will advise you how much insulin to give your pet before it is admitted or may wish to administer a reduced dose of insulin for you. Usually a diabetic pet is administered intravenous fluid therapy during an anaesthesia. This is a means of giving fluid to the animal when it cannot drink itself. Apart from needing a reduced amount of insulin and fluid therapy (which is also given to some non-diabetic animals undergoing anesthesia), your diabetic dog is not at any additional risk from anaesthesia than a normal dog of the same age.