Did you know that November is pet diabetes month? To raise awareness, we’ve put together some information with the help of our resident vet, Lauren, to give you an overview of the condition and what it can mean for your feline friend.

What is feline diabetes?

Diabetes mellitus is a condition that affects the concentration of glucose, a type of sugar, in your cat’s blood. This can be due to your cat’s pancreas not producing enough insulin or their body not responding to insulin properly. The diabetes that cats can develop is very similar to human type 2 diabetes.

When your cat eats, carbohydrates are converted into several types of sugars, including glucose. Once in the bloodstream, glucose travels to cells where it can be absorbed and used as a source of energy – but only if insulin is present. Without enough insulin, glucose can’t enter cells and builds up in the bloodstream instead. This can cause your cat to act hungry all the time and eat constantly yet still be malnourished because its cells can’t absorb glucose.

Diabetes occurs in cats when their cells no longer respond normally to the amounts of insulin produced by the pancreas. Cats with diabetes usually need to have insulin injections, at least to start with, and their diet will need to be modified appropriately. Your vet will be able to recommend the most appropriate treatment for your cat’s diabetes.

How common is diabetes in cats?

Anywhere between 1 in 100 to 1 in 500 cats develops diabetes1. Whilst diabetes is most commonly diagnosed in older cats and neutered male cats, the disease can affect cats of all ages, sexes (intact and neutered), and all breeds.

What are the possible causes of diabetes in cats?

Experts believe feline diabetes results from several different factors:

• You cat might have genetic tendencies that make them predisposed to diabetes.
• If they have other insulin-resistant disorders or conditions, such as chronic pancreatitis or hyperthyroidism, they might be at risk of developing diabetes as well.
• Obesity is a key risk factor for developing feline diabetes.
• A lack of physical activity can bring about diabetes.
• Leading an indoor lifestyle can also be a contributing cause to developing diabetes.

What are the signs of diabetes in cats?

If any of these signs describes your cat, speak with your vet about the possibility of diabetes:

• Drinking excessive amounts of water (medically known as polydipsia)
• Urinates more frequently, produces more urine per day, or has ‘accidents’ outside the litter box (medically known as polyuria)
• Always acts hungry (medically known as polyphagia), but maintains or loses weight
• Is less active or sleeps more (medically known as lethargy)
• Has thinning, dry, and dull hair

How is diabetes in cats diagnosed?

• Your vet may ask about the above signs and will check your cat’s general health to rule out the possibility of other conditions or infections.
• A sample of your cat’s urine may be tested first for the presence of glucose, ketones, and/or a urinary tract infection. If glucose is present in your cat’s urine, the vet also will want to determine your cat’s blood glucose concentration and fructosamine concentration; the latter being a blood test that can give a vet an average of your cat’s blood sugar levels over a time period, rather than just in that one moment.
• A diabetes diagnosis is considered definite when glucose is found at a persistently high concentration in blood and in urine.

How is diabetes in cats managed?

If you cat has been diagnosed with diabetes, it can come as a shock. However, successful diabetes management means your cat can lead a happy, healthy, and active life. Although diabetes can't be cured, the disease can be successfully managed with daily insulin injections and changes in diet. Many experts currently consider a high-protein, low-carbohydrate food ideal for a diabetic cat. Your vet can recommend a diet that’s best suited to the needs of your cat.

As all diabetic cats need insulin, at least initially, you'll need to learn how to administer them. At first you may be nervous or even afraid of giving your cat an injection. You won’t be alone in this! Many pet owners are nervous about giving injections, but it’s easier than you think and fortunately the needle is very small and you’ll quickly learn how to handle daily injections with little stress for your cat or for you.

Some diabetic cats no longer need insulin after a few weeks or months of treatment, a condition known as clinical remission. However, clinical remission does not mean your cat’s diabetes has been cured. Care must still be taken with your cat’s diet and lifestyle. Insulin treatment may be required at a later date in cats that have gone into clinical remission.

Monitoring your cat’s blood glucose concentration is an important part of diabetes management. Because each diabetic pet is different, your vet will need to help you determine which monitoring device; such as urine glucose (and ketone) test strips or blood glucose meters, will work best for you and your cat.

Diabetes can affect a cat differently over time, even after a long period of stability. While you may feel confident in your ability to care for your diabetic cat, visiting your vet regularly will help you to successfully manage this condition over time. With a chronic condition like diabetes, it is important to stay in close touch with your vet. You can rely on them to answer all of your questions and help you as you learn to manage your cat’s diabetes successfully.

Our articles are not a replacement for face-to-face vet advice. It’s important to consult with your vet on a regular basis to raise any pet concerns that you may have.

1 Panciera DL, Thomas CB, Eicker SW, Atkins CE. Epizootiologic patterns of diabetes mellitus in cats: 333 cases (1980–1986). J Am Vet Med Assoc. 1990;197(11):1504–1508.