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Symptoms include unquenchable thirst, excessive
urination, diarrhea, dehydration, lethargy (even
coma) and a ravenous appetite yet the cat loses
weight. There are 2 types of diabetes and the vet
will test the cats blood or urine for glucose
levels to see if the pancreas is producing the
right amount of insulin. Depending on which type
of diabetes your cat has, the condition can be
controlled by diet and/or by daily insulin
injections or oral hypoglycemia (sugar-lowering)
agents, which aid in the metabolism of
carbohydrates. A high-fibre diet helps regulate
the rate at which nutrients are taken into the
body cells. Several small meals each day will keep
blood sugar levels more stable.
Type I diabetes (diabetes mellitus, sugar
diabetes) is due to your cat producing too little
insulin. This is the most serious and most common
form. He cannot properly metabolize sugar in its
blood and sugar is excreted in his urine. Insulin
injections are required. Some cases respond well
to insulin pills and there is progress with
insulin nasal spray in humans which may also
become available to cats. Your vet will train you
to give insulin injections and to test your cat's
urine.
Type II diabetes (too much insulin) is less
serious and less common; it is found in older cats
who have been consuming too many sugars
(carbohydrates) over a long period of time. They
have worn out the insulin producing part of the
pancreas. A high-fibre, low-calorie diet may be
prescribed.
Liver
Disease
In comparison to humans, cats do not have very
efficient livers. They are specialized carnivores
and rely on their prey's livers to have done the
work beforehand. The liver can regenerate itself
to some extent depending on how badly it is
damaged and whether it can be "rested"
for a while. Obese cats are more prone to liver
disease. A common symptom of liver failure is
jaundice - the skin turns yellowish as the body
tries to get rid of toxins through the skin; by
the time this is noticeable the damage may be
irreversible.
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