007. Diabetes
Description
This article is from the Medical Information FAQ, posted to rec.pets.cats newsgroup. Maintained by Cindy Tittle Moore with numerous contributions by others.
007. Diabetes
Diabetes occurs when the cat cannot properly regulate its blood sugar level. Symptoms may include excessive thirst and urination; it may lose weight or develop diabetes because of obesity. Older cats are more likely to develop diabetes than younger ones.
Treatment may consist of a carefully regulated diet to keep blood sugar levels consistent (especially if the diabetes was triggered by obesity). In most cases, daily injections of insulin are needed. Regular vet visits are required to determine the proper dosage. In between visits, using urine glucose test strips available from the pharmacy helps you determine whether the dosage of insulin is sufficient.
A bottle of Karo syrup or maple syrup kept handy is essential for bringing the cat out of dangerously low blood sugar levels. Diabetic cats should be kept indoors to prevent accidental feeding (and thus disturbing the regulation of blood sugar levels).
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