Diabetes Booklet

02 What is diabetes? Diabetes is a condition where the blood glucose (sugar) and urine sugar levels are too high. There are two main types of diabetes - mellitus (DM) and insipidus (DI), with diabetes mellitus being much more common. Uncover the signs of diabetes Diabetes can affect both dogs and cats. With dogs, up to 1% of the population are estimated to have diabetes mellitus and about 0.5% of cats. Breeds identified as being at higher risk of developing diabetes mellitus include: Australian Terrier, both Standard and Miniature Schnauzers, Bichon Frise, Spitz, Fox Terrier, both Miniature and Toy Poodle, Samoyed, Cairn Terrier, Keeshond, Maltese, Lhasa Apso and Yorkshire Terrier. Burmese cats are predisposed to diabetes mellitus. The pets most at risk of developing diabetes are those which are overweight or obese, on long-term steroids, are elderly, have other illnesses, such as Cushing’s, and bitches that have not been spayed. Insulin is produced by the pancreas and is the hormone responsible for reducing and controlling blood glucose levels in an animal after it has eaten, but diabetic pets have a high blood glucose level because there is a lack of insulin production OR a failure of the body to respond to the insulin produced (insulin resistance). Insulin acts on cells to promote the uptake of glucose into them. In pets that either lack or can’t respond to this hormone, the food is digested and changed into glucose, but none of the body’s cells can make use of it. The high levels of glucose in the bloodstream are too much for the kidneys to cope with and the glucose flows out in the urine. Because of this your pet has to pass urine more frequently and will start drinking more to compensate.