4 / 12
by
Andrew Carpenter BVSc, MRCVS
Kingfisher Veterinary Practice
What Is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a fairly common
disease in dogs and cats,
characterised by a lack of
insulin, which leads to
persistently high sugar levels
in the bloodstream. In the early
stages excessive drinking and
weight loss are common. But,
if left untreated more severe
consequences can occur
including blindness and kidney
disease, and in some situations
can have life-threatening
complications.
Diabetes is treatable, and
most animals do very well on
long-term treatment.
Remission
of Diabetes
Spontaneous remission of
diabetes mellitus is a unique
feature of the condition in
cats. About 20% of cats
have been reported to go
into spontaneous remission
after insulin treatment is
initiated.
The carbohydrate content
of the diet is believed to be
a factor in this, and in the
case of this cat the adoption
of a low carbohydrate diet
from a very early stage may
have contributed to the
subsequent remission of
the condition.
04
small
talk
Diabetes
Spontaneous
Remission
of Diabetes in a Cat
About 20%
of cats have been
reported to go
into spontaneous
remission after
insulin treatment
is initiated.
“