Feline diabetes is both a serious and an increasingly common condition amongst household cats. Like human diabetes, the condition in cats has a number of causes or predisposing conditions, including obesity, exercise levels and genetic factors. Left untreated, feline diabetes can severely impede your pet's life and may potentially be fatal. In virtually all cases, treatment of feline diabetes requires an adjustment of lifestyle and diet. However, if the condition is particularly serious or if your pet has complicating health factors, a medicine or supplement like chromium picolinate can be helpful in managing the symptoms of the disease.
Overview of Chromium Picolinate
Chromium picolinate is most commonly used as a nutritional supplement in humans. In these cases, chromium picolinate is marketed as a weight loss or muscle building tool. This supplement is a mixture of elemental chromium and picolinic acid. Although chromium is present in trace amounts in a variety of foods, many cats do not receive an adequate amount of the mineral in their normal diets. The picolinic acid aids the body in absorbing and processing the chromium itself.
Chromium picolinate functions by speeding up and assisting the body, either human or animal, in moderating and utilizing insulin. Insulin helps to regulate metabolism and is a key factor that is out of balance in diabetic pets. As a result of controlling the creation of insulin, chromium picolinate can help to reduce your pet's weight, stabilize his metabolism and generally reduce the symptoms of feline diabetes.
Effects of Chromium Picolinate
Many diabetic cats under treatment with chromium picolinate supplements experience lowered insulin requirements, increased sensitivity to insulin and a higher response rate to other diabetes treatments. Excess chromium is passed through the urine and will not build up in your pet's system. The side effects of chromium picolinate are generally minimal, although in some rare cases kidney disease may develop.
Treating Your Pet
Chromium picolinate is available without a prescription at pet stores and drug stores everywhere. Even still, it is important that you keep in close communication with your vet if your pet has been diagnosed with diabetes. This disease is highly sensitive, and your pet's overall health and immediate condition may fluctuate rapidly. As such, always consult with your vet before beginning or changing any treatment or management for your pet's diabetes.
Other Considerations
Do not use chromium picolinate if your pet has any known kidney conditions or if his diabetes has progressed to an emergency level.
Chromium picolinate will not, by itself, be adequate as a treatment or moderation method for diabetes symptoms in cats. Instead, you should plan to work closely with your veterinarian to determine a combination of lifestyle changes (like diet and exercise) and drug treatments. As with any other supplement, stop the administration immediately if your cat displays any unusual behavior or symptoms after beginning a treatment program. Consult with your veterinarian for additional concerns or considerations in your cat's case.