What Is Diabetes?
Diabetes is an illness which occurs when the body doesn't produce enough insulin. Insulin enables glucose to enter cells in the blood. When there isn't enough, the body's blood sugar levels become too high. This can be very damaging to a person or animal's health as it might stop their body from functioning properly. Therefore, it needs to be regulated.
When an animal eats food, glucose in the food gets absorbed into the blood. Insulin encourages cells to absorb the glucose (a type of sugar) and remove it from the blood. It also encourages the liver to absorb glucose and store it for later. If there isn't enough insulin in the body then the cells don't absorb as much glucose and the levels of sugar in the blood rise.
Insulin is produced in the pancreas. Normally, when your pet eats a meal, the body automatically tells the pancreas to release insulin into the blood stream. However, in an animal with diabetes, this may not happen correctly or even at all.
There are two types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body is unable to produce any insulin at all. Humans or animals with type 1 diabetes are reliant on insulin injections to stay healthy. Type 2 diabetes is when the body doesn't produce enough insulin or the insulin doesn't work effectively.
The symptoms of diabetes include:
- Weight loss (possibly with increased appetite)
- Excessive urination
- Excessive thirst
- Decreased appetite
- Bad breath
How Can Insulin Help Diabetes?
One of the available treatments for diabetes is insulin. It replaces the insulin that is lacking in the body and helps regulate the amount of sugar that is in your pet's blood.
What Are the Different Types of Insulin?
Your vet will run blood tests to determine how much insulin your pet needs and which type is the best to use. Different types of insulin are used for dogs and cats. Both animals can receive synthesized human insulin. NPH can be used for dogs, while cats are often prescribed another kind.
Cats and dogs can also be given animal insulin. Some animals produce insulin that is very similar to your pet's. For example, pig insulin is similar to dogs' and beef insulin is similar to the insulin that cats naturally produce.
Insulin Side Effects
Although there are very few side effects associated with insulin, your pet's body is unpredictable and there is a risk that it might suffer a hypoglycaemic episode. Hypoglycaemia is the opposite of diabetes. It occurs when your pet's blood sugar level is too low.
The symptoms of hypoglycaemia include:
- Low energy
- Dizziness
- Loss of bladder control
- Seizures
- Vomiting
If your pet is taking insulin and exhibits any of these symptoms, it is important to seek advice from your vet immediately.