Diabetes Warning for Cats - Cut Down on the Treats

Many pet owners think that they are being kind to their cats by giving them treats when they are good. However, this is not always the case. These same pet owners could actually be harming their pets, since a large amount of fancy treats could lead to the development of diabetes in your cat.

What is Feline Diabetes?

Just like humans, cats can develop diabetes, which is their body's inability to produce insulin to regulate sugar levels in the body. When sugar levels are not regulated, many health conditions can develop.

In a healthy cat, when food in ingested, glucose will form in their blood stream and it is then processed into energy. A chemical called insulin is responsible for signaling cells to start converting the glucose into a useable energy source.

When a cat is unable to produce insulin, sometimes due to the overeating of fancy treats, two forms of diabetes can develop. When a cat's pancreas is unable to develop enough insulin, Type 1 diabetes develops. However when your cat is able to develop insulin, but its' body does not respond correctly to it, then Type 2 diabetes will develop instead. Both types of diabetes will result in increased levels of glucose levels in the blood because their bodies will not be able to process the glucose they are consuming.

Causes and Symptoms

There is no exact known cause of diabetes for cats, but veterinarians believe that obesity and genetics play key roles in the development of this disease in felines.

Some symptoms of diabetes in cats include:

When a cat first develops diabetes, many of these symptoms may not be visible, and they will more than likely stay active and healthy looking. As diabetes progresses though, effects of the disease will begin to take over many of the cats systems, and you will begin to notice that your cat has a dull coat, and they could begin developing frequent bacterial infections. Sometimes you may even notice that the back legs of your cat will often become weak, and they might have trouble walking short distances.

Treatments and Conclusion

Diabetes may seem like a debilitating disease. However, it can be treated and maintained with proper care. Different treatments will be developed by your veterinarian depending on the type and severity of their diabetes. Most treatment programs begin with a special healthy diet, which will help to regulate the cats' glucose levels right away. So, you may want to think twice before stuffing your cat with those fancy treats, as they can often have severe effects on your cat's health.

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