Answer: In general, disorder caused by the abnormal production of one or more hormones (endocrine diseases) occur relatively infrequently in cats, compared with people or dogs. But diabetes mellitus (sugar diabetes)is a condition that occurs in about one in every 800,mainly the middle-age or elderly.
The condition is arises from the deficient production of the hormone insulin by the beta cell of the pancreas. As a result, glucose derived from the diet and from metabolism within the body cannot be the stored fro future use as an energy source and much of it is simply excreted in the urine. Just as in other spices, diabetic cats show the classic signs of an increasing loss of the weight and weakness, despite a markedly increased appetite, together with an increased thirst and the passage of large volumes of urine. Later, if no treatment is given, body fate is broken down to provide energy and at this stage the cat loses its appetite, become dehydrated, vomit and eventually goes into a coma and would die (keto-acidotic coma).
Following veterinary treatment to resolve the immediate problems, long-term control of the disease requires daily subcutaneous injections of a long-acting insulin preparation, frequent urine testing and regular checkups for the reminder of the cat’s life. Any owner unwilling, or unable, to embark on such a disciplined course could be well advised to have their cat put to sleep rather then to subject it to half-hearted attempts at treatment, however well intentioned.
The most frequent complication in the management of a diabetic cat is the inadvertent injection of an overdose of insulin, which causes the cat to show weakness, confused behavior and staggering (ataxia) and eventually convulsions and coma. Fortunately, the situation is rapidly reversed by dosing the cat immediately signs appear with several tea-spoonful of honey or syrup, or a specially prepared glucose solution stared in the refrigerator against just such an eventually.
