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A Guide to Feline Diabetes Resources on the Web

by Cynthia Jones
Fall 2005

Introduction

Diabetes mellitus is more likely to strike a cat in the later years than earlier in life (Cornell Feline Health Center, 1996).  It has become so common that there are countless online resources available to supplement veterinary care through education, advice, and emotional support.  The aim of this paper is to find the best of these online resources, sort them out and summarize them as to provide a quick and useful guide to the cat owner overwhelmed by the wealth of information on feline diabetes available on the Internet.

Please remember as you review this information that these resources are no replacement for veterinary advice and care.  Diabetes is a serious and potentially fatal disease that must be diagnosed and managed by a veterinarian.

After a brief overview of feline diabetes, you will find links to websites divided into three categories: Those that provide a brief, general overview of the disease or a resource for further research, those that focus on management and treatment of the disease in detail, and those that are comprehensive and provide emotional support in addition to diabetes education.  Support in this case may be via a discussion forum, message board or e-mail group where cat owners can ask questions and communicate with others online.

What is Feline Diabetes?

Feline diabetes is a disease of the endocrine (hormone) system (Pierson, 2005).  It is characterized by a deficiency of insulin and the inability to process glucose.  Insulin is a hormone that signals cells to take up glucose from the blood.  When insulin is deficient, the glucose stays in the blood and the cells do not have enough glucose to use as energy (Price, 2005).

What Causes Diabetes?

Many veterinarians believe that a high carbohydrate diet and obesity are the primary contributing factors to the development of feline diabetes.  Dr. Lisa Pierson, DVM (2005) states that cats require only 3-5 percent carbohydrates in their diet versus the 35-50 percent that most dry cat foods contain.  She also notes that this high carbohydrate diet leads to obesity, which in turn contributes to insulin resistance by the body's cells.

Diagnosis

Increased thirst and urination often accompanied by weight loss (despite eating well) are typical signs of diabetes (Feline Advisory Bureau, 2005).  Urine and blood tests are necessary to confirm a diabetes diagnosis (FAB, 2005).  The urine test will determine if glucuose is present in the urine (it should not be) and the blood test determines if blood glucose levels are normal.  The normal level of glucose in the blood is 80-120 mg/dl (3.9-6.1 mmol/L) -- or 250-300 mg/dl (13.8-16.5 mmol/L) following a meal or when the cat is stressed or excited (Animal Clinic, 2005).

Treatment

Treating the diabetic cat takes dedication and personal and financial commitment.  The goal of treatment is to keep the blood glucose levels in the normal range, or range they would be in if the pancreas were producing insulin normally (Price, 2005).  Insulin injections are often prescribed to make up for the insulin deficiency.  Another common approach is to switch the diabetic cat to a low carbohydrate diet, but this must be done with caution.  Dr. Pierson (2005) warns that an overdose of insulin may occur if cats already taking insulin do not have their dose decreased.  She claims that many cats no longer need insulin treatment after they have been on a low carbohydrate diet.

A necessary part of treatment includes monitoring.  Monitoring involves weekly and sometimes even daily blood glucose and/or urine dipstick checks.  Often these procedures can be done at home if one is comfortable performing them.  Many veterinarians will train and encourage cat owners to perform "earpricks" and urine tests at home.  The good news is that with proper treatment, diabetes is completely manageable and may even be "cured."

Online Resources

For a brief overview of feline diabetes or help with diabetes research:
  • Cornell Feline Health Center
    This recently updated website from the College of Veterinary Medicine at Cornell University provides a brief overview of feline diabetes, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment options.  It appears to be written by professionals in the veterinary medical field, yet is easy to understand and intended for the cat owner.
    (www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/resources/brochure/diabetes.html)

  • Diabetes in Cats
    See how a veterinarian answered other cat owners' diabetes questions.  If you want to ask a question yourself, you will have the opportunity to "subscribe" in the future.  At this time the site is being updated.  Search engines are provided to help you find answers to your specific questions and a there is a large "Cat Index" to guide you in your search.
    (www.vetinfo.com/cdiabetes.html)

  • Holisticat
    This website briefly describes feline diabetes in an easy to read (large font), well organized and easy to understand format.  In addition, the authors provide information on herbs, supplements, and homeopathic treatments that claim to help cut down on insulin usage.
    (www.holisticat.com/diabetes.html)

  • PetEducation.com
    Here you can search for articles written by veterinarians or type in a specific word or question (such as insulin) and click "Fetch!".  You will be directed to multiple pages of information pertaining to your specific research interest.  109 pages including health articles written by veterinarians result when you type in "diabetes" under the cat search engine and hit "fetch".  This site is up-to-date, easy to navigate, and is administered by Foster & Smith, Inc.
    (www.peteducation.com)
For a detailed overview of feline diabetes including diabetes treatment and management:
  • Animal Clinic: Diabetes Mellitus in Cats
    Although not up-to-date, this site provides a detailed overview of diabetes mellitus in cats written by a veterinarian.  Need-to-know data such as normal blood glucose levels in cats and facts about insulin injections are included.  The information is easy to read and organized so that you can quickly find answers to your diabetes questions.
    (www.animalclinic.com/diabetes.htm)

  • Feline Advisory Bureau: Managing the Diabetic Cat
    This site focuses on diabetes management but you will find detailed information on everything from the diagnosis of the disease to using insulin treatment at home.  The small font and foreign spelling (for those of us in the U.S.)  may be difficult for some to read.  The Feline Advisory Bureau is a UK-based charitable organization that provides this online information sheet.  When and who last updated the information is unknown.   The organization does provide an e-mail address at the bottom of the page for those seeking more information.
    (www.fabcats.org/diabetes.html)

  • Feline Diabetes and Diet: The High Carbohydrate Culprit
    Here you will find a detailed and up-to-date article written by a veterinarian.  The article is comprehensive and includes details and illustrations on how to do in-home blood glucose monitoring.  Several links are given including a video demonstrating the earprick procedure.
    (www.catinfo.org/felinediabetes.htm)

  • How to do an Earprick on a Cat to Test Blood Glucose
    Ear pricking to test blood glucose is explained and demonstrated with illustrations.   Regardless of the glucometer you use, the illustrations are helpful and the ear prick procedure really does not vary whether you use a hematocrit tube to collect the blood or put the test strip directly to the ear.  Links to other information, such as how to give insulin shots, are also provided although some of them are not up-to-date.
    (www.sugarcats.net/sites/harry/earprick.html)
For comprehensive feline diabetes education, treatment tools, and owner support:
  • Feline Diabetes
    Here cat owners will find a complete guide to feline diabetes including health articles by veterinarians, useful product links, and even poetry.  Unique to this website is a 24-hour message board that claims to have someone available at all times to answer questions and provide support.  Tools such as insulin logs and sitter information are provided free of charge.  The site is easy to navigate, easy to read, and the links work.  The information is up-to-date and the site is owned and operated by Rebecca Price, MD.
    (www.felinediabetes.com)

  • Pet Diabetes
    Emotional support and education is provided through an e-mail group.  Links to pet loss support and feline diabetes information are also found here.  The feline diabetes information was last updated in June of 2005 and includes health articles written by veterinarians.
    (www.petdiabetes.com)

References:

  • Animal Clinic.  (2005).  Diabetes Mellitus in Cats.   www.animalclinic.com/diabetes.htm
  • Cornell Feline Health Center.  (1996).  Feline Diabetes Brochure.   www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/resources/brochure/diabetes.html
  • Feline Advisory Bureau.  (2005).  Managing the Diabetic Cat.   www.fabcats.org/diabetes.html
  • Pierson, Lisa.  (2005).  Feline Diabetes and Diet: The High Carbohydrate Culprit.   www.catinfo.org/felinediabetes.htm
  • Price, Rebecca.  (1996-2005).  Diabetes in Cats for Beginners.   www.felinediabetes.com/dummies.htm

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