The Sweeter The Better?

The sweeter the better has been my life motto.  I love to cook – well I love to bake! Anything and everything sweet is just fine by me.  This mind frame has been passed down from many generations to me.  For example, a couple of Thanksgivings ago, my brother was home watching my mom cook (which he never does) and he called me.  He said: “Mandy, did you know that mom puts sugar in everything she cooks? Like peas, green beans, chicken salad, etc.”  I responded that I knew because I had watched mom cook for years.  He then said (in utter shock): “No I mean like she holds the 4 lb. bag of sugar like a football and pours it on.”  I knew all of this, as did my friends because they have always told me they are shocked that I’m not diabetic. 
Now I know our pets don’t generally consume the amount of sugar that we can on a daily basis, but diabetes is just as prevalent in them.  Many people are unaware that dogs and cats can have diabetes and are shocked when we tell them that their pet is diabetic.  There are 2 types of diabetes in dogs and cats: diabetes mellitus and diabetes insipidus (very rare).  Diabetes insipidus affects their kidneys and diabetes mellitus affects their blood sugar.  We are going to focus on diabetes mellitus for the rest of this blog as it is much more common.  While genetics plays a role in whether or not a pet will have diabetes, their diet and their weight have a large impact on them developing this disorder.  An overweight or obese pet is at a much higher risk for developing diabetes than an average weight pet.  Just as with humans, diabetes can make your pet very sick.
Signs of diabetes mellitus in dogs and cats:

• Drinking a lot of water
• Urinating frequently and large amounts
• Vomiting
• Decreased appetite or anorexia
• Weight loss
• Poor hair coat

Diabetes is diagnosed by bloodwork showing a significant increase in glucose (blood sugar).   Treating diabetes can be tricky.  It is important that a pet is on the correct amount of insulin daily to maintain their blood sugar within a normal range and not allow it to drop to low.  Therefore, your veterinarian may require all day testing to ensure that their insulin is at the correct dose.  For these tests, blood is drawn every couple of hours after giving the insulin to see how the blood sugar changes throughout the day.  Once the correct dose is determined, your pet will require insulin shots either once or twice daily to regulate them.  Sometimes a special diet will be required to help maintain blood sugar level as well. 
Diabetes is a lifelong disease that requires frequent monitoring and daily treatment.  It is also a disease that in some cases can be avoided by feeding your pet correctly and exercising them regularly.  If you feel your pet has diabetes or is at an increased risk, talk to your veterinarian about treatment and management options.