Feline Diabetes Cat Health Articles

Treatment of Diabetes in Cats – a good starting point
Diabetes is not a death sentence! Learn what diabetes is, how it is treated, and tips and tricks from our users.

• Food chart compiled Sept 2012 by Dr. Lisa Pierson.
  There are both sortable food comparison charts and phosphorus comparison charts.
• Low carb, wheat-gluten free Fancy Feast varieties
• The famous Janet & Binky food charts. Charts comparing the nutritional content of various commercial foods. Older information.
• Low carb, wheat-gluten free Fancy Feast varieties
  Fancy Feast is an economical, low-carb wet food for your cat – at least, certain varieties!
• FEEDING YOUR CAT: KNOW THE BASICS OF FELINE NUTRITION. The web site of Lisa A. Pierson DVM, who is passionate about the critical role of diet in the health of cats.
• CatNutrition.org provides practical information for the layperson.
• Feline Diabetes and Diet: The High Carbohydrate Culprit
  A veterinarian cautions against including too many carbohydrates in your cat’s diet.
• Feline Diabetes and Obesity: The Preventable Epidemics
  An intiguing article by Elizabeth Hodgkins DVM, Esq. discussing the link between diet and two common feline health problems.
• Does a low-carb diet increase the risk of ketones in a cat?
  This informal discussion by Dr. Elizabeth Hodgkins gives a great description of ketones and how cats process glucose.
• The Carnivore Connection to Nutrition in Cats by Debra Zoran, DVM, Ph.D., DVACIM. A .pdf article from the December 2002 issue of the Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association.

• Diabetes. What it is, what it’s not, and understanding the difference.
• Feline Diabetes for Beginners (who really want to know a lot!)
  Diabetes can be overwhelming but you will want to know more. Read this comprehensive article to give you a technical overview.

Insulin and Injections
Learn how to properly administer insulin, the different varieties of insulin that are available, and the fine differences between PZI vartieties and humulins.

Home Testing Blood Glucose in Cats
Home testing your cat’s BG levels is a very simple procedure. A simple ear prick can help regulation of your cat and ensure that hypoglycemia is avoided.

Hypoglycemia
Extremely low blood sugar can be a threat to your cat. Learn how to recognize and treat hypoglycemia. Included is a link to a printable emergency reference sheet for treating hypoglycemia.

Urination
Too much pee, how to test pee, litter box hints. Cat urination can make us all crazy!

Neuropathy: Weak Back Legs
Many diabetic cats can no longer jump or even stand. Found out how to help your cat regain her strength.

• AAHA Diabetes Management Guidelines for Dogs and Cats. Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association 2010; 46:215-224.
• Dosing protocol for cats on glargine or detemir using daily home monitoring of blood glucose concentrations to adjust insulin dose by Roomp K and Rand JS, 2008. Glargine is also called Lantus and Detemir is also known as Levemir.
• Treatment of newly diagnosed diabetic cats with glargine insulin improves glycaemic control and results in higher probability of remission than protamine zinc and lente insulins
  by Marshall, R.D., J.S. Rand, and J.M. Morton. Glargine insulin is also known as Lantus.
• Update on Feline Diabetes Mellitus
  by Claudia E. Reusch, DECVIM-CA, Clinic for Small Animal Internal Medicine, University of Zuerich, Zuerich. Presented at the World Small Animal Veterinary Conference, 2006.
• Protocol for Success in Managing, Even Curing, FelineDiabetes
  Whether or not your cat can be “cured” vs. the diabetes going into remission has been debated on the Feline Diabetes Message Board. This article by Dr. Elizabeth Hodgkins discusses the treatment protocol she uses for her feline diabetic patients as published in 2004.
• Feline Diabetes: New Ways of Looking at an Old Enemy
  An article by Dr. Elizabeth Hodgkins discusses her treatment protocol of tight regulation, as published in Veterinary Practice News, in 2008.
• Diabetes Mellitus: Update on Treatment and Monitoring
  Reproduced by permission of Ellen Behrend, VMD, PhD, DACVIM, Auburn University, December 2004. This professional article addresses DM in both cats and dogs and offers a number of references.
• Managing Feline Diabetes Mellitus
  A brief article from Spring 2002 by Fiona McClure, BVSc MVSc DACVIM
• Insulin Glargine (Lantus) & high protein-low carb diet associated with high remission rates in diabetic cats
  This abstract from the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine discusses findings of treating newly diagnosed diabetic cats with glargine (aka Lantus) and a carbohydrate restricted diet. The study was quite small but intriguing.
• The 30th Annual Royal Canin/Ohio State University Symposium for the treatment of small animal diseases: Endocrinology
  Multiple topics are covered, including concerns about feline diabetes.

• Feline Diabetes Pearls
  Highlights from the lectures.
• Beyond Glucose Curves
  Notes on a lecture concerning monitoring the diabetic animal.
• Dietary Recommendations for Cats with DM
  Discussion of studies comparing low carbohydrate vs. high fiber diets and reduction of obesity in feline diabetics.
• Approach to the problem diabetic
  Is your cat getting too much insulin?
• Acromegaly
  Some insulin resistant cats may actually have acromegaly.

Over the years, various surveys and research have been conducted and results are available here.

• Comparison of blood glucose readings among various glucometers
• Surveys on initial treatment of diabetic cats and insulin dosages
• Hypoglycemic episodes
• Honeymoon periods
• Insulin dosages & Schedules

• The cat with diabetes may also have other health problems. Sometimes, it is these other conditions that lead to the initial diagnosis of diabetes. Click here to learn about these problems, including:
  • Renal (kidney) Failure
  • Neuropathy
  • Somogyi Effect
  • Hyperthyroidism
  • Hepatic Lipidosis
  • Pancreatitis
  • Cushing’s Disease

BG Conversion Calculator – Convert between American and International units.

Insulin Conversions – Convert U-40 to U-100

Pet Sitter Instructions – Printable information sheet for your pet sitter.

Feline Body Mass Index (FBMI) – .pdf document giving instructions and a formula for determining if your cat’s weight is appropriate.

Guide to Feline Body Condition – .pdf document with illustrations to determine the fitness level of your cat.

Dear Mom… A reassuring letter from your diabetic kitty

Rainbow Bridge – the story of “The Bridge”

Feline Diabetes Poems

Electric Cat Water Fountains
Give your cat access to clean and fresh water with a fountain. Read our reviews and cleaning instructions. This site does not sell these fountains, so if info you want isn’t on this page, please contact the manufacturer of your fountain.

Last updated January 2013.