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Diabetes runs in my family. Even though I’m only in my mid-20s, I’ve tried to start being conscious about what I eat so I can hopefully prevent the onset of the disease, or at least have an easier transition into a diabetes-friendly diet should I need to do so.
While I’m prepared for the fact that one day I might learn I have diabetes, it never occurred to me that one of our pets might come down with it as well. That’s right: dogs and cats can get diabetes, and it’s on the rise in canines.
MSNBC Health has a special on animal diabetes and how human treatments are being used on our pets to help with the disease. But first, here’s an overview of what diabetes is for those not in the know.
Diabetes revolves around the body’s production of insulin, a hormone that regulates fat and carbohydrates and that induces cells to absorb glucose. There are two types of diabetes: in Type 1, the pancreas just doesn’t make enough insulin for the body. In Type 2, the body might have enough insulin, but the cells don’t recognize it.
Those with diabetes thus have trouble regulating their blood sugar. Blood sugar levels are monitored to make sure the common treatments of a special diet and insulin injections are doing their job. Untreated diabetes can lead to several major problems such as kidney failure.
Most people know now about the glucose monitor, thanks to diabetes awareness television commercials. It’s a simple device that pricks the skin to get a drop of blood which it scans to determine blood sugar levels. However, a newer device is being used now both on humans and on pets.
The continuous glucose monitor is ideal for pets, who would likely fight the regular blood sugar monitoring process and hide whenever they see the device. The continuous glucose monitor is implanted under the skin, constantly reading blood sugar levels.
When pets are first diagnosed with diabetes, they are often kept in the veterinary hospital for a day or so under constant observation. However, being at the vet often stresses the animals enough so as to skew and make less useful the results of any testing done during that time. Now, diabetic pets can be implanted with the continuous glucose monitor and then be sent home for the most accurate results.
When I read that pets can get diabetes the immediate question that popped into my mind was: is there any way to prevent it? Diabetes is stressful enough to have and treat in humans; I can’t imagine having to do so for a dog or cat.
Unfortunately we just don’t have a lot of information on canine or feline diabetes as of yet. Dogs seem to get a version of the disease similar to Type 2. The breeds that most commonly come down with diabetes are bichon frise, miniature schnauzers and miniature poodles, Alaskan Malamutes, and keesehounds. Cats can get either Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes and it appears to be linked to obesity in felines.
Other than that, we just don’t know much about the disease in pets. What we do know, however, is that while pet diabetes cases have skyrocketed since the 1970s, fatalities related to it have plummeted. So if your pet does contract it, have hope: while you may have a rocky road ahead of you, it is traversable.
Related Articles:
Foods to Help Prevent Diabetes
How Often to Immunize Dogs and Cats
What to Do If You Find an Injured Wild Animal
How Far Would You Go to Save a Sick Pet?
*(This image by nacu is licensed under the morgueFile Free License.)