Diabetes and your pet - 1 - What is Diabetes?

• Diabetes mellitus (DM) is the most common form of diabetes.
• It is caused by a lack of the hormone Insulin. Insulin is produced by the pancreas, one of the abdominal organs.
• Insulin allows the sugar in the blood to move from the blood stream to the rest of the body, without insulin the sugar cannot move, and the levels in the blood become very high.

What causes Diabetes Mellitus?

• Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is caused by a relative or absolute lack of insulin. ( A relative lack of insulin is where the insulin levels may be only low, or even normal, but it is not as active as it should be)
  
• Type 1 or Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM)
  
• This is a primary lack of insulin, the pancreas simply stops producing the hormone
• It is more common in dogs than cats.
• It can occur in younger animals, where the pancreas is faulty, or has been destroyed by autoimmuneattack.
• Itcan alsooccur in older animals who have had repeated bouts of prancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas which eventually leads to its destruction)
• It is irreversible.
• Type 2 or Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM)
  
• This is more common in cats but can occur in dogs.
• It is more common in older, overweight animals.
• In these animals the body becomes resistant to insulin, so the levels in the body become higher and higher but the blood sugar levels do not fall.
• If caught early enough, and the underlying factors ( obesity, high fat diet) are corrected, it can be reversed.
• Despite its name, insulin is usually required to control it.
  

Risk factors for developing Diabetes Mellitus

• Obesity - This is a huge risk factor for developing DM, especially in cats. In overweight animals their bodies are more resistant to insulin, which means they have to produce more than normal to keep the blood sugar levels stable. This puts increased pressure on the pancreas, which eventually leads to it becoming 'exhausted' and no longer able to produce insulin.
• Age - older animals are more likely to become diabetic, especially if they are over-weight. In dogs it tends to occur in animals older than 7 years, cats tend to be over 10 years old.
• Sex - In dogs, entire females are most at risk from becoming diabetic. This is because the hormone 'Progesterone', which is produced when bitches are in season, counteracts the effects of insulin, causing the blood sugar to rise. All diabetic entire bitches should be spayed once their diabetes is stabilised. In cats, diabetes is more common in males.
• Breed - certain breeds of dog have been shown to have a higher risk of becoming diabetic, they include; terriers ( for example Jack Russels, Cairns, Tibetan), Poodles, English Setters, Rottweilers and Collies.

Obesity is a huge risk factor for the development of diabetes, particularly in cats