Diabetes mellitus is one of the most common endocrine disorders in cats and dogs and can appear in middle-aged and older pets. Once diagnosed, diabetes management is lifelong, and a dedicated owner and veterinary team are needed to successfully manage a diabetic pet. Although a diabetes diagnosis can be scary, and you may think treating your pet may be too difficult, with your veterinary team’s support, you can keep your furry friend healthy and happy for many years. Here are five methods to help you successfully manage your pet’s diabetes.

#1: Discuss your diabetic pet’s diet with your veterinarian

The proper diet is critical for successfully managing a pet’s diabetes. Dogs and cats have different requirements, but safe weight loss is essential for both species, as diabetic pets are often overweight. In dogs, a high-fiber, low-fat diet appears to be most beneficial. Fiber slows glucose’s entrance into the bloodstream and helps your pet feel full, while low-fat foods have fewer calories. For cats, a low-carbohydrate, high-protein diet is best. Carbohydrate-rich foods can lead to spikes in blood glucose, which is detrimental to diabetic pets. Cats should get roughly 50% of their calories from animal-based protein sources, while 40% should come from fat. Canned food, which often contains few, if any, carbohydrates, is an excellent option for diabetic cats. 

While over-the-counter foods can help your diabetic pet maintain an ideal weight and blood glucose, a prescription diet formulated to help combat diabetes may be necessary. Talk to your family veterinarian about the best diet option for your diabetic pet. 

#2: Understand how to properly administer your pet’s insulin

Understanding how to properly store, prepare, and administer your pet’s insulin is an important part of diabetes management. Some insulins must be shaken vigorously before drawing into a syringe, while others are gently rolled to mix prior to use. Additionally, different insulin types require different syringes. For example, syringes are labeled as U-40 or U-100, meaning the syringe contains 40 or 100 units of insulin per milliliter. Using the wrong syringe for your pet’s insulin type can result in an overdose. 

In addition to storing and preparing insulin properly, the actual act of administration can be challenging for owners. However, once they see the small size of the insulin needle, and how little their pet reacts to the injection, administration becomes much easier. Ask your veterinarian to demonstrate tenting your pet’s skin for subcutaneous injection and identifying the proper placement on your pet. 

#3: Schedule routine exams with your veterinarian 

Diabetes is a lifelong condition that requires routine monitoring to ensure successful management. Your family veterinarian will perform blood glucose curves that check your pet’s glucose level at intervals throughout the day to evaluate their treatment response. Along with diabetes management, your veterinarian will check your pet for concurrent conditions that may make diabetes difficult to regulate, such as a urinary tract infection, dental disease, or Cushing’s disease. 

#4: Consider monitoring your pet’s glucose level at home

Many pet owners are also diabetic and used to monitoring their blood glucose levels at home. For owners who are comfortable obtaining a tiny blood sample from their pet, at-home monitoring is the gold standard in diabetes management. Pets can become stressed at veterinary hospitals, which can elevate their glucose level, and skew results. Plus, by monitoring your pet’s glucose level at home, you can adjust their insulin dose as needed—after consulting your veterinarian—and watch for problems.    

#5: Watch for signs associated with hypo- and hyperglycemia in your diabetic pet

Overdoses can easily happen in pets if two people in the household give a pet insulin, or if insulin is given and a pet does not eat. Pets with hypoglycemia, which can cause serious issues, can show weakness, shaking, dilated pupils, or seizures. If you notice these signs, encourage your pet to eat, or apply Karo syrup to their gums for fast absorption if they will not eat. 

Pets with unregulated diabetes can struggle with hyperglycemia and the associated signs of excessive thirst, hunger, and urination. Dogs will likely develop cataracts, and cats may show hind leg issues when standing and walking. Persistent hyperglycemia can turn into diabetic ketoacidosis, a life-threatening condition that requires emergency treatment. 

Reach out to your family veterinarian or our telehospice service for guidance on the successful management of your pet’s diabetes. However, if your beloved diabetic pet is struggling with multiple health issues and regulating their diabetes is difficult, you may choose to support them through the end with hospice care and in-home euthanasia services. No matter what help you and your pet need, our Lap of Love team is here for you.