The cat’s parents are aware of health issues with the cat. However, sometimes reaching out for the right solution becomes tricky. One such is the case with cats having diabetes. Many might abruptly jump to the use of insulin, while others prefer treating diabetes in a cat without insulin. If you are amongst those looking for insulin alternatives, stay connected and find out more.
Insulin: An introduction
Diabetes or diabetes mellitus is insulin resistance, a common issue with humans and frequently seen with cats. It is a health problem revolving around the endocrine, where one’s pancreas goes down on insulin production. With DM, the body doesn’t make enough insulin. This insulin is, in fact, the ingredient that ensures the sugar gets utilized in the cells.
It owes to malfunctioning of the pancreas, excreting lesser insulin, thus high sugar contents in the body. In turn, it creates an artificial need for sugar in the body. With no sugar reaching cells, the body tends to release more sugar, and the body reaches the state of hyperglycemia or high sugar content.
Diabetes in cats
Recent reports reveal higher cases of cat diabetes. However, the lesser worrying thing in the case of feline diabetes is that it can be transient and get away with some modifications.
One needs not to lose calm or fall prey to insulin or victimizing a cat with a daily prick of the syringe. Additionally, most of the time, the daily intakes lead to hypoglycemia with initial high insulin doses.
If you plan on treating diabetes in a cat without insulin, it is important first to observe the changes in cats owing to this issue. The first obvious change will be a weight change. After following that, you might need to change the cat’s routine, like activity scheduling and food consumption.
Some factors may induce diabetes or increase the chance of having it; for instance, old-age cats are more at risk of having diabetes. Such is the thing about male cats at more risk of having diabetes than their female counterparts. Moreover, obese cats are more at risk of becoming a victim of feline diabetes.
However, finding out the indications at the right time and working aggressively on them saves you from bigger problems.
Symptoms of feline diabetes
Below are some clinical signs that one may observe in the cat as initial symptoms of diabetes. The quicker you identify with them, the sooner you can overcome them without getting into the painful intake of insulin. Point to look for includes:
- Finding cat with frequent urination than usual
- Experiencing foul smell with cat’s urine
- High consumption of daily water
- General obesity with a fat loss around the back
- Always feeling lethargic
- Going weak and appearing bored most of the times
- Walking gradually with less pressure on the hind limbs
- Higher chances of cataract
- Recurrently throwing around in the house
Treating diabetes in a cat without insulin
If you have identified one or a combination of any stated signs and symptoms in your cat, you need to take quick action. We suggest some steps and changes be taken at home.
It usually revolves around treating the cat with the right food, changing the cat’s routine, symptomatic management, or using oral hypoglycemic medicines to start with.
Managing the issues individually
There will be some specific problems that the cat might be having with lesser insulin production. Some of these such issues could be dental complaints, high thyroid levels causing hyperthyroidism, and sometimes a reaction to the medicine used for the symptomatic treatment of presented clinical problems.
In the case of hyperthyroidism, anti-thyroid medicine is prescribed, while the Vet should be concerned about oral issues. In short, the sooner you reach out to the Vet, the better treatment cat will get.
H3: Controlling the weight of the cat
Sometimes in diabetes, the cat may get overweight; however, in cases where the weight falls back to normal, this might not be diabetes. One is required to be cautious when dealing with the weight of the cat.
However, when treating diabetes in a cat without insulin, the food is to be managed to optimal levels, which satisfies the need for the cat plus keeps the weight in control. The best option could be referring a vet who can suggest the appropriate prescription diet as per your cat’s need. Or you can go for homemade diabetic-friendly food for your feline.
The Vet usually suggests a controlled and optimized level of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats that might suit the cat’s need in case of diabetes.
Managing the cat feed
The cat might not necessarily gain weight with diabetes sometimes; muscle loss can be seen at the cat’s backside. In this case, the weight management strategy needs to be adopted. The right protein and glucose levels are required to keep up both the muscle fat and optimal blood glucose levels.
In this case, the cat diet should be revised and should be given in portions. Diet includes items having good fiber content, sufficient protein levels with low carbohydrates.
Instances where commercial food is acquired for feeding the cat switching to canned food, especially dry food, will help feline diabetes. You can also refer to a vet to have a prescription diet that will be ready-made food with optimal nutrients.
In cases where the cat is already taking some medication like oral hyperglycemic medicine, one should refer a vet to acquire knowledge on optimal timings of food intake. There’s no interaction between the food and the medicine.
Incorporate the use of oral hypoglycemics
While dealing with treating diabetes in a cat without insulin, quite a few options are available. The options without incorporating the utility of medicine are covered above. While in cases where some medical intervention is still required, the use of oral hypoglycemics can function well.
It is way better than having the insulin; it saves you the trouble of giving the injection at dedicated times. Plus saves the cat from the pain of having the needles; moreover, it is an easier medication route. It comes with more compliance negating the concept of invasive therapy.
Some common options for treating feline diabetes include the utility of medicines like Glipizide and Acarbose. They are remarkable in keeping the glucose levels in control; however, the use of hypoglycemic medicines in cats might not be successful most of the time.
Monitoring cat’s glucose levels regularly
Yet another important tip in treating diabetes in a cat without insulin includes the regular monitoring of the cat’s sugar levels. Keeping a regular check allows you to feed the cat at the right time, so the energy level is always optimal. It helps you steer the cat’s diet schedule without letting the sugar level go either high or very low.
H3: Taking care of cat’s thirst and urinating routine
One major symptom of feline diabetes is frequent urination and increased thirst amongst the cats. It necessitates the need to provide the cat with the right amount of water or wet food.
The need finds its root in the sugar loss with frequent urination that takes away most of its fluid. Helping the cat with its urinating needs by scooping out the litter box on time and filling up its water bowl will work as a therapy for the cat under such conditions.
Performing a urine test at home
Soon as one identifies with hints of diabetes in the cat. It is mandatory to run an initial urine test at home before reaching out to the Vet. One can buy the strips available at the nearby pharmacy and collect the urine sample of your cat.
Make sure that when taking the urine sample, the cat is in a relaxed mode without causing any unease. Otherwise, uncomfortable sample collection may cause an artificial spike in the blood glucose levels resulting in a false positive test.
Reach out to your Vet for some initial tests
Let the Vet run some tests if you want to be percent sure of diabetes in your cat. It will allow him to confirm the presence of the underlying disease. The Vet usually goes for a test known as the fructosamine test. It works best to give out an average value of the cat’s sugar level covering a period of the past two to three weeks.
FAQ’s
What is the ratio of feline diabetes?
It is tough to develop an exact value, yet some studies have shown that diabetes exists in about 0.5% to 2% of the cat population. However, we cannot ignore the fact that, in many cases, diabetes goes undiagnosed.
What could be possible symptoms of diabetes in cats?
Some of the common symptoms that one can see in the cat includes repetitive urination and constant need for water. In addition to this, the cat might either gain or lose weight and be lethargic all day long.
What are some of the ways for treating diabetes in a cat without insulin?
One can manage a cat’s diabetes without insulin, having a controlled eating schedule for the cat, and having a low amount of carbohydrates along with an optimized intake of proteins. In addition to this, some tests help with the use of oral glycemic medicines.
Is it OK to cook food for a diabetic cat instead of buying prescription food?
It is hard to keep a balance while cooking food at home. Having the right quantum of amino acid or cutting down carbohydrates gets difficult, especially when you are not in practice. Going for a commercially available prescription diet will be safe and right to have the cat’s diabetes treated on time.
When dealing with diabetes without insulin, what food type helps?
The use of wet food versus dry food is one of the hottest debates amongst cat parents with diabetes. And it remains controversial with frequent urination and constant urge of water in a diabetic cat. Having your Vet’s say on this and choosing the food accordingly will be right.
How does diabetes affect the lifespan of my cat?
Some medical issues observed with diabetes might include some infections and neuropathic problems. Yet having it diagnosed at the right time and curing it without insulin can help the cat get better at the right time. Only poorly managed diabetes will threaten the life of your cat. Otherwise, lifestyle management and improving the activities and diet of cats can reverse diabetes.
What is the overall cost of treating diabetes without using insulin?
It is difficult to give an exact amount, yet it saves much money spent on the syringes, insulin, and other supplies that come with the use of regular insulin. However, one spends quite a sum of money on the cat’s prescription diet in this case.
Closing remarks on treating diabetes in a cat without insulin
In the recent past, cat’s parents have complained of a spike in diabetes amongst their cats. At the same time, there must be cases that still go undiagnosed. The underlying problem comes from low levels of insulin created from the pancreas. Which in turn leads to other concomitant complications like dental problems, hyperthyroidism, and neuropathic disorders.
Thus, treating diabetes on time is very important. Yet many parents like treating diabetes in a cat without insulin. It is only possible by a timely diagnosis of diabetes in the cat or by timely identifying symptoms like frequent urination, increased thirst, increase or decrease in weight, and loss in daily activities.
One can also refer to a vet to run a urine test or perform it by using a glucose stick at home. The immediate action to be taken after the establishment of the disease includes the following steps.
Cutting down the carbohydrate from cats died and putting in the necessary levels of protein. Sufficing the need for water and regularly monitoring the sugar levels of the cat.
An early diagnosis and switching to a prescription diet plus referring to the Vet when needed will help you revert diabetes or increase the lifespan of a cat.