WORLD DIABETES DAY

World Diabetes Day is held every year on November 14th. Diatebes is a disease that can also affect our furry best friends; just like it happens in humans, dogs and cats can also be affected by diabetes, the endocrine system disorder and that’s why we must be aware of the signs to be able to identify this problem in time.

What types of diabetes are there?

The glucose level in our blood refers to the sugar level and it comes from the food we eat. Diabetes is a disease in which glucose levels in our blood are way too high. The diabetes that can affect dogs and cats are two types: 

Diabetes type 1:

It is the most common type of diabetes in dogs. In this type of diabetes there is a lack of insulin that is caused due to the malfunctioning of the pancreas; the organ in our body that is responsible for insulin production.

Diabetes type 2:

This type of diabetes is normally related to obesity and it occurs when there is an insulin level but it is too low; it’s insufficient.

Both dogs and cats are susceptible to these disorders, although there are big differences between dog diabetes and cat diabetes. These differences have to do mainly with the clinical presentation, the diagnosis and the treatment of the disease.

Symtoms of diabetes in dogs and cats 

The most frequent symptoms that we can observe in our dogs and cats can be:

  • Drinking more water than usual in an exaggerated manner
  • Urinating more than usual
  • Unusual tiredness
  • Sudden weight loss
  • Great appetite

All these symptoms can subside when diabetes is under control, achieving stability in our animal. The best battle against this disease is to pay full attention to possible changes or anomalies that we can observe in our animals and applying the appropriate preventive measures.

Diagnosis and treatment

The diagnosis of the animal should be determined by a veterinarian who will be able to prescribe the most appropriate treatment for your cat or dog. Treatments are usually effective and diabetes can be stabilized with moderate exercise and diet; the two great allies that will help regulate our animals’ levels of glucose in blood. 

If diabetes is well taken care of, it will not become an obstacle for you to continue enjoying your best friend’s company many years. In fact, when treatment is carried out as indicated, the quality of your pet’s life can be quite similar to that of any perfectly healthy animal.

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