DIABETES MELLITUS

 

Treatment

 

                Treatment of diabetes mellitus requires a commitment of time and management from you.  Our goal is to have your cat go into remission through a combination of the proper diet, insulin injections, exercise, and weight management.  If remission is achieved, your cat will need to stay on the special diet for the rest of his/her life.

                Once your cat has been diagnosed with diabetes mellitus, the specific insulin requirements need to be determined.  The first day you give the insulin the blood glucose will need to be checked 6-8 hours after the injection. 

              After your cat has been on the insulin for one week the blood sugar levels will need to be checked at regular intervals throughout the day ( a ?glucose curve?).  This allows us to know when your cat?s peak insulin effect is and whether the dosage needs to be adjusted up or down.

 

Home Care

 

                You must provide your pet twice daily injections of insulin for the rest of its life, or until remission is achieved. Oral medication is rarely effective for diabetic animals.  It is also important that the insulin injections are given at the same time each day. The more accurate you are with the timing, the more likely remission is.

                 

 

The Insulin Dose

 

                The type of insulin and the dosage are tailored to meet the needs of each animal.  Some animals need only one daily injection and others may need two.  A low dose of insulin is used initially, and then the dose will be slowly adjusted until the optimal dose is reached.  The insulin dosage will need to be adjusted periodically throughout your pet's life.

 

Handling Insulin and Syringes

 

                Insulin should be kept in the refrigerator all times and the bottle should be rolled gently in your hand prior to withdrawal of the insulin into the syringe.

 

Drawing Up the Insulin

 

                Set out the syringe and needle, insulin bottle and have the pet ready. 

    

 

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  1. Remove the needle guard from the needle, draw back the plunger to the desired dose level.
  2. Insert the needle into the insulin bottle.
  3. Inject the air in the syringe into the bottle to prevent a vacuum from forming in the insulin bottle.  
  4. Withdraw the plunger, filling the syringe with the correct amount of insulin.

                 

 

 

 

 

                Before injecting the pet with the insulin, check to see there are no bubbles in the syringe.  If you see an air bubble, draw up slightly more insulin than the exact dose.  Now, withdraw the needle from the bottle, tap the syringe barrel with your finger to move the air bubble to the nozzle of the syringe, then, gently, expel the air bubble by pushing the plunger upwards.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

               

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Now, check to see you have the correct amount of insulin in the syringe. The correct dose of insulin is measured from the needle end, or "0" on the syringe barrel, to the end of the plunger nearest the needle.

 

 

 

 

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How To Give An Injection

 

Caution!! 

NEVER give your cat insulin if he/she is not eating well, or is vomiting or has diarrhea.

 

If they don't eat,

don't treat!!

 

�         1. Hold the syringe in your right hand (or your left, if you are left-handed).  There are many ways to hold a syringe and with time you will develop the one easiest for you.

  • 2. Have a friend or member of your family hold your pet as you pick a fold of skin along the pet's back with your free hand. (Pick a different spot each day.)
  • 3.Push the very sharp, very thin needle through the pet's skin quickly.  This should be easy and painless using an insulin needle.  Take care to push the needle through on fold of skin, no into your finger, the pet's underlying muscle, or through both layers of skin. 
          • 4. Pull back gently on the plunger to make sure no blood fills the syringe.

5. With your thumb on the plunger, push the plunger further into the syringe. Withdraw the needle from the pet's skin, and immediately cover the needle with the needle guard.

6. Praise your pet for sitting quietly. A reward of your affection quickly creates a cooperative pet that may not even need to be held.   

  

               

                   Do not attempt to sterilize the skin with alcohol as it may sting and cause your pet to want to avoid the injection. 

 

           

    Sometimes your pet may have an insulin reaction caused by a marked decrease in blood sugar.  This reaction usually occurs 2-6 hours after the injection.  The earliest signs are your pet may seem "spacey" and unresponsive.  Your pet may be weak and walk with a wobbly, uncoordinated gait.  This stage may progress to seizure or coma.  If you think you see any of these signs give Karo Syrup or honey orally. Try to get your cat to eat, as this will also help raise the glucose level. Contact Animal Hospital of McHenry or Animal Emergency of McHenry County. as a hypoglycemic episode can be fatal.

If you think your pet may have had a hypoglycemic episode, DO NOT give the next insulin injection until you have consulted with us or the emergency clinic.

 

Exercise

                There are no restrictions of your pet's normal activity.  However, it is important that your pet's exercise be moderately regulated and consistent in order to keep the insulin needs as consistent as possible.

 

Things to watch for at home

 

 

1. Lack of appetite

2. Changes in behavior

3. Changes in urination habits

4. Changes in water consumption

5. Lethargy

6. Change in gait

7. Seizures

8. Coma

 

                  

                Special Considerations

Although diabetes mellitus can be controlled with insulin and diet, diabetic animals are more susceptible to other health problems.  Diabetes mellitus can cause an increased incident of infections, slowed healing, cataracts, gastrointestinal dysfunction, kidney disease, heart disease, pancreatitis and nervous system disorders.