Diabetes mellitus in cats is commonly detected in cats and often lead to increased thirst, increased urination and constant weight loss. Insulin is used to control the level of the sugar glucose in the bloodand identified as a necessary treatment for many diabetic cats.
It is considered as the second most common endocrine disease diagnosed in cats. The disease may actually have a variety of different causes. However, the end result of all of these sources of diabetes is either a reduction in insulin secretion or a resistance in cells to the effects of insulin. Both factors can lead to hyperglycemia which is an increase in blood glucose, in the affected cat. This hyperglycemia is responsible for most of the signs seen in cats with diabetes mellitus.

What are the symptoms of diabetes mellitus in cats?
Common diabetes mellitus symptoms can indicate health problems other than diabetes. To ensure an accurate diagnosis, your veterinarian should carry out blood and urine analysis. The most commonly seen symptoms in cats with diabetes are weight loss, increased appetite, increased thirst, and excessive urination. Moreover, urinary tract infections are common problems seen with in cats suffering from diabetes mellitus.
A flat-footed gait or stance is also frequently observed in cats with diabetes. This condition is referred to as a neuropathy and is caused by a disorder of the myelin sheath which shields specific nerves, resulting in the lack of ability of the nerve to accurately pass on electrical impulses. The cat’s back legs are involved more often than the front legs. The sign may involve one limb or more than one limb. According to experts, cats with diabetes do not normally suffer from cataracts unlike dogs.
Classification of Feline Diabetes
In people, diabetes mellitus is classified as insulin dependent or type 1 and non-insulin dependent or type 2. Insulin dependent is described by sick beta cells in the pancreas which secrete inadequate amounts of insulin. Type 1 diabetes requires insulin due to insulin insufficiency. In Type 2 diabetes, some amount of insulin is still formed by beta cells and there other factors like insulin resistance which affect glucose metabolism. For that reason, Type 2 diabetes can be treated through dietary changes, oral hypoglycemic agents and weight loss if necessary. However, insulin is often not a required part of treatment of Type 2 diabetes in people.
Diagnosis and Treatment of the Diabetic Cat
When a cat is diagnosed early in the course of the disease, it is possible that some may respond to oral hypoglycemic agents together with an appropriate diet. On the other hand, vets recommend the use of insulin and proper dietetic modifications as an initial treatment of feline diabetes due to the clinical remission is possible if hyperglycemia can be restricted early in the course of the diabetes. Research studies have indicated that this is less likely to occur when using oral hypoglycemics than with the use of insulin.

Watch the video below to further understand diabetes in cats.