Diabetes Mellitus in Dogs and Cats

This chapter deals with diabetes mellitus in dogs and cats. It discusses the etiology/pathophysiology, epidemiology, history and clinical signs, diagnosis, therapy, and prognosis. Diabetes mellitus is classified into four broad types in human and veterinary medicine: Type 1 diabetes, Type 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes, and other specific types of diabetes. The clinical signs include polyuria and polydipsia, polyphagia, weight change, hepatomegaly, cataracts, and diabetic neuropathy. In dogs, blood glucose concentrations above the renal threshold of 200mg/dL (11mmol/L) are considered diabetic. Stress hyperglycemia and postprandial hyperglycemia may complicate diagnosis of diabetic hyperglycemia in cats. Nearly all veterinary patients with diabetes mellitus are managed with a combination of insulin therapy, diet, and weight management. Traditionally, veterinarians have managed canine and feline diabetes with a variety of veterinary or human insulins. Veterinary insulins which include porcine lente (Vetsulin/Caninsulin®, Merck), and protamine zinc human recombinant insulin (ProZinc®, Boehringer Ingelheim Vetmedica).