Prediabetes is a condition in which a cat's blood glucose levels are high, but not high enough to require treatment with insulin injections. Prediabetes occurs before the onset of diabetes and is often missed by cat owners and veterinarians. The only external symptoms of feline prediabetes are weight gain and increased appetite. Once a cat exhibits the signs of diabetes and begins to act ill, it has already passed the prediabetic stage.
Causes of Prediabetes in Cats
Overweight cats often develop prediabetes and diabetes as they age. Male cats and cats with hormonal conditions such as hyperthyroidism, pancreatitis, and Cushing's disease are more susceptible to diabetes. While older, obese cats make up the overwhelming majority of the diabetic cat population, any cat can develop the disease, even those at a healthy weight.
Steroidal medications can increase a cat's risk of developing prediabetes or diabetes. Also, cats that suffer from infections such as urinary tract infections and infected wounds are more susceptible.
Treatments for Prediabetes in Cats
With proper management, prediabetic cats can live many years without developing diabetes. Prediabetic cats do not require medication or injections, but they do need a little extra care and attention to keep them healthy.
A diet low in carbohydrates and rich in protein is essential for the health of a prediabetic cat. A cat's natural diet is almost exclusively protein and fat, but most cat foods have moderate to high levels of carbohydrates. High carb diets increase blood glucose levels and therefore increase a cat's risk of diabetes. Feeding a prediabetic cat a diet rich in carbs will send already high blood glucose levels even higher.
Veterlnarians can prescribe low carb, high protein cat foods specially designed for prediabetic and diabetic cats. One of the most prescibed is Purina Veterinary Diets DM Diatetic Management feline formula. These prescription foods can be expensive, however, and good, over-the-counter alternatives do exist. One of these is Innova EVO cat food.
While these dry foods are lower in carbs than most others, wet cat food almost always contains lower carbohydrate levels than dry food. Thus wet DM or EVO are the best options for keeping a prediabetic cat healthy.
Regular examinations by a vet will help determine what diet works best for each prediabetic cat and if a prediabetic cat has developed diabetes and needs further treatment. With a good diet and regular trips to the vet, a prediabetic cat has a good chance of a long and healthy life.
References:
Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine: Feline Diabetes, 2006.
Spector, Donna. Feline Diabetes: A New Look at an Old Disease. Halo, 2010.
Madeline Salmon - Madeline is a contributing writer for the Science & Nature and Plants & Animals sections of Suite101.com. She is a freelance writer with a ...
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