Diabetes Mellitus
General Information
Diabetes is a hormonal disease that is caused when the pancreas gland fails to make enough
insulin. Insulin is a hormone that takes the sugar circulating in your pet’s blood, and pushes it into the cells
of your pet’s organs to provide those organs with fuel and nutrition. Without insulin, sugar, or glucose
builds up in the blood stream and never gets into those cells and they begin to starve. Left untreated,
diabetes can lead to chronic weight loss, blindness, liver and kidney dysfunction, and seizures.
Diabetes often occurs in older, overweight pets. This happens because they are often on a high fat
high protein diet that makes their pancreas gland work so hard, that it literally tires out, and becomes
unable to produce insulin anymore. This condition is similar to adult onset diabetes in people. The first
signs you may notice are sudden increases in your pet's water consumption, urination and appetite, weight
loss, or that your pets energy level is poor and he or she is starting to have problems with vomiting or
diarrhea.
If your pet has had undiagnosed diabetes for a long time, it will develop a condition called
ketoacidosis. This condition is potentially life threatening, even with intensive treatment, and results from
your pet’s body breaking down its own muscle and fat for energy and nutrition instead of using the glucose
circulating in its blood. The body does not use fat and protein as well as glucose, especially in the brain
and heart. If the body is forced to rely too heavily on these substances, toxic by-products build up in their
system that results in kidney disease, intestinal upset, and in the end heart, liver or brain failure.
Ketoacidotic patients require several days in the intensive care unit JUST TO BE STABILIZED. Once
they are stable, then we try to regulate their diabetes.
Regulating diabetes involves frequent blood testing, creating a regular feeding and medication
schedule at home, and providing special nutritional supplements and diet. Treating a diabetic patient is a
huge commitment for the pet owner, and requires a great deal of communication between the client and
veterinarian, and observation between the client and his/her pet. Most pets require twice daily insulin
injections and regular feeding schedules. During the first three months, the pet is often in and out of the
hospital regularly for spot checks of their blood and urine sugars, and weekly to monthly for 24 hour long
glucose curves. After they are regulated, they may need to come back every 6 months, to every year for
additional glucose curves. Your veterinarian will teach you how to give the injections, what signs to watch
for to show your pet is improving, and which warning signs to watch for to let you know that your pet may
not be regulated. IF YOU EVER HAVE A QUESTION, OR ARE UNSURE YOU CAN PROPERLLY
HANDLE THE COMMITMENT OF HAVING A DIABETIC PET, PLEASE CALL US.
Notify the Doctor if Any of the Following Occur:




Your pet’s drinking or urination patterns change, especially if they increase
Your pet seems to be losing weight despite a good appetite
Your pet has problems with chronic, intermittent vomiting or diarrhea
Your pet suddenly seems listless or not eating.
INSULIN CARE




INSULIN MUST BE KEPT REFRIDGERATED OR IT WONT BE EFFECTIVE FOR MORE
THAN ONE DAY
BEFORE YOU DRAW THE INSULIN INTO THE SYRINGE-GENTLY ROLL IT BETWEEN
YOUR PALMS TO MIX IT UP AND WARM IT UP DO NOT SHAKE IT!
WHEN DRAWING THE INSULIN INTO THE SYRINGE- HOLD THE BOTTLE STRAIGHT
UPSIDE DOWN, INSERT THE NEEDLE INTO THE CENTER TARGET, AND DRAW
BACK SLOWLY
MEASURE THE AMOUNT OF INSULIN TO THE TIP OF THE BLACK PLUNGER. IF YOU
ARE NOT SURE—PLEASE ASK A TECH OR DR. TO SHOW YOU HOW FAR TO DRAW
BACK FOR YOUR PET'S DOSE.
DOSING INSULIN





THE BEST TIME TO GIVE YOUR PET ITS INSULIN IS WHILE EATING
PULL UP THE SKIN OVER THE BACK OF THE SHOULDERS TO FORM A TENT
INSERT THE NEEDLE INTO THE BASE OF THE TENT, AS FAR AS THE HUB
THE NEEDLE IS SO SMALL, YOU SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO GO SO DEEP AS TO
HURT ANYTHING
PUSH PLUNGER AND INJECT THE INSULIN
MONITORING YOUR PATIENT
1.
2.
3.
4.
If your pet’s dose is too low, there will be too much sugar in its blood and urine, and not enough
into the actual organs to supply energy. Your pet will continue to drink too much, urinate a lot,
and may start acting ill. Call your veterinarian and see if the dose needs to be adjusted or if a
recheck is in order.
If your pets dose is too high, their blood sugar will get too low. They will be drinking less and
urinating less, but their appetite will increase, and if it gets low enough, they may start acting
weak, uncoordinated, almost drunken like. This is a potential emergency. Give your pet food or
karo syrup, and call us immediately.
When the doctor calls to check on your pet, he or she will want to know how much water it is
drinking, how well it is eating, and if the urinations have gone down. They may recommend strips
to monitor the sugar in your pet’s urine. If we are having trouble regulating your pet, more blood
tests may be required.
On occasion we may ask your pet to be dropped off for a day to monitor its blood sugars
throughout the day, and evaluate your pets insulin dose. This is referred to as a glucose curve.
DISCHARGE
1. PLEASE CHECK A BLOOD SUGAR EACH MORNING BEFORE
GIVING INSULIN OR FOOD.
2. IF THE BLOOD SUGAR IS GREATER THAN 350, GIVE _____UNITS
AFTER FEEDING
3. IF THE BLOOD SUGAR IS BETWEEN 250 – 350 GIVE ______UNITS
AFTER FEEDING AND RECHECK THE SUGAR BEFORE THE
NIGHTIME DOSE
4. IF THE BLOOD SUGAR IS LOWER THAN 250 GIVE ______UNITS
BEFORE FEEDING AND RECHECK THE SUGAR BEFORE THE NIGHT
TIME DOSE.
5. IF THE BLOOD SUGAR IS LOWER THAN 150 OR IF ___________
REFUSES TO EAT, DO NOT GIVE INSULIN UNTIL SPEAKING WITH
YOUR VETERINARIAN
6. ONCE ________ IS WELL REGULATED, PLEASE CHECK A BLOOD
SUGAR IF YOU NOTICE:
1. A change in thirst or appetite
2. Any vomiting or diarrhea
3. Any odd behavior
4. At least once a week to ensure we avoid problems
7. PLEASE MONITOR _________ WEIGHT WEEKLY
8.
PLEASE KEEP A DAILY RECORD OF WATER INTAKE AND
APPETITE FOR AT LEAST THE FIRST FEW WEEKS.
9. PLEASE GIVE _____ UNITS OF _______INSULIN ______ DAILY WITH
MEALS
10 . PLEASE FEED ______ CUPS OF W/D OR GLUCOSE CONTROL
_____DAILY
7. WHEN YOU NOTICE A DECREASE IN URINATIONS AND WATER
CONSUMPTION, PLEASE CALL THE DOCTOR.
8. IF YOUR PET IS NOT DRINKING A LOT, AND STARTS TO ACT ILL,
OFFER FOOD, KARO SYRUP, AND CALL US IMMEDIATELY
9. DR. ___________WILL CALL TO CHECK ON ________ IN _____DAYS.
PLEASE CALL SOONER IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR
CONCERNS.
14. IF YOUR PET MISSES A MEAL, GIVE HALF THE DOSE OF THE
INSULIN. IF HE/SHE DOES NOT EAT THE NEXT MEAL, PLEASE CONSULT
WITH THE STAFF BEFORE PROCEEDING.