Diabetes mellitus

Most often, cats aged 4 -14 years (average age 7-9 years) are affected, and there are isolated cases of diabetes mellitus in cats up to 1 year old.

Symptoms of diabetes mellitus:

• increased appetite 
• increased thirst
• frequent urination
• weight loss with increased appetite

The main causes of diabetes in cats:

• obesity
• previous pancreatitis
• use of drugs from the group of glucocorticosteroids and progestogens

The diagnosis of diabetes mellitus sounds like a verdict. After confirming the diagnosis, the veterinarian endocrinologist faces a difficult task.

Finding an effective treatment is, of course, the most important factor for successful disease control, but it is also important to provide support to the owner of an animal with diabetes.

Insulin therapy, diet, and exercise are the key to a favorable outcome. The selection of an insulin dose is a rather lengthy process that requires a lot of time and effort on the part of both the owner and the animal. Constant blood glucose monitoring and insulin injections twice a day are undoubtedly strong stressors for animals, especially cats.

After receiving the Cat Friendly Clinic status, our doctors continue to find new ways to minimize stress for their patients. To make life easier for the owner and his/her pet with diabetes, we offer an alternative to daily puncture of ears, lips and paw pads - the continuous monitoring system Freestyle libre.

This is a faster and more painless way to monitor blood glucose levels in an animal with diabetes. The device is based on the latest medical engineering developments, which avoids regular punctures. This allows us to obtain a blood sugar sample throughout the day, which in turn helps us to control or adjust insulin doses without pain and stress;

The device consists of two components:

• A sensor that is attached to the skin with a tiny needle (about 5 mm) in the subcutaneous space, which allows you to read blood glucose levels in the intercellular fluid.
• A scanner that displays the data collected by the sensor in one second.

• The sensor is installed at an appointment with an endocrinologist. Before the procedure, the doctor together with the owner chooses the place to install the sensor (neck, withers). The ideal place has not been fully researched, but the basic rule is that the surface should be flat and inaccessible to the pet. The hair in the installation area is shaved and treated with an alcohol wipe.
• The procedure for installing the sensor does not require anesthesia, sedation or pain relief and takes no more than 5-10 minutes, including preparation for installation. The sensor itself is attached in seconds, a procedure similar to chipping or vaccination, but less painful. In most cases, the animal does not react to the implantation.
• Due to the constant growth of the animal's hair, medical glue can be used to improve the adhesion of the sensor to the skin.
• The sensor data has a minimum error of blood glucose level (up to 1.1 mmol/L).
• The device installation time is 5-14 days on average, after which the sensor needs to be replaced. You can use the device continuously or set it up periodically for dose adjustment.

For a consultation on sensor installation, call the clinic or make an appointment with an endocrinologist.