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Diabetes Mellitus is a group of conditions in which there is a deficiency of the hormone insulin or an insensitivity to it. Insulin is produced in the islet cells of the pancreas and is normally responsible for controlling blood concentrations of the body's main fuel, glucose. In normal animals, insulin does this by preventing glucose production by the liver and ensuring that excess glucose derived from food which is not needed for energy is put into body stores. In a diabetic animal there is insufficient insulin to switch off glucose production by the liver or to efficiently store excess glucose derived from energy giving foods. This means that the blood concentration of glucose rises and eventually exceeds a level beyond which the kidneys let glucose leak into the urine. This loss of glucose in urine takes water with it by a process called osmosis and causes larger volumes of urine to be produced than normal. The excessive loss of water in urine is compensated for by thirstiness and increased water consumption.

In addition, diabetic animals tend to lose weight because they breakdown stores of fat and protein (muscle) to make glucose and ketones (an alternative fuel) in the liver. Other clinical signs diabetics may include: cataracts, polyphagia (increased appetite), exercise intolerance and recurrent infections. If the production of ketones by the liver is excessive a condition called ketoacidosis occurs which makes the animal very unwell.

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Oral hypoglycemics

Oral hypoglycemics are tablets used in the treatment of human diabetes mellitus which can lower blood glucose in some cases. In general, they are not useful for the treatment of diabetes mellitus in dogs but are some use in a small proportion of diabetic cats.

Insulin

Insulin is the treatment of choice for diabetes mellitus in animals. Insulin must be given by injection because it is a protein and would be digested in the intestine if it was given as a tablet. Insulin is available as pharmacological preparations for subcutaneous injection which have been formulated to slow its absorption and prolong its action. There are three types of prolonged duration insulin preparations: lente (mixed insulin zinc suspension), isophane (NPH) and protamine zinc insulin (PZI). Of these, protamine zinc insulin has the longest duration of action and lente and isophane insulins last long enough to be used on a once, or occasionally twice, daily basis in diabetic dogs.

Insulin products have to be treated carefully. They must be thoroughly mixed prior to use and must not be frozen, heated or shaken vigorously.

Stabilization

Unfortunately, there is no standard dose for insulin which can be applied to all animals. Each diabetic animal has to have its dose tailored to its individual needs which is done over a stabilization period. After such a period, maintenance insulin doses should remain relatively constant. In order to achieve stable control of a diabetic animal's blood glucose by insulin, all the other factors which affect blood glucose concentration must be kept constant from day to day. These factors include the composition, volume and timing of meals and the amount of exercise the animal gets.

To keep diet constant from day to day it is best to use commercially produced rather than home made diet and we suggest K9 Senstitive from the Elite Delta Premium Range for dogs and Premium Delta Cat Food.

One disadvantage to relying solely on pre-injection urine or blood glucose results is a phenomenon known as Somogyi overswing or insulin induced hyperglycemia (high blood sugar). This is when an excessive insulin dose lowers blood glucose too far and the body responds to this potentially life threatening situation by producing hormones which are antagonistic to the effects of insulin. The release of these hormones causes blood glucose to rise again, often to very high levels which can spill over into the urine and produce strong positive morning urine glucose results. If adequate care is not taken, these results can be mis-interpreted by an insulin adjustment protocol as indicating a requirement for an increase in dose. Such an increase will, in fact, only make matters worse. The possibility of inducing Somogyi overswing can be reduced by measuring urine glucose 3 times a day or by relying on nadir (lowest point in the day) blood glucose results for making insulin dose adjustments.

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Non-specific illness

Dogs which are off their food or need to be fasted as part of the management of vomiting or diarrhea need to continue to receive insulin, since withholding both food and insulin is likely to start the production of ketones and this will make the dog more unwell. Usually half of the dog's normal requirement will prevent ketoacidosis and will be safe.

High Insulin Requirements

There are a number of conditions which can be associated with insulin insensitivity and therefore high insulin requirement (greater than 2 IU/kg). One of these results from insulin antagonism by progesterone in bitches which have recently been in season or which have had treatment to prevent them having seasons. Another is that caused by high levels of cortisol in diabetic dogs which also have hyperadrenocorticism (Cushings disease) or which have had repeated long acting glucocorticoid (steroid) injections. The best tests for hyperadrenocorticism are the low dexamethasone suppression test or the ACTH stimulation test but the results of these sometimes need to be interpreted with caution in diabetic dogs. Insulin insensitivity also occurs in dogs with chronic infections or chronic kidney failure.

Somogyi overswing

See above. This can be associated with unusually high doses of insulin and continued clinical signs of polyuria and polydipsia, particularly in the evenings when blood glucose has been increased by the release of protective hormones.

Rapid insulin metabolism

In some dogs, even the prolonged duration insulins are used up very quickly and are no longer effective after 12 or 14 hours. This means that clinical signs will reappear in the second half of the day. This situation is best discovered by serial glucose analyses (12 - 24 hour blood glucose curve) and can be remedied by the use of twice daily injections or a longer acting preparation.

Hypoglycemia

In diabetic animals treated with insulin there is some risk that hypoglycemia may occur. It is rare for a dog or cat to die of this condition but it is possible and owners should be appropriately warned and trained by the veterinary team responsible for their pet's management. It is most likely to happen if the animal is accidentally over-dosed with insulin, over-exercised or fails to eat its morning meal. The first noticeable clinical sign is hunger followed by lethargy and sleepiness. If untreated, stumbling and staggering ensue followed progressively by twitching, convulsions, coma and death. If the animal is still conscious, treatment is by offering food, particularly glucose containing foods such as biscuits or chocolate. If it is unable to eat, then glucose must be administered by mouth or by intravenous injection. Dissolved glucose powder or syrup will be absorbed quickly through the mucosa if poured into the side of the mouth. It is not necessary for it to be swallowed. HYPOSTOP or GLUTOSE 45 are a 40% dextrose gels which are convenient to carry and easily administered orally. There are also 20 and 40% dextrose (a form of glucose) solutions available for the veterinarian to use in emergency treatment.

Ketoacidosis

Recommend:  Adult Lowcal because it has a low GI index – broken down into number of feeds per day.

If you require any information then please don't  hesitate to contact DELTA on       0800 191 917

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