Diabetes Mellitus is a hormonal ailment that influences the metabolism of glucose. It is divided into two types, I and II. Type I is characterized by a decreased production of the hormone insulin from pancreas whereas Type II, uncommon in cats, occurs owing to the inability of cells of the body to uptake and consume glucose. At times there is a third type, Transient Diabetes, seen in cats in which the ailment comes and goes.

A disease of middle-aged and older felines, Diabetes occurs more commonly in male cats. Risk factors include obesity, diet, genetics and damage to pancreas. Clinical manifestations are increased thirst, diet and urination, weight loss, skin and hair changes and liver and kidney disease. There is lethargy, weakness of hind legs and wobbly gait. Often these, alongside urination outside the litter box, are the first signs that the cat owner may notice of this insidious illness.

Once the diagnosis is reached through analysis of urinary and blood glucose levels, treatment is initiated. In the majority of cases it involves a regimen of insulin injections. In Type II disease, oral hypoglycemic agents are given at times. Though this is rare and it is often easier for owners to inject their cats than feed them pills. Even though there is no cure for Diabetes, prompt and appropriate treatment ensures that the diseased cats live a normal and healthy life.

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In a previous article (“Diabetes Story — Collapse”), I went from feeling fine to almost completely incapacitated over the span of a few days. I’ve now arrived at a hospital in Stockholm, Sweden with the help of a coworker.

They take some blood and then put me in an examination room where I wait for the doctor. I’m still in denial about the possibility that there’s something seriously wrong with me; I feel fine except for the indescribable fatigue. The doctor comes in right away and starts asking me questions, a long list of questions about everything under the sun. When he’s done asking questions he says, “Do you have any other symptoms?”

I don’t know exactly what time it is, but I think the clock on the wall is a couple of hours fast so I respond, “I’ve experienced time warp jumps into the future.” Nothing but a silent expressionless look from the doctor. I say, “The clock behind you is fast.” He probably puts a question mark next to the box he just checked for Further Psychological Evaluation Necessary.

The doctor goes away for a bit and then returns. He sits down right in front of me and with a caring expression and sympathetic tone he tells me that I have diabetes. I have no idea why he feels sorry for me. I don’t have diabetes, I’m just tired. I don’t even know what it means to have diabetes! (At that time I couldn’t have told you what a pancreas does.) I’ll have a REAL doctor check me out when I get back to the states. Little did I know at the time, Stockholm is the center of the diabetes research universe. At the risk of spoiling the rest of the story, these doctors saved my life. During the rest of this narrative while I’m making fun of them (the doctors that saved my life) it’s because at the time I had my head up my butt. Ok, now I’ll go back to making fun of them (for now).

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The clearest links between disease and excess weight body weight shows up in type 2 diabetes.  Most of the people who have diabetes are also overweight and this disease is becoming more common as the population at large gains more weight.

The vast majority of people who have diabetes have Type 2 diabetes which develops when the pancreas cannot produce enough insulin to keep up with the amount that is needed by the body.  Insulin is a hormone that allows body cells to absorb blood sugar and excess body weight interferes with this process, causing a rise in blood sugar levels.  The pancreas continues to produce insulin but the insulin cannot work well enough and this is called insulin resistance.

If people are put on insulin treatment, they may experience some weight gain and one theory is that metabolism slows down when blood sugars come down.  This increase in weight increases the cells resistance to insulin and this creates a vicious cycle.  Some people stop their insulin treatment because of this but this is a dangerous thing to do because several other complications can occur.

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