In honor of National Pet Diabetes Month, lets chat about what Diabetes is exactly. Diabetes Mellitus is a condition that affects the concentration of glucose, or sugar, in your dog’s blood.
Diabetes occurs when your fur-baby’s body makes too little insulin, stops producing it completely, or does not utilize insulin properly.
Carbohydrates are converted into several types of simple sugars, including glucose. Inside cells, insulin helps turn glucose into fuel.
If there’s too little insulin available, glucose cannot enter cells and can build up to a high concentration in the bloodstream.
As a result, a diabetic pet may want to eat more, but will appear thin because its cells cannot absorb glucose. Luckily, Diabetes Mellitus usually affects less than 1% of dogs and cats.
Despite having the disease, your pet can live a long healthy life if their high blood sugar levels are controlled with daily insulin, frequent glucose testing and lab work, diet and exercise, and regular veterinary checkups.
Contact us at Lakeside Animal Hospital for more information on pet diabetes.
