What is Diabetes?

• Diabetes is the inability of the body to regulate blood sugar (glucose) levels because of a deficiency in the amount of insulin produced, or because of the inability of the body's cells to respond properly to insulin in the body.
  
  

Early Symptoms

• Early symptoms of diabetes in cats include increased thirst, increased urination, increased appetite, weight loss, lethargy and weakness in the hind legs.
  
  

Later Symptoms

• Later symptoms of diabetes in cats include vomiting, decreased appetite, dehydration, poor skin and/or hair condition, liver disease, secondary bacterial infection and constipation.
  
  

Diabetic Ketoacidosis

• Diabetic ketoacidosis is a common complication of feline diabetes that is caused by a build up of the products of fat breakdown in the blood when glucose is not available to the body.
  
  

Symptoms of Diabetic Ketoacidosis

• The symptoms of diabetic ketoacidosis include decreased appetite, vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, weakness and changes in breathing.