Cat Q&A

Do you have a cat with feline diabetes?  If you do, you need to know about feline hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar.It may seem like a good thing for a feline diabetic to have low blood glucose levels.  However, if the cat’s blood sugar levels get too low, your feline companion could go into a coma and die.   

Why Does Hypoglycemia Become A Problem For Diabetic Cats?

There can be several reasons for low blood sugar levels in cats with feline diabetes:

• Sometimes a cat owner makes a mistake, and gives the cat too much insulin.
• Two people in the family each gave the cat insulin, so he received a double dose.By choosing one person to be responsible for giving insulin shots, this problem can be avoided.
• The kitty has had an unusually high activity level, which lowers blood sugar.
• The pet owner may have given the insulin injection before a meal, and the kitty either didn’t eat, or didn’t keep the meal down.
• The feline diabetic no longer needs insulin because of dietary changes, or a spontaneous remission.

Symptoms Of Feline Hypoglycemia

Strange behavior may be noticed, because the brain is the first organ to be affected by low blood sugar.  This is because the brain doesn’t store glucose to use later, like other organs in the body. 

If a cat with diabetes shows these symptoms, he may have dangerously low blood sugar levels:

• Shaking or shivering
• Becoming uncoordinated, and staggering around
• Acting like he’s blind
• Weakness and lethargy
• Restlessness
• Either very hungry, or not interested in eating
• Tilts his head
• Acts disoriented; he may walk in circles, yowl, or hide
• Glassy eyes
• Drooling
• Seizures
• Coma

What To Do For A Feline Diabetic With Hypoglycemia

Keep honey or corn syrup on hand, along with empty syringes (without needles), if you have a feline diabetic.If the kitty starts showing signs of hypoglycemia, use the syringe to squirt a little corn syrup or honey into his mouth.  If the cat is unconscious, rub a little honey or syrup on his gums.  If doing this, take care to avoid being bitten, especially if the kitty is having seizures.

Wrap the kitty in a blanket, and take him to the vet right away, as this is an emergency.

Regulate Glucose Levels Naturally With Natural Remedies For Cats

Research has shown that natural remedies for cats are safe and effective for cats with diabetes.  Herbal pet remedies that contain goat’s rue, fenugreek, and astragalus, along with the mineral chromium, can help to normalize glucose levels in diabetic cats.Find an established company with a good track record for formulating high-quality natural pet remedies.

Many vets are quite open to using natural remedies for cats.Before changing your diabetic cat’s medications or diet, check with your kitty’s vet.  By using these natural remedies, you may be able to reduce or eliminate insulin injections for cats with diabetes.

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