Diabetes in Cats and Feline Hypoglycemia - What You Must Know

If you live with a feline diabetic, you need to know about hypoglycemia. Since high blood glucose levels are a problem with feline diabetes, it seems that lower blood sugar levels would be better. But this isn't the case. If your pet's glucose levels drop too low, it can be fatal quickly. Learn what causes hypoglycemia, what symptoms to watch for, and how to treat it by reading this article.
What Is Hypoglycemia?
If a cat's glucose levels are well-regulated, they should be around 100 mg/dl. 80 mg/dl is considered low, and 40 mg/dl or below is extremely dangerous. To be on the safe side, it's better for your pet's levels to be higher, not lower, as levels that are too low will kill him.
What Causes Hypoglycemia In A Diabetic Cat?
Your pet can develop hypoglycemia for several reasons:

• Too much insulin was given by mistake.
• The kitty received a double dose of insulin from two people in the family. It's best if only one person is in charge of giving insulin injections to prevent this situation.
• The diabetic cat was given insulin before a meal, and then either didn't eat, or threw up after eating.
• Your kitty was a lot more active than he usually is.

Sometimes a kitty will have a spontaneous remission from diabetes in cats, which means insulin injections are no longer necessary.
Symptoms Of Feline Hypoglycemia
Hypoglycemia affects the brain first, because unlike other organs, the brain doesn't store glucose for later use. Your kitty may show the following symptoms:

• Extreme hunger or no interest in eating at all
• Restlessness
• Acting weak or lethargic
• Tilting his head
• Shivering because his body temperature is dropping
• Staggering around, or becoming increasingly uncoordinated
• Acts like he can't see
• Disoriented--walking in circles, yowling, or hiding
• Seizures
• Coma

Your kitty may be drooling, or have glassy eyes. He could vomit or be sleepy, too. Watch for strange behavior that's out of the ordinary.
First Aid For A Hypoglycemic Kitty

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