Health A-Z
Diabetes Mellitus
Owner and veterinary guidance with linked treatments and source citations.
Diabetes Mellitus
Species: Cat
Breeds Affected: All breeds (obesity is a risk factor; Burmese cats may have higher risk)
Clinical review: Veterinary reviewer metadata is not available yet.
Guidance by audience
Use the global Pet owner/Vet toggle in the header. Each mode shows only what that audience needs.
For Pet Owners
Quick summary
Endocrine disorder characterized by inadequate insulin production or insulin resistance, leading to chronic high blood glucose (similar to type II diabetes in humans). Often develops in middle-aged overweight cats. Track appetite, hydration, stool/urine changes, energy level, and symptom pattern over time.
Red flags
Call your vet today: Persistent or worsening symptoms. Emergency now: Collapse, severe breathing issues, seizures, uncontrolled bleeding, or severe pain.
What to expect at the vet
Diagnosis should combine history, exam findings, and condition-specific testing.
Prevention checklist
Reduce preventable risk through hygiene, vaccination/preventives when applicable, and routine veterinary follow-up.
For Veterinarians
Diagnostics
Diagnosis should combine history, exam findings, and condition-specific testing.
Differentials
Differential diagnosis considerations are not available yet.
Treatment considerations
Lifelong management is needed. Diet modification to a high-protein, low-carbohydrate diet helps control blood sugar. Daily insulin injections are the main treatment to normalize blood glucose. Weight loss and exercise are encouraged for overweight cats. Regular monitoring of blood glucose (and possibly fructosamine) is required; some cats may even go into remission with aggressive weight management and insulin therapy.
Follow-up strategy
Follow-up strategy is not available yet.
What To Do Now
Escalate care quickly if symptoms worsen, persist, or include emergency warning signs.
| Urgency | Signs | Action |
|---|---|---|
| Call your vet today | Persistent or worsening symptoms | Call your veterinarian the same day for guidance and exam scheduling. |
| Emergency now | Collapse, severe breathing issues, seizures, uncontrolled bleeding, or severe pain | Seek emergency veterinary care immediately. |
Prevention Checklist
Reduce preventable risk through hygiene, vaccination/preventives when applicable, and routine veterinary follow-up.
Treatments and Medication Links
Use these medication pages as a reference for options your veterinarian may discuss.
Detailed treatment strategy remains in the Vet view to avoid duplicate narrative blocks.
| Medication | Role | Evidence | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Prednisolone | Supportive | Limited | Auto-linked from medication condition map (source=fda_label, confidence=0.950). |
| Methylprednisolone Acetate | Supportive | Limited | Auto-linked from medication condition map (source=fda_label, confidence=0.950). |
| Porcine Insulin | Supportive | Limited | Auto-linked from medication condition map (source=fda_label, confidence=0.950). |
| Insulin | Supportive | Limited | Auto-linked from medication condition map (source=fda_label, confidence=0.950). |
Frequently Asked Questions
FAQ content is not available for this condition yet.
Data Sources
Last updated: February 16, 2026, 11:11 AM UTC
View source list
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Owner_summary · clinical_reference
https://www.merckvetmanual.com/searchresults?query=Diabetes+MellitusReference search for condition background. -
Triage · clinical_reference
https://www.merckvetmanual.com/searchresults?query=Diabetes+MellitusClinical triage framing. -
Vet_summary · clinical_reference
https://www.merckvetmanual.com/searchresults?query=Diabetes+MellitusClinical workflow reference. -
Diagnosis · guideline
https://capcvet.org/?s=Diabetes+MellitusGuideline discovery link. -
Prevention · public_health
https://www.cdc.gov/search/?query=Diabetes+MellitusPublic health discovery link. -
Treatment_overview · guideline
https://capcvet.org/?s=Diabetes+MellitusTreatment guideline discovery link.
Revision History
View revision log
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structured_enrichment2026-02-16 11:11 · etl
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structured_enrichment2026-02-16 11:00 · etl
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structured_enrichment2026-02-15 11:11 · etl
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structured_enrichment2026-02-15 11:00 · etl
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structured_enrichment2026-02-14 11:10 · etl
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structured_enrichment2026-02-14 11:00 · etl
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structured_enrichment2026-02-13 11:11 · etl
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structured_enrichment2026-02-13 11:00 · etl
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structured_enrichment2026-02-13 04:45 · etl
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structured_enrichment2026-02-12 22:47 · etl
Related Media
Related media is not available for this condition yet.
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