Diabetes in Pets can be controlled with the aid of the new AlphaTrak Glucometer that has been specifically designed for use in cats and dogs.
Diabetes Mellitus is an endocrine disease of people and animals where there is a problem with glucose metabolism. Glucose is the unit of energy used in your body's cells and is derived from the food that you eat . Glucose is a simple sugar derived from the digestion of carbohydrates in the diet. Insulin is a hormone made by the pancreas. Insulin needs to be present for the cells of the body to take in glucose. If there is not enough insulin glucose can not be absorbed by the cells and it stays in the blood stream where it results in an increased "osmotic pressure". This means there are too many "particles" in the blood and the body will attempt to correct this by dilution and elimination. In other words there will be an increase in the body's need to drink and urinate because the main way the body gets rid of excess glucose is through the kidneys. This results in some of the prime symptoms of diabetes, polyuria and polydipsia, or peeing alot and drinking alot. Lack of insulin can be due to episodes of pancreatitis where the pancreas has been damaged and diabetes may be permanent but diabetes in cats can occur and resolve spontaneously.
How to care for a dog with diabetes should be discussed with your veterinarian as should diabetes in cats but an important part of this process is knowing the animal's blood glucose level. This helps determine the animal's need for "external" insulin support. The AlphaTrak Glucometer has been specifically designed for use in dogs and cats is more accurate than human glucometers for these species. The sample needed is very tiny and therefore can in most circumstances be obtained at home. The treatment of Diabetes in pets has just gotten a lot easier!
