If your pet has been diagnosed with diabetes mellitus this means that they either do not produce enough insulin or their body cannot use the insulin that is produced.

Insulin carries glucose (sugar) among other things, from the bloodstream into the cells. Therefore when this does not happen, a high blood sugar is measured. Your pet may also have had glucose in the urine. This is because the kidneys filter the blood to produce urine and so the high blood glucose is carried into the urine.

High blood glucose levels result in the following symptoms:

• increased thirst

• increased hunger

• increased urination

• weight loss

• cataracts (this mostly affects dogs)

• urinary tract infections

• lethargy

Untreated, or inappropriately treated, the prolonged high blood glucose can lead to a condition called ketoacidosis with ketones present in the urine. The symptoms of this are much more severe and can include:

• vomiting

• diarrhoea (+/- blood)

• coma

• death

Companion animals with diabetes are treated with injections of insulin either once daily or twice daily 12 hours apart, given at home by the owner. Feeding is very important and the same food and volume of food should be given every day. You will be advised on what foods are suitable by your vet.

When your pet is diagnosed, a blood sample will be taken for full biochemistry and haematology to ensure no other concurrent diseases are present which may complicate the stabilisation process. A urine sample will also be tested to check for urinary tract infection and the presence of ketones.

We will show you how to inject your pet and advised on what dose of insulin to start on. The initial dose is usually low and increased depending on response and blood glucose measurements. The body takes 7-10 days to respond to changes in insulin and therefore approximately 10 days after starting on insulin we will take a fructosamine blood sample

This is a blood sample that is sent to the lab and gives an average measurement of glucose levels over the previous 10-14 days. It is not affected by feeding or stress (i.e. coming to the vets or being held for blood sampling).

This blood sample is usually repeated every 14 days until your pet is stable – the dose of insulin will be adjusted based on the results of these tests, and the examination each time.

We may also ask you to take serial urine samples and measure glucose and ketone levels at home – we will supply the test strips for this if it is required.

Insulin should be kept in the body of the fridge (not the door) at all times and rolled gently in your hands to mix, before drawing up each dose.

We advise using a fresh needle & syringe for each injection which will usually be twice a day, morning and evening. You will be given a sharps box with your syringes - place the used needles into the sharps box and bring it back to the practice for disposal once full.

Please contact us by phone or through PetsApp if you have any questions.