About Pets and Diabetes
Diabetes in small animals (cats and dogs) is a growing animal health care concern. Lifestyles of pets generally mirror the lifestyles of their owners. America's urban leisure lifestyle (which is stated as a factor in the increasing incidence of diabetes in people) is most likely the leading cause of diabetes in pets.
Diabetes is a complex metabolic condition which results in the inability of the body to properly maintain and use carbohydrates, fats, and proteins. It is a life long condition that requires education and awareness for proper treatment.Factors leading to diabetes are:
- Diets too rich in fats and carbohydrates
- Obesity or general poor fitness
- Less exercise
- Increased age
Although no single factor is a cause by itself, a continuing combination of these factors is usually present when diabetes is diagnosed.
A contributing factor is the rise of better health care and increased treatment for pets. Historically, when animals became ill, they were often without the medical attention we enjoy as humans. Today, that has changed with many pet owners providing the same level of treatment and medical diagnostics we provide to our families.
Veterinary medicine is attacking this condition as aggressively in pets as their counterparts attack diabetes in humans. Diet changes and increased activity, followed with insulin injections (as a last resort) are the most likely measures taken. With small animals, however, it is very difficult to achieve the proper dosage with U-100 insulin, the insulin primarily used by people in the United States.
Many veterinarians are now prescribing Protamine & Porcine Zinc Insulin (ProZinc & Vetsulin) known as U-40. Though not a diluted form of insulin, U-40 is weaker, thus allowing for larger, more easily measurable doses for small animals.
Today, many people are treating their pets for diabetes using Protamine & Porcine Zinc Insulin (ProZinc & ). Usually designated as "U-40 Insulin", U-40 differs from the standard U-100 Insulin that is prescribed for people with diabetes in the way that it is measured. The "U" refers to actual "units" of active insulin. "Units" are a standard measurement system for many drugs.
U-100 insulin has 100 units of active insulin in each milliliter (ml) of liquid.
U-40 insulin has 40 units of active insulin in each milliliter (ml) of liquid.
Most commercially available insulins are U-100 and the syringes available at most pharmacies are U-100 syringes. U-100 syringes are specially designed to provide the proper dose of U-100 insulin.
