Diabetes Mellitus in Dogs

Most simply refer to diabetes mellitus as diabetes. Simply put, diabetes Mellitus in dogs is a disorder of carbohydrate metabolism brought about by either deficiency of insulin or a resistance to insulin. The most commonly affected dogs are middle aged females. Female dogs in general are affected twice as often as males. Breeds that are the most vulnerable to diabetes in dogs are Beagles, miniature poodles, Cairn Terriers, Schnauzers, and Dachshunds.



A number of factors are responsible for decreased insulin production and secretion, but often they involve destruction of islet cells. Insulin resistant dogs and diabetes Mellitus are also seen in many dogs with hyperadrenocorticism (an endocrine disease). Certain dog medications such as cocotricoids or progestins used over long period of time can make your dog more apt to develop diabetes. During their heat cycles, unspayed female dogs produce the hormone progesterone, which can lead to high blood sugar and insulin resistance. Problems with weight (often seen in beagles) often increases the risk of insulin resistance. Increased glucagon also appears to contribute to development of high sugar by releasing liver stores of glucose.



Diabetes mellitus in dogs can often develop slowly, and the signs may not be noticed at first. Common symptoms that your dog may be falling victim to this disorder include increased thirst and urination, along with increased appetite and weight loss. Just as in humans your pet will become more vulnerable to infection and regularly develop chronic or recurrent conditions. Cataracts develop regularly in large dogs with poorly controlled diabetes mellitus. Besides the obvious signs your veterinarian will run a urinalysis and/or blood testing to identify the presence of high sugar levels.



Upon confirmation of dog diabetes treatment will entail weight loss, diet modification, insulin injections, and possibly oral medications. While some form of conventional treatment may be necessary many dog owners are opting for a more natural approach. These all natural dog diabetes treatments work to support blood sugar levels and can be used both as a preventive treatment or a stand alone remedy. One of the advantages of these natural treatments for diabetes in dogs is that they are safe and are generally considered effective alternatives to many conventional treatments.

Understanding Diabetes Mellitus - Causes and Treatment

The incidence of diabetes mellitus is increasing in the US. People of all races and socioeconomic status can get it. It can be distressing for a person to be diagnosed with this condition, but fortunately there are a number of treatment options available for managing it. First of all, you need to understand the diabetes mellitus causes and triggers.



Diabetes mellitus is a medical condition that causes elevated blood glucose levels, also known as blood sugar levels. Blood glucose is normally kept in check through various hormones and chemicals in your system. The most important hormone in this regard is insulin, which is produced by your pancreas. The disorder can be triggered when there are problems in the pancreas and it stops producing the correct quantity of insulin, or uses it improperly. It can also be a result of your body developing a resistance to the effects of insulin.



Regardless, diabetes mellitus causes hyperglycemia, a condition which results in many of the more noticeable symptoms. These include excessive thirst, more frequent urination, rapid weight loss, blurred vision, fatigue and metabolic changes. The most severe outcomes include ketoacidosis, which leads to vomiting, nausea, and fainting; hypoglycemia; and the possibility of becoming comatose as a result of your blood glucose imbalance. It can also create long term health issues, such as an elevated risk of heart disease, renal failure, gangrene, damage to the retinas that can cause blindness, and nerve damage.



Fortunately, it's possible to effectively treat the condition using insulin that is injected into the bloodstream. Diabetics need to constantly monitor their blood glucose levels, which typically involves the use of a portable meter that tests a tiny drop of blood. If the reading indicates that your blood sugar levels need to be adjusted, you will then inject yourself with insulin to stabilize the situation.



Diabetes mellitus causes more than one form of the condition. Type 1 is a result of problems with the cells in the pancreas that produce insulin, in which they stop producing the hormone properly. There is no way to safeguard against type 1. Indeed, many of the people who develop this condition are typically in good health.



Type 2 is quite different from type 1, and also more common. This disease is often the result of obesity, poor diet and insufficient exercise. The system starts to produce less insulin, and at the same time becomes more resistant to it. Symptoms are normally quite mild and the first line of treatment is to make changes to your lifestyle. Related to this is gestational diabetes, which sometimes develops in pregnant women and normally goes away right after the birth of the baby.



Understanding diabetes mellitus causes and treatments is essential to managing this condition effectively. It can be a very serious condition, and you must be sure not to take it lightly.

Treatment For Dog Diabetes

What is canine diabetes? Diabetes mellitus is the condition where in there is a deficiency of insulin to keep the body in its regular functioning. In the average dog, food is ingested and converted to glucose which serves to give energy to the body. Glucose is only accessed through insulin and the lack of insulin is the culprit behind dog diabetes.



If the pancreatic gland is not secreting sufficient insulin; or it the dog's cells fails to respond to the insulin-the animal has diabetes. Diabetes is not fatal. In fact, treatments are made easily available in stores and online shops that will ensure a long and fairly healthy life for your pet.



What are the symptoms of a diabetic dog? Excessive urination (or polydipsia) and unusually high consumption of water (or polyuria) is to be expected. You will also notice a loss of weight in him. This is because the body takes fat and protein from its reserves to counteract the lack of glucose produced.



When symptoms of diabetes arise, take your pet and have him diagnosed as soon as you are able. The vet will first get a urine test to see if traces of glucose are found in the urine. The results will be verified by a blood test that will or will not show a higher level of glucose than the normal dog. If it is confirmed that he has diabetes, get a thorough check-up for your dog to see if there are other health issues that might complicate his present condition further.



The treatment for dog diabetes will vary depending on the results as well as factors like age, weight and current condition of the animal. Generally, the recommended and primary method used will be injections of insulin-the dosage will again vary for every canine. Monitor him for a few days and get another check-up. If there is an improvement, maintain the dosage and establish a healthy routine the dog can follow.



It is very important that your dog is provided with good food and adequate exercise. A diet high in complex carbohydrates and fiber will help regulate the glucose in your dog's body better. Do not give food that have a lot of fat and sugar content in it. Read up on nutritional and appropriate meals and snacks you can serve your dog.



Exercise improves insulin production because it promotes better blood flow. Be very careful if you have never engaged the diabetic dog in physical activity before. Sudden exercise or any change in his exercise routine will cause blood sugar levels to decrease and may trigger hypoglycemic coma.



A common offshoot of diabetes is cataracts. High blood glucose levels, or hyperglycaemia disrupts the lens of the eyes. Neuropathy is also another possible complication of diabetes. Check the back legs of the dog for weakening. More than all that though, diabetes ketoacidosis is the most dangerous. The vital organs break down because of high hyperglycaemia that has been untreated for too long. Look out for the symptoms to avoid the more progressive complications that your diabetic dog may suffer if the condition is not kept appropriately under control.

What is the Diabetes Mellitus Definition?

A Diabetes Mellitus definition is that it is the technical name for diabetes, which is the disease, characterized by a malfunctioning metabolism and consistently high blood sugar levels



Diabetes usually results from low levels of insulin or abnormal insulin resistance, as well as inadequate levels of insulin secretion, which when combined with the high levels of glucose in the bloodstream from the foods we eat, and not being able to appropriately deal with the high glucose levels results in diabetes.



The high blood sugar symptoms of diabetes mellitus include increased urge to urinate, excessive thirst, extreme fatigue, and change in weight. These symptoms often won't even be noticeable in those people with only mildly elevated sugar levels (often described as pre-diabetic) and because these symptoms aren't life changing, many diabetics go undiagnosed for years, until some of the real damage has already happened.



For an accurate Diabetes mellitus definition, you need to be aware that it comes in three forms; type 1, type 2 (this is usually described as 'adult onset diabetes' as it is often there is a predisposition towards the development of the disease from either genetic, lifestyle or cultural factors) and gestational diabetes, (which occurs only during pregnancy). Each type of diabetes has a different cause and they can each have different severity of symptoms. However, all forms of diabetes are dangerous if not treated, but with proper diabetic management though, people with diabetes can live long, healthy, normal lives.



The main cause of type 1 diabetes mellitus is the loss of insulin producing cells in the pancreas, which ultimately leads to insulin deficiency and a total reliance on injected insulin to replace the insulin no longer produced by the body. Type 1 diabetes mellitus usually develops in children and young adults. It is also termed juvenile diabetes.



Careful monitoring is essential for any diabetic to avoid the complications from diabetes which could include loss of limbs, heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, and even death from diabetic comas.

Candy, Sugar, and Diabetes - Understanding a Common, Yet Complicated Disease

Diabetes mellitus, or "sugar" diabetes, refers to the bodies inability to appropriately manage blood sugar levels. In order to understand this disease, we have to first understand the hormone insulin. Insulin is the hormone responsible for managing blood sugar levels. In essence, when there is lots of sugar floating around in the blood (ie: after eating a candy bar), insulin is secreted by special cells in the pancreas known as β-cells. Insulin then travels around the body and binds to receptors on many different tissue types where it exerts a specific effect. For example, insulin binds to cells in the liver. This binding instructs hepatocytes (ie: liver cells) to remove glucose from the blood and store it in a polymerized form known as glycogen. The goal of all these effects is to bring the blood sugar level back within normal limits.



The problem in diabetes mellitus is that insulin is either not secreted by the pancreas, or does not perform its function appropriately. Therefore, very high blood sugar levels can occur.



There are two forms of diabetes:
- Type 1
- Type 2



Type 1 diabetes mellitus is an auto-immune disorder, which means that the body literally attacks itself. In this case, the body attacks the β-cells in the pancreas. The result is that the body is no longer able to secrete insulin.



The pathology of type 2 diabetes is more complicated. It is believed to be caused by a combination of different factors. Genetics, lifestyle, and diet all seem to play an important role.



In type 2 diabetes the pancreas is still able to produce insulin. However, the problem is that insulin does not have its normal effect on other body tissues. This is known as "insulin resistance." In an effort to combat this resistance, the pancreas secretes more insulin. Eventually the insulin resistance becomes too severe; the pancreas can no longer keep up, and blood sugar levels begin to rise. If they rise beyond a specific laboratory threshold the diagnosis of diabetes is made.

Diabetes Insipidus

What is Diabetes Insipidus?



Unlike other types of diabetes such as Diabetes Mellitus Diabetes Insipidus is a disease that is linked to the pituitary gland in the brain. When the word diabetes is mentioned most people will assume that we are speaking of Diabetes Mellitus (Sugar Diabetes). Diabetes Insipidus though is not caused by a lack of insulin or the lack of insulin regulation. Diabetes Insipidus happens when the pituitary gland does not make enough of the hormone ADH. Antidiuretic Hormone is needed to control the amount of water in the body. Diabetes Insipidus can be a serious or even fatal disease if not caught and treated. The treatment may be ongoing for the rest of your life.



What causes Diabetes Insipidus?



Like all forms of diabetes no one knows exactly what causes the actual disease however they do know that people that have had other problems are prime candidates to develop Diabetes Insipidus.



If you have or have had any of the following you may develop Diabetes Insipidus:



* A brain aneurysm which is a weak spot in a blood vessel causing the artery to balloon out much like a weak spot on a tire causes a "bulge"



* Any type of brain infection



* A Tumor of the brain



* A Tumor of the Pituitary Gland



* Compulsive, excessive fluid intake



* Bleeding inside the skull



* Family history of Diabetes Insipidus



* Head Injury that may cause damage to the Pituitary Gland



* Kidney Disease



* Surgery on the Pituitary Gland sometimes causes a temporary type that lasts about 14 days



If you have the following signs or symptoms, you should ask your physician to do further testing for possible Diabetes Insipidus:



* Dry skin, especially the hands.



* Constipation



* Passing large amounts of extremely clear urine



* Terrible thirst especially for cold or iced fluids



What is the treatment?



The treatment depends more on what appears to be causing the problem. This is one place where the allopathic medical community agrees with the naturopathic medical community. Remove the cause and you treat the disease. This is the underlying theme to most naturopathic treatments, where as the allopathic community is more a symptom treatment practice.



Depending on what may be causing the problem a person may be subjected to any or all of the following tests and or treatments:



- Complete medical history and exam
- Basic Blood and Urine tests
- Computerized Tomography scan (CT Scan)
- Daily weights to determine fluid loss or gain
- Dehydration test
- Intake and output measurements (I and O)
- Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
- Surgery. If a tumor is involved you may need brain surgery to remove it.



Disclaimer:



This report should in no way be considered medical advice. The suggestions and/or techniques described in this report are for informational purposes only. If you are ill or injured you should see your primary healthcare professional immediately



Contact the following groups for more information:



American Diabetes Association
1701 North Beauregard Street
Alexandria, VA 22311
Phone: 1-800-342-2383
Web Address: http://www.diabetes.org



* National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse
1 Information Way
Bethesda, MD 20892-3560
Phone: 1-800-860-8747
Web Address: http://www.diabetes.niddk.nih.gov



Annually the American Diabetes Association has a fundraiser bicycle ride called the "Tour De Cure" I often ride in this event which raises money to help with research to combat diabetes. Be sure to check out my website for details on helping the ADA to find a cure.

Alternative Ways of Treating Diabetes

Diabetes is a very serious illness which means you will have to take medication on a daily basis in order to control the sugar levels in the blood. It also necessitates having to change your diet to help your body cope with the problem.



Some carbohydrate foods are turned into sugar by your digestion quicker than others. These foods are known as high glycaemic foods. Slowly digested foods have a low glycaemic index and are therefore naturally better for you.



It's therefore best to avoid foods which are made with white flour and sugar. Potatoes, parsnips, carrots, French bread, rice cakes, cornflakes, honey and puffed rice are all considered to be high glycaemic foods. Half of your calories should come from unrefined products such as wholegrain bread and brown rice.



Eating plenty of fibre slows down the absorption of sugars from the intestine and prevents excessive swings in the blood sugar level. Also it reduces high levels of blood fats which are associated with diabetes.



Low glycaemic foods consist in the main of green vegetables, kidney beans, lentils, peanuts, butter, cheese, eggs, fish, seafood, meat, barley, baked beans, nuts, chickpeas, yams, sweet potatoes, apples, oranges, pears, yogurt, oatmeal and bulgar wheat.



Try to space your food intake evenly throughout the day to enable the body to better regulate blood sugar. Limit your intake of meat and full fat dairy products and eat more oily fish, nuts and seeds.



Learn and understand the glycaemic index of the foods you eat and this will help you to stabilize your blood sugar level.



Herbal remedies, along with your orthodox treatment, can sometimes help to improve your sense of well-being. Certain vitamins, such as A, B, C and E may well help to avoid long term complications. Chromium which helps boost the action of insulin, Magnesium which may decrease insulin resistance and zinc may all assist the body to cope with diabetes.



However, in all instances consultation with your doctor is essential to ensure that the addition of these herbal remedies will not conflict with the medication.



Smoking should be avoided as it increases the risk of heart disease, and alcohol should only be taken in small quantities.



Aromatherapy is believed to influence the pancreas and so you could add Eucalyptus and lemon oils to your bathwater, or have a massage of almond oil which will, if nothing else, make you feel better!



Alternative diabetes treatments can assist you to cope and may help to prevent complications later on in life.