{"id":287,"date":"2017-11-07T16:33:04","date_gmt":"2017-11-07T21:33:04","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.volvethosp.com\/blog\/?p=287"},"modified":"2018-02-12T12:04:41","modified_gmt":"2018-02-12T17:04:41","slug":"diabetes-in-pets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.volvethosp.com\/blog\/diabetes-in-pets\/","title":{"rendered":"Diabetes in Pets 101"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"It is Pet Diabetes Awareness Month, and what better time to take a minute to learn about this common affliction in both our dog and cat family members? Join Volunteer Veterinary Hospital <\/a>as we explain everything you need to know about diabetes in pets.<\/p>\n

Diabetes in a Nutshell<\/h3>\n

Diabetes is one of the most common diseases in the human population in this country, so most of our pet parents have some concept of what this disease is and how it can affect the body. Many people are shocked to find out, though, that our pets can develop this disease, too.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Diabetes is a defect in the body\u2019s processing of glucose (sugar). In a normal patient, the hormone insulin is used to help transport glucose from our diet into the body\u2019s cells. Within the cells it is then used as a source of energy.<\/p>\n

In a diabetic patient this does not happen normally. This may be due to decreased insulin production, in which the pancreas simply does not pump out enough insulin to process the glucose that is present. Some patients also experience insulin resistance, in which the body requires much higher amounts of insulin than a typical patient.<\/p>\n

No matter what the underlying reason is, if the body is unable to transport glucose into the cells it builds up in the blood stream. This excess of glucose in the bloodstream can result in the classic symptoms of diabetes including:<\/p>\n