Achieving Diabetic Remission In Cats

November marks National Diabetes Month, a time to acknowledge how this chronic condition can affect our loved ones, including our pets. While diabetes is a serious, and for many, life-long health issue, it doesn’t have to stand in your cat’s way of living a long, healthy life.
As many as every 1 in 200 cats will be diagnosed during their lifetime. But for cats, it’s actually curable in many cases, with as many as 90% achieving diabetic remission in the first few weeks after diagnosis.
Learn how you can increase your cat’s chances of achieving diabetes remission and support their health and well-being after diagnosis.

What is Diabetic Remission in Cats?

When a cat is diagnosed with diabetes, it’s almost always Type 2, which means their body’s cells are no longer responsive to the hormone insulin. Insulin, produced by the pancreas, helps the body’s cells absorb glucose from the bloodstream and convert it to fuel.
This is a condition known as insulin resistance. When a cat has high insulin resistance, their pancreas will try to produce more of the hormone to compensate. High blood glucose levels actually damage the beta cells in the pancreas that produce insulin.
However, if your cat’s blood glucose levels are controlled, the pancreas can actually recover. If your cat can maintain normal blood glucose levels for two to four weeks without the help of insulin, they will have officially achieved diabetic remission.

Can My Cat Go Into Diabetic Remission?

Some diabetic cats are more likely than others to achieve remission. Possibly the most important factor is the level of damage sustained by the beta cells of the pancreas. Severe, long-term damage can be permanent, meaning the cat will be unlikely to ever produce enough insulin on their own. However, even cats that have life-long diabetes can enjoy many relatively healthy years with proper management and monitoring.

Diagnosed while stable.
Early diagnosis minimizes your cat’s chances of permanent pancreatic damage. Cats are less likely to achieve remission if they were diagnosed after being hospitalized with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). Those diagnosed with early symptoms like weight loss, increased thirst and urination are likely to achieve remission.

Recently diagnosed.
When remission happens, it’s usually within the first few weeks after diagnosis. If it’s been more than six months, the cat is unlikely to go into remission.

Switched to a low-carb diet.
Switching to a low carbohydrate, high-protein diet greatly increases your cat’s chances of entering remission. This usually means switching from dry food to a canned or fresh, balanced diet. As with any chronic condition, talk to your veterinarian before making changes to your cat’s diet.

Gradual weight loss.
Since remission typically happens within a month or two, it’s typically not associated with weight loss, but diabetic, obese cats are more likely to achieve and maintain insulin sensitivity with slow, controlled weight loss, usually recommended 1-2% loss of body weight per week.

Diagnosis at older age.
Cats that have been diagnosed earlier in life are less likely to achieve remission.

Low dose of insulin.
Cats that initially need just a low dose of insulin are less likely to need it for the rest of their life. Only change your cat’s insulin dosage under the guidance of your veterinarian.
Cats are typically put on a low-dose, slow release type of insulin that increases their chances of recovering. It’s essential that they still get enough insulin support, however, to allow their pancreas to heal.

At-Home Monitoring For Cats with Diabetes

One of the most important factors that can increase your cat’s chances of achieving diabetic remission is at-home glucose monitoring. Cats tend to be stressed at the vet, and this can cause their blood glucose levels to seem high at the clinic. Monitoring at home can give a more accurate analysis and help you detect changes that can indicate possible remission.

How To Tell If Your Cat Has Gone Into Diabetic Remission

When a cat goes into diabetic remission, their usual dose of insulin will become too high for them, resulting in hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar.
With mild hypoglycemia, you might notice lower glucose readings without symptoms. Moderate low blood sugar can make your cat act “drunken,” and they may seem weak, shaky, or disoriented, and they may vomit or become lethargic. Extremely low blood sugar can cause seizures, coma, or even death. Seek immediate care if your cat shows any signs of hypoglycemia or if their blood sugar drops.
To prevent hypoglycemia, you may need to wean or taper off your cat’s insulin dosage under the guidance of your veterinarian as their needs change until it’s safe to stop completely.
Once your cat has officially gone into remission, they will need to continue to eat a healthy diet and stay on their weight loss plan, if they’re overweight. Around 25% of cats that enter remission will relapse, and while a second remission is possible, it’s much less likely.