The question of whether cats can become diabetic is being asked. Unfortunately, the answer to this question is “just like in humans, diabetes can also be seen in cats.” In recent years, it has been known that the incidence of diabetes in cats is increasing. Diabetes, which occurs as a result of the inability to produce enough insulin or the inability of cells to absorb the insulin produced, can trigger a number of serious problems, including weight loss, loss of appetite, severe depression, and motor function problems, if left untreated. In this article, you can find information about the symptoms of diabetes in cats and how to treat it. However, we first want to provide details specifically on diabetes in cats.

What is diabetes in cats?

Just like the human body, a cat’s body also needs glucose in the form of sugar for energy. However, the insulin hormone produced by the pancreas plays a key role in allowing glucose to enter cells. Insulin hormone binds to cells and sends signals at the right time for glucose absorption. Fat, liver, and muscle cells absorb glucose, both getting fuel and reducing glucose levels in the blood. Diabetes Mellitus, also known as diabetes, is a disease that occurs when the body does not produce insulin hormone properly or when the hormone produced is not used correctly by the body.

Diabetes is essentially divided into two forms, type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. When type 1 diabetes is present, the shortage or lack of insulin production results in an increase in blood sugar levels. When type 2 diabetes is present, the cells in the body do not respond to insulin properly, resulting in blood sugar levels higher than ideal. In both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, cells are unable to reach the fuel they need because of low or non-use of insulin hormone. Therefore, because of the low or non-use of insulin hormone glucose cannot reach the cells. Both forms of diabetes can be observed in cats, but type 2 diabetes is more common in cats. This result leads us to the question “Are cats born diabetic?”

Are cats born diabetic?

Although diabetes is rare in cats, it can also be seen in the form of type 1 diabetes. The form of type 2 diabetes, which is more common in cats, is usually caused by obesity, lack of physical activity, and poor diet, rather than genetic factors. Therefore, it is not accurate to say that cats are born diabetic, but they can develop diabetes due to lifestyle factors.