Diabetes mellitus in dogs and cats and its associated complications

Diabetes mellitus is a complex endocrinopathy, with a pathogenesis that varies between individuals. Diabetes mellitus impairs the body's ability to produce or respond to the hormone insulin, resulting in abnormal metabolism of carbohydrates and elevated levels of glucose in the blood and urine. The aetiology and pathogenesis of the disease remains poorly understood. Diabetes mellitus is reported to occur as a result of the interplay between environmental and genetic factors. In veterinary medicine, human nomenclature of diabetic types cannot be applied as accurately to dogs and cats; however, both type 1 and type 2 diabetes do seem to occur. Classic clinical signs of polyuria, polydipsia, polyphagia and weight loss result from protracted hyperglycaemia and glucosuria. Good management of diabetes mellitus is vital to minimise complications that are associated with this disease, and includes dietary measures, exercise, control of concurrent disease, oral hypoglycaemic drugs and/or insulin treatment. The goals of treatment are to eliminate signs and the life-threatening effects of hyperglycaemia. The aim of this article is to provide an overview of diabetes mellitus in dogs and cats and discuss the complications that can arise in the management of this disease.