Diabetes in Cats: Testing and Monitoring

What tests are suggested for the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus in cats?

Generally, the following screening tests are performed when diabetes mellitus is suspected: a complete blood count (CBC), a serum biochemistry profile, and a urinalysis.

Why so many tests? Can't diabetes be diagnosed by an elevated blood sugar value alone?

Elevated fasting blood and urine glucose (sugar) values are essential for the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus, but other screening tests provide additional information about the severity of the diabetes, any conditions that may be contributing to the diabetes, and any complications related to the diabetic state.

Because diabetes mellitus is usually diagnosed in middle-aged to older cats, your cat may have other unrelated conditions that need to be managed along with diabetes. The screening tests usually alert your veterinarian to any such conditions.

What might a CBC indicate if my cat has diabetes mellitus?

The complete blood count evaluates the red blood cells, the white blood cells, and the platelet components of a blood sample. With uncomplicated diabetes mellitus, these components are often within the normal range, but changes may occasionally be seen in the red or white cell values.

"The complete blood count evaluates the red blood cells, the white blood cells, and the platelet components of a blood sample."

Despite drinking large quantities of water, diabetic cats lose body water because they produce such dilute urine. Therefore, your cat may actually be dehydrated. Dehydration can be indicated on the CBC by increases in the packed cell volume (PCV - the proportion of the blood volume that is actually occupied by red blood cells), as well as increases in the total red blood cell count.

In some severe diabetic states, rupture of red blood cells within the bloodstream may occur because of the loss of electrolytes, resulting in reduced red blood cell numbers (anemia). Infections, particularly urinary tract infections, are common in diabetic patients. Increased numbers of white blood cells typically indicate the presence of infection or other inflammatory diseases such as pancreatitis.

What might a serum biochemistry profile indicate if my cat has diabetes mellitus?

An elevated serum glucose (blood sugar) concentration is vital for the diagnosis of diabetes mellitus. However, cats present a unique challenge because their glucose levels can become markedly increased simply due to stress. The stress of a veterinary office visit or the mild restraint associated with obtaining a blood sample may significantly increase your cat's serum glucose value. Blood glucose will also be mildly elevated for several hours following a meal. Therefore, confirmation of diabetes may require more than one blood sample collected over a period of several days.

"The stress of a veterinary office visit or the mild restraint associated with obtaining a blood sample may significantly increase your cat's serum glucose value."

If there is a question that the high blood glucose concentration is related to stress or diabetes, diabetes may be diagnosed by an elevated serum fructosamine test. This test is described in more detail later in the handout.

Occasionally, your veterinarian will see changes in serum electrolytes. Electrolytes are the mineral components of serum and include sodium, chloride, and potassium. They are involved in many of the body's daily functions, such as nerve conduction and maintenance of proper hydration. Diabetic dogs may lose excessive amounts of electrolytes in the urine because of the large volume of dilute urine that they produce. Such losses can result in rare but serious complications. For example, severe deficits in phosphorus may result in ruptured red blood cells within the bloodstream. 

The liver-related enzymes ALT (alanine aminotransferase) and AST (aspartate transaminase) may be slightly increased in diabetic cats and may reflect mild liver cell damage related to decreased blood flow from dehydration. That said, many diabetic cats are overweight, and elevations in liver enzymes may indicate underlying liver disease such as hepatic lipidosis ("fatty liver syndrome" from excess mobilization of body fat). Mild elevations in liver enzymes can also result from hyperthyroidism in older cats, so it is important to rule out that disease by measuring serum thyroxine (T4) concentrations.

What might a urinalysis indicate if my cat has diabetes mellitus?

A urinalysis is necessary for the diagnosis of feline diabetes mellitus. Urine from healthy cats typically does not contain any glucose (sugar). Occasionally, a small amount of glucose may be found in the urine of a highly stressed cat because its blood glucose values were temporarily increased.

Glucose in the urine (called glucosuria), as well as persistently increased blood glucose levels (called hyperglycemia), in a cat with appropriate clinical signs is diagnostic for diabetes mellitus.

The presence of glucose in the urine makes conditions ideal for bacterial growth, so urinary tract infections are common. Urine is evaluated for the presence of red blood cells, white blood cells, and bacteria. If a bacterial infection is identified or suspected, a urine culture is required to identify the types of bacteria and determine the most appropriate antibiotics to treat the infection.

The presence or absence of ketones in the urine should be evaluated in diabetic cats. Ketones are byproducts of fat metabolism. When cells don't get the insulin signal to absorb glucose from the blood (because of insulin deficiency or resistance), then the body breaks down fats, producing ketones to supply energy. Depending upon your cat's clinical signs, the presence of ketones in the urine may indicate a more severe or long-standing case of diabetes mellitus.

Once my cat starts insulin therapy, what monitoring tests will be necessary?

When your cat first starts insulin therapy, it is important to monitor their response to therapy by doing periodic blood glucose testing. Ideally, this involves successive blood or serum glucose measurements in the form of a glucose curve. Hospitalization and serial blood sampling, no matter how gentle, may result in stress-related increases in blood glucose that will confuse the results of a glucose curve.

New technology has allowed for home glucose monitoring with the use of a simple device such as an AlphaTRAK®2 or OneTouch Ultra® glucometer. A newer method of home testing (FreeStyle Libre®) that uses a skin-mounted sensor is becoming more commonly used as well. Additional home monitoring can involve the evaluation of urine for the presence of glucose, although this is not a very sensitive way to monitor glucose levels; it can, however, be useful for detecting ketones, an indicator of poor glucose control.

At home, the most important thing you can do for your cat is to carefully monitor her appetite, water consumption, energy level, urine output and grooming habits (a messy, greasy haircoat can indicate lack of diabetic control). Any changes may signify the need for additional testing and/or adjustments in the insulin dosage. It is very important that you do not adjust the insulin dosage without first consulting your veterinarian!

At the beginning of insulin therapy, more frequent (daily) monitoring of blood glucose (with or without urine glucose) is indicated. Either very high or very low glucose levels indicate the need for adjustments in insulin dosage with the guidance of your veterinarian.

Once your cat's optimal insulin dosage has been determined, and her diabetes is well regulated, monitoring may involve regular glucose curves or random “spot checks” of urine for the presence of glucose. Absence of glucose on a urine test can be a concern, so if this is found, notify your veterinarian.

"Serum fructosamine level can be used to help evaluate your cat's response to insulin therapy."

Serum fructosamine level can be used to help evaluate your cat's response to insulin therapy. Fructosamine is measured from a single blood sample. No special preparation (e.g., fasting) is required. Serum fructosamine levels are proportional to the average blood glucose concentration that your cat has achieved over the past 7–14 days, so it can be used in long-term monitoring of diabetic cats.

Recent changes in blood glucose concentrations are not detected by serum fructosamine levels. Therefore, if your cat is showing any behavioral changes that might signal a new insulin requirement, then direct blood glucose levels are more appropriate.

Your veterinarian may recommend regular urine testing to check for infection, as pets with diabetes are more likely to get urinary tract infections. These infections may be “silent”, with your pet not showing any symptoms until they become severe enough to interfere with their glucose regulation.