1. What are polyuria, polydipsia and polyphagia?

2. What other diseases have the same signs as diabetes?

3. What is the expected life span for a diabetic cat?

4. Is feline diabetes similar to human diabetes?

What are polyuria, polydipsia and polyphagia?

You’re likely to encounter these terms as you learn more about diabetes and your pet.

These definitions will help:

• Polyuria is the production of large amounts of urine in a given period, such as per day.
• Polydipsia is the medical term for excessive thirst, usually noticed when a pet seems to be drinking excessive amounts of water.
• Polyphagia refers to eating more food than usual per day or eating more frequently.

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What other diseases have the same signs as diabetes?

Cats with diabetes mellitus drink more water and urinate more than normal. They usually have good or increased appetites but may nonetheless be losing weight. Other common diseases with these signs are hyperthyroidism and kidney failure. To diagnose diabetes, your veterinarian will measure your cat’s blood glucose level and test your cat’s urine for glucose and ketones.

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What is the expected life span for a diabetic cat?

With consistent, effective treatment, lifestyle adjustments and adequate monitoring, a diabetic cat should have the same expected life span as a non-diabetic cat of the same age.

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Is feline diabetes similar to human diabetes?

Yes, the two conditions are very similar. In fact, your cat will be using medication, equipment and monitoring systems that are similar to those used by diabetic people.

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