How do you know what type of diabetes your cat has? (type 1, type 2)

[Onre]

Just curious....

 

[Chris & China (GA)]

Almost all cats are closest to Type 2

In Type 1, the body's immune system destroys the cells that release insulin, eventually eliminating insulin production from the body...when you see a cat with type 1, it's usually a younger cat or even kitten

In Type 2, the body isn't able to use insulin the right way.. As type 2 diabetes gets worse, the pancreas may make less and less insulin

 

[Yong & Maury GA]

Just making sure I'm under the correct impression as what Chris said . It's like people, Type 1 diabetics are usually born with the disorder and/or it shows up at a very young age. Type 2 is developed as conditions "worsen". I was reading that cats who get diabetes II are more commonly middle-aged kitties also like people

 

[Larry and Kitties]

These say most cats have type I
http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?c=1+2130&aid=199
http://www.vet.cornell.edu/fhc/Health_Information/brochure_diabetes.cfm

 

[Yong & Maury GA]

But both can need insulin therapy and I think Type II can go into remission, even for people . *I thought* Type I was more autoimmune disease.
http://mycathasdiabetes.com/diagnosis.html.

Now wonder we get so confused

 

[JeffJ]

In addition to pancreatic diabetes, there is Acromegaly, which is a pituitary tumor. The output of the tumor is Insulin-like Growth Hormone (IGH-1). This displaces native insulin in the body, basically creating type-1. They call this symptom Secondary Diabetes. To overcome it, you add insulin to the cat to try and displace the IGH-1. It's kind of a losing battle as the tumor grows.

There was a study in Great Britain in the last 8 years. They found that over 25% of all diabetic cats had some level of Acro. The percent may be higher, I can't remember. A lot of documentation is in the Acromegaly subforum. And I documented Leo's treatment in his thread, which was radiation of his tumor in Sept 2016.