NIDDM IN THE CAT - TREATMENT WITH THE ORAL HYPOGLYCEMIC MEDICATION, GLIPIZIDE

摘要

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a common endocrinopathy in cats, with an incidence of ayproximately 1 in 400. Reported risk factors in the cat include advanced age, male gender, and obesity.(45) Historically, it has been accepted that diabetic cats are insulinopenic similar to diabetic dogs. Clinical experience in the treatment of diabetic cats has shown that a significant percentage undergo spontaneous remission of their diabetic state, with insulin requirements waxing and waning in approximately 20% to 25% of diabetic cats. The reversible or transient nature of the disease process is a most intriguing clinical characteristic. Transient DM can be explained by carefully examining the naturally occurring types of DM in cats. Recent work supports the presence of both insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) or type 1 disease and non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) or type 2 disease in cats.(23) The presence of NIDDM in the cat is supported by the transient nature of the disease and response to oral hypoglycemic medications.