Living with diabetes: Canine diabetes: Can you prevent it?

All this month we've been talking about diabetes in dogs and cats. You can see all those stories in our special section.

On Saturday we talked about preventing diabetes in cats. But that seems to be a bit easier, since diabetes in cats can be caused by obesity. Keep your cat slim, greatly reducse the chance of getting diabetes.

But can you do that with dogs?

Remember that no disease is 100 percent preventable, and some dogs have a higher risk than others to diabetes.

1. Miniature schnauzers
2. Toy and miniature poodles
3. Samoyeds
4. Pugs
5. Keeshond
6. Puli
7. Miniature Pinscher
8. Cairn terrier
9. Poodle (no specification)
10. Dachshund
11. Beagle

That's the first thing you want to consider when trying to lower your pet's risk.

PANCREATITIS

The pancreas, like the human pancreas, has two important functions -- produces insulin, which breaks down sugar in the blood, and produces digestive enzymes.

Pancreatitis is when the pancreas is inflamed, forcing those digestive enzymes into the stomach, where it starts to break down fat and tissue.

"Pancreatitis, especially chronic pancreatitis, can cause enough damage to the pancreas (including the beta cells responsible for secreting insulin) to be a cause of diabetes," said Dr. Lorie Huston, a veterinarian and one of the experts who has helped with this series.

So how can you prevent pancreatitis (and again, not 100 percent preventable)? Here's what PetMD.com said:

• A reduction in the dog's weight (if it is overweight), and proper on-going weight management
• Avoidance of high-fat diets
• Keeping your dog as close to its ideal weight as possible
• Avoidance of drugs that may increase inflammation

In other words, keep your pet from becoming obese. OBESITY (an indirect link to diabetes).

And FYI -- pancreatitis becomes a concern around the holidays. There's lots of rich food around, and everyone is offering your dog food, or your dog is sneaking food, or you have special treats for your dog, etc. So watch what your dog is getting for Thanksgiving this week.

MEDICATION-INDUCED

Last week we met Loki the rottweiler. Loki's diabetes was induce due to long-term use of prednisone.

Prednisone is a glucocorticoid.

"Another important point is that there are certain drugs, like glucocorticoids, that can also predispose an animal (dog or cat) to diabetes," Dr. Huston said. "That’s why the long-term administration of these drugs is not generally recommended unless absolutely necessary medically."

PERIODONTAL DISEASE

Remember before how we said that keeping the teeth in good shape was important? It's important in preventing diabetes too.

Studies right now show that people with periodontal disease (inflammation and/or infections in the gums) are more likely to develop diabetes. The research right now shows that periodontal diseases release cytokines, a toxin that can damage the pancreas. The diseases can also disturb the regulation of glucose in the blood stream, which can eventually cause diabetes.

So, what is the bottom line? The best thing to do is to try to keep your dog healthy.

1. Avoid pancreatitis by feeding your dog a proper diet and getting them plenty of exercise.
2. Try to avoid prolonged exposure to certain drugs.
3. Keep the teeth healthy to avoid gum diseases. 

If you do this, and get your dog regular check-ups, you have a better chance of keeping diabetes at bay.

POSTS

• Post 1 -- Pets get diabetes too 
• Post 2  -- Diabetes in dogs and cats: Wading through the science
• Post 3 -- Living with a diabetic dog: Meet KC the cairn terrier
• Post 4 -- Living with diabetes: Products to make it easier for pets plus a GIVEAWAY
• Post 5 -- Canine diabetes and obesity: Not connected, but still a danger
• Post 6 -- Living with diabetes: Meet Loki the Rottweiler
• Post 7 -- Caturday: Best ways of preventing feline diabetes

Caturday: Best ways to prevent feline diabetes

 Hello, humans -- Galadriel here, taking over the beast's blog.

The servant has been talking to you about diabetes all month. Today, we get to talk about the only diabetes that really matters (to me): feline diabetes.

I interviewed Dr. Anna Coffin, a veterinarian with an office in Guthrie, OK, about feline diabetes.

1) Welcome Doctor Human. The servant says you know about cats and diabetes. I'll
be the judge of how much you know about cats. How many do you have? And do you
care for their every whim?
Hello and nice to meet you Galadriel! I currently have one cat or should I say one cat owns me. Her name is Sylvie and she is very spoiled. She loves attention and gets lots of loving care.

2) Why should I worry about diabetes?
The symptoms of diabetes will cause you to be extremely thirsty and make you pee more than normal. If you are diagnosed with diabetes you will have to get poked by a needle twice daily every day with insulin. It can be difficult to regulate cats and this requires frequent trips to the veterinarian for more pokes with needles to test your blood sugar.

 
3) The servant says I could stand to lose some weight. Will that keep me from
getting diabetes? If not, what's the point then?
Overweight cats are three times more likely to get diabetes! So a weight loss program of diet and exercise would help decrease your chances of getting this horrible disease. Not only that but overweight pets tend to have a shorter life span so if you lose weight you can have a chance at conquering the universe.

4) I don't know WHAT you are talking about. I have no interest in being a feline overlord. AHEM.

I eat some wet food and then some dry food. Is that good for me?
Yes, a combination of dry and wet food is good for you. Canned food has increased water content which is also beneficial for your urinary health. I recommend diabetic cats eat a prescription canned food as the canned food is lower in carbohydrate than the dry which helps control diabetes.

5) I enjoy eating! I get upset when the servant doesn't keep my plate full! I
should be able to eat when I want.
Don’t we all! Self-control and patience builds good character.

6) I like to play with laser lights, and sometimes a ball on a string. How much
should I play? Is it important?
That’s great that you like to play. It’s great exercise which will help with weight loss. Cat’s in the wild typically hunt and kill 9 small prey a day. It’s best to try and mimic this life style to prevent behavioral and medical problems.

7) Do you see many diabetic cats?
Yes, I have several that I am treating right now. I have been practicing veterinary medicine for about 20 years and it seems that I am diagnosing this more frequently in dogs and cats.

8) What happens if I do get diabetes?
It is treatable but requires a serious commitment from your master, ops I mean servant, and your veterinarian. They will have to work together to get you regulated. Cats with diabetes can live a fairly normal lifestyle.

9) Sounds so unpleasant. What else can I do to keep from getting diabetes?
You’re pretty smart! It is unpleasant. For cats, weight loss or maintaining a healthy weight is probably the most important factor in preventing diabetes. Just like your servant, pets can have genetic tendencies toward these diseases so if it’s in your family’s history you are more at risk.

10) Dr. Human, you've been most helpful. Thank you. Anything else you want to
add?
You’re very welcome and thank you for helping to spread the word about diabetes and prevention. Keep up the good work. For more information about pet healthcare you can visit my blog at http://guthriepet.net/AskDrAnna/ and feel free to ask questions or add some comments as you seem highly intelligent.

The servant wants to make sure you know that Monday will include an episode on preventing diabetes in beasts (dogs). Or at least trying to.

I hope this series has been helpful to you. Don't forget to sign up for our giveaway. The water fountain is quite nice (when it's not on), and the giftcard from Petco can lead to lots of yummy food.

POSTS

• Post 1 -- Pets get diabetes too 
• Post 2  -- Diabetes in dogs and cats: Wading through the science
• Post 3 -- Living with a diabetic dog: Meet KC the cairn terrier
• Post 4 -- Living with diabetes: Products to make it easier for pets plus a GIVEAWAY
• Post 5 -- Canine diabetes and obesity: Not connected, but still a danger
• Post 6 -- Living with diabetes: Meet Loki the Rottweiler

Living with diabetes: Meet Loki the rottweiler

All this month we are taking a closer look at canine and feline diabetes. Check all my stories here.

Earlier this month we introduced you to KC, the cairn terrier who lives with diabetes.

This is Loki the rottweiler.

Janet Ruda Archer is Loki's mom. Here's what she said about living with Loki and canine diabetes.

1) What kind of pet do you have? Dog, Rottweiler.

2) Name, age, sex... Loki, 7 years old male, neutered.

3) How old were they when they got diabetes? 6 (been diabetic for 14 months.)

4) How early were they diagnosed? Very early. Within 3 weeks, got diabetes from prednisone induced.

5) Are they insulin dependent? Yes Humulin N.

6) What do you feed your pet? Used to be on Annamaet option 24 dry with evangers canned beef. Now consulting a nutritionist at Univ of Penn for a one cooked recipe specifically tailored to him and his multiple ailments. He currently is on boiled hamburger, brown rice, green beans and pumpkin twice daily plus supplements.

7) Walk me through a typical day with your pet. Wake up 6am, ear pick for blood to test glucose. Feed. medicate, walk. Repeat all in 12 hours.

8) Are there any special things you've bought your pet (besides insulin) to help them live with diabetes? Alpha Trak glucometer specially designed for pets. Human meters are NOT accurate. we calibrated against the vets and found two brands that were way off. Syringes, lancets and test strips. Diabetes is a very expensive disease to keep regulated. Also purchase ketodiastix to check for ketones in the urine.

9) Do you have anything in particular you have to be mindful of? Too much exercise can create a low and hence a Hypoglycemic seizure. Weather changes affect glucose. Monitoring intake of water to see if any changes. Too many high numbers cause cataracts to form faster. Any change in food or treats through out a day changes your numbers. Everything can affect the glucose level.

Most important is the meds must be 12 hours apart. You do not want insulin overlapping itself. Using the correct syringes to the insulin. We use the U-100 insulin and the syringes must be for that. Insulin is only good for 30 days once opened, you must throw out any unused insulin or it may result in inaccurate numbers. Some people push that, I do not.

Unopened insulin must be stored in the refrigerator. Open Humulin N can sit out once opened. (Away from direct light and extreme heat) you also can never shake insulin, it must be rolled gently to mix.

10) Anything else you'd like to add? Pancreatitis is very common in diabetics and you must watch fats. And fat content on their food. The most important thing for new owners is that diabetics eat, not what they eat until they get regular.

Thank you, Janet, for sharing your story with us.

Just a week left in National Pet Diabetes Awareness Month. We'll be talking about the most important thing of all -- prevention, next week.

And on Saturday we'll talk feline diabetes.

POSTS

• Post 1 -- Pets get diabetes too 
• Post 2  -- Diabetes in dogs and cats: Wading through the science
• Post 3 -- Living with a diabetic dog: Meet KC the cairn terrier
• Post 4 -- Living with diabetes: Products to make it easier for pets plus a GIVEAWAY
• Post 5 -- Canine diabetes and obesity: Not connected, but still a danger

Canine diabetes and obesity: Not connected, but still a danger

All this month we are observing National Pet Diabetes Awareness Month. We are examining different aspects of the disease in both cats and dogs. See our stories so far, and enter our giveaway.

As the experts we've talked to have said before, obesity so far does not have a direct link to canine diabetes. In cats there is a direct link, but not in dogs.

However, that doesn't mean that poor diet and lack of exercise can't be a problem for dogs, especially once they get diabetes.

So to talk about obesity, I've enlisted the help of Steve Pelletier, founder of Slim Doggy. He's an expert in the field of pet obesity, and how to whip your pup into shape. He graciously wrote this guest post for us.

Canine Obesity:  We are killing our dogs and paying a lot of money to do so.

Yes, you read that headline right.  Having a fat pet is costly:

•  To the dog’s lifespan: lean dogs will live on average almost two years longer than their fat littermates.  They will also have a more active and higher quality of life.
• To the owner’s wallet: owners of fat pets are spending a lot of money that they might otherwise not spend if their pet was fit and slim.  In the U.S. alone, according to the Association for Pet Obesity Prevention, there are about 37 million overweight dogs.  We estimate that the owners of these overweight dogs are spending somewhere near $8 billion dollars each year, on extra food, medical care, and medicines, all because they have fat pets.

A Human Problem

Pet obesity is actually a human problem, not a pet problem.  Most dogs (and cats) that I know do not have opposable thumbs to open the fridge and serve themselves.  Nor do they go shopping for their own food.  It is the human who controls the quantity and quality of their food.  We are the stewards of our pet’s health and heretofore, we are failing them.

Obesity is arguably the biggest health threat to our pets, yet, it is entirely, and easily preventable in most cases.   There are many health related problems that are a direct result from your dog being fat including:

• Shorter life
• Arthritis and other orthopedic problems
• High blood pressure and cardiovascular disease
• Cancer

That is a scary list, and I don’t know a single pet owner who would feel good about themselves if they were to unwittingly facilitate the development of such conditions by letting their pet become overweight.

Canine Obesity and Diabetes Linkage

You might notice that diabetes was not on the list of health problems related to having an overweight dog.  Unlike with cats, who are prone to type II diabetes, there is no evidence that supports the notion that type II diabetes occurs in dogs or that obesity is a risk factor to this disease[1].   

For some background, diabetes is classified as either type I, caused by an inability for the body to produce insulin, or type II, impaired insulin production along with an inadequate response to the insulin hormone.  Type II diabetes is directly linked to obesity in both humans and cats (but not dogs) and the treatment protocol centers around weight reduction.  Read our recent article “Exercise and Canine Diabetes” for more information on canine diabetes and suggestions on how to properly feed and exercise a dog with diabetes.

Despite the fact that there is no linkage between canine diabetes and obesity, it is still very important to keep your pet fit and slim, for all of the reasons listed above.    Below are some of our top tips to help you keep your pet at a healthy weight.

Courtesy Robin Zebrowski via Flickr Creative Commons

 5 Tips to Help Keep Your Dog Fit and Slim 

1.       Provide proper exercise for your dog.  Dogs need exercise!  They thrive on it.  Putting your dog out in the back yard does not count either.  They need 30 minutes or more each day of vigorous exercise depending on their age, breed, and medical history.  They will feel and look better.  So will you!  And don’t let excuses get in the way.  Winter weather?  No problem.  Use a dog treadmill, try alternative exercise like core and balance training using balance cushions and wobble boards, or simply bundle up and get outside.

2.       Determine your dog’s daily calorie requirement to achieve or maintain their ideal weight.  Most people have no idea how many calories they should be feeding their dog, given their dog’s age, weight, and activity level.   Our SlimdoggyiPhone app was created to supply this information.  Note that the more active your dog is, the more you can feed them.  If you exercise your dog more on the weekends, they can be fed differently than on the weekdays!

3.       Measure, measure and measure.   It is crucial to accurately measure how much you feed to make sure you stay within your dogs daily target range.  Use a measuring cup.  If you are a ‘high-tech’ person, or are not at home for long periods of time, there are actually some pretty amazing technologies and devices being created to help with the measurement problem.  PetNet.io (formerly PintoFeed.com) is one company that is building an intelligent pet feeder that will help people address the overfeeding issue.

4.       Account for treats.  We all love giving or dog’s treats and table scraps and there is nothing wrong with it.  You simply have to account for those calories and adjust your regular feedings accordingly.  It helps to know the calorie content of the dog foods and treats you use—another benefit of using the SlimDoggy app.

5.       Learn to read dog food labels.  Your pet’s overall health is greatly impacted by both “how much” and “what” you feed your dog.  Spend some time examining your dog food labels and learn to spot healthy and unhealthy ingredients.   Use your analysis to buy the best food possible given your budget.  For more tips on how to read a food label, go to slimdoggy.com and search on food.

---

[1] Canine and Feline Diabetes Mellitus: Nature or Nurture? Jacquie S. Rand2, Linda M. Fleeman,  Heidi A. Farrow,  Delisa J. Appleton, and Rose Lederer, 2004

Thanks Steve.

On Saturday, we will talk about obesity in cats and the link to feline diabetes.

In the meantime, check out our previous stories, and be sure to enter our GIVEAWAY!

POSTS

• Post 1 -- Pets get diabetes too 
• Post 2  -- Diabetes in dogs and cats: Wading through the science
• Post 3 -- Living with a diabetic dog: Meet KC the cairn terrier
• Post 4 --  Products to make life easier for diabetic pets PLUS a GIVEAWAY

Living with diabetes: Products to make it easier for pets and a GIVEAWAY

This giveaway happened in 2013 and is now over. But continue to check out these products that can help pets with diabetes.

All this month we are talking about diabetes awareness for dogs and cats. Check out our previous stories here.

Today we are talking about making it easier to live with diabetes, and be sure to read to the end of the article, because we are hosting a giveaweay!

Diabetes in pets causes a number of side issues. Many are actually very similar to human diabetes. So how can you make these issues easier for pets to live with? Here's a few products to consider.

BLOOD GLUCOSE METERS

A blood glucose meter is number one to help you monitor blood sugar levels in your pets. You can't use the one for humans though, you have to get one for pets.

AlphaTrak is one type of glucose meter on the market.

Dr. Joe Bartges from the University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine says having in-home sugar levels are very helpful top have.

"There are also interstitial glucose monitors that give very detailed information," Bartges said. "There is a little probe inserted under the skin and the probe measures the sugar in the tissue fluid every few minutes."

WATER

Dehydration can be a problem in diabetic pets, especially if the diabetes is not in control. Dehydration can be dangerous for your pet anyway, but it can affect the gums and the skin, and it can also affect the way the body gets insulin.

Urinary tract infections are another issue. Diabetic pets are far more susceptible.

The best thing is for pets to have lots of fresh water. For that, consider a water fountain which uses a pump to keep the water flowing and aerated.

 
On Friday I reviewed the PetSafe Drinkwell Water Fountain. The fountain is an excellent way to keep fresh water for your pet. Just make sure your cat is willing to drink from the fountain.

Now if your pet is drinking more water, chances are they might pee more. If you have a cat, make sure you have a good absorbent cat litter, and keep the pan as clean as you can. If you have a dog, it might be time to consider giving them a place to go in the house if they need to. Earlier this year I reviewed the reusable, designer pee pads from Spoiled Pup Boutique. It might be a good option.

CUTS, SORES AND DRY SKIN

One problem that is true for both humans and pets is a higher susceptibility toward infections, especially skin problems. Pet parents need to watch their pets for cuts or bites or other things that, if left untreated, could get infected. Fungus can also be a problem.

Suggestions: 

• Paw balms to keep the pads soft and free from cracks (especially helpful in the winter time).
• Liquid bandages, blood stopper powder and other products to easily stop pet bleeding.
• Salves that help with hot spots and sores. I would suggest Dr. Rose's remedies for this. It's all natural, and my friend said it seemed to help with her dogs sores. 

ORAL CARE

Veterinary expert Dr. Lorie Huston said no list would be complete without proper oral care.

"Tooth brushing (with a tooth paste designed for pets, not humans) is the gold standard," Huston said. "Check with your veterinarian before using chewies or other dental treats though."

It's not just about cleaning though, but about getting into the habit of checking your dog's mouth regularly. Pets with diabetes are more susceptible to infections, and if the tartar in the teeth is not taken care of, bacteria in the mouth can lead to infections there and elsewhere.

Never brushed your pets' teeth before? This is something that takes some time for the pet to get used to. you may actually want to start with your finger instead of going right to the tooth brush. Carol Bryant from Fidose of Reality did a great video earlier this year explaining how to get your pet used to get their teeth brushed.

FOOD AND TREATS

Food is probably the most important part of keeping diabetes in check and helping pets live with the disease. But it's not something that any of the vets I talked to were comfortable making suggestions for.

The reasons are simple: every dog or cat is different. And some pets will have different needs to maintain a balance. If the pet is overweight, you may need some special food. Just putting your dog on a grain free diet may not be the answer right away. So you need to check with your vet. They will likely suggest a prescription diet, usually created by Hill's or Purina. Do your homework before you look into those.

With the help of your vet, you may be able to get food specially created for your dog. In Orlando, we have a place called Rick's Dog Deli, which designs dog food based on the pet's needs. See if you have something like that near you.

As for treats, it might be best to stay away, at least at the beginning. There are many companies that are coming out with low calorie treats, like the PetSafe Lickety Stik or the Natural Balance Perfect Bites for cats. But again, check with your vet.

When it comes to food, Dr. Huston also suggests getting something else.

"An automatic feeder that can be programmed to dispense a given quantity of food at a given time," Huston said. "A low tech version, still very acceptable, is a measuring cup used to make sure the same amount of food is delivered each day. Feedings should be given at the same time each day as well, which is why an automatic feeder might make life easier for busy owners who can’t always be at home at the same time each day."

POSTS

• Post 1 -- Pets get diabetes too 
• Post 2  -- Diabetes in dogs and cats: Wading through the science
• Post 3 -- Living with a diabetic dog: Meet KC the cairn terrier

AND NOW --Time for a GIVEAWAY!

We are giving away two prizes:

• A PetSafe Drinkwell Avalon water fountain ( white in color, value at $90 -- Thanks to PetSafe for providing the fountain)
• A $25 Petco Gift Card (Thanks to Petco for providing the card)

To enter, all you have to do is comment below on what your do to keep your pet healthy. PLUS, enter the Rafflecopter below.

The giveaway closes on Dec. 1.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Living with a diabetic dog: Meet KC the cairn terrier

Pet Diabetes Awareness Month is in November, and all this month we are taking a closer look at diabetes in dogs and cats, how to prevent, how to diagnose it and how to live with it.

One of the best ways is to talk to people with diabetic pets to get a sense of their life and their dog's life.

So here is Christy Kobielsky and her dog KC.

1) What kind of pet do you have? Cairn Terrier

2) Name, age, sex... KC she is 11 yrs old

3) How old were they when they got diabetes? KC was diagnosed at 10 yrs old (6-30-12)

4) How early were they diagnosed? She had not had it for very long before we found out 1 week maybe.

5) Are they insulin dependent? Yes all dogs are type 1 and have to have insulin.

6) What do you feed your pet? She has been on W/D since the day she was diagnosed. She does very well on it.

7) Walk me through a typical day with your pet. I test KC around 6:15 a.m. and she eats at 6:30 a.m. I give her the insulin injection injection about 10 min later depending on her Blood Glucose reading. If it is lower than 100 I will wait about 30 minutes to let the food get ahead of the insulin, if it higher than 200 I will give the shot right away and not wait at all. She is on a strict schedule of 12 hours apart for her meals. We go through the same routine at 6:15 test then dinner at 6:30.

8) Are there any special things you've bought your pet (besides insulin) to help them live with diabetes? I give KC 1 tsp of Coconut oil with her AM feeding, I had to buy a special dish in the beginning to slow up her eating because when they are not regulated they have a ravenous appetite. I had to buy a meter to test her with.

 9) Do you have anything in particular you have to be mindful of? Yes there is a lot of things, everything KC eats can affect her BG numbers, exercise can lower or raise BG's. Most go lower. KC is one that goes higher. KC went through a stage where she wouldn't eat so I had to find toppers to entice her but wouldn't mess with her BG's very much. Medications have effects on BG as well. Pretty much everything that goes in KC's mouth can effect her.

10) Anything else you'd like to add? While Canine Diabetes can be overwhelming in the beginning it is a very manageable disease as long as you follow a strict schedule of 12 hr feeding. Home blood testing is our best weapon against diabetes and it isn't as hard as you think.

I started my own Canine Diabetes group with another women who has been around K9 diabetes for many years.  And you can add your website or FB account if you have one. My site is on Facebook called: Canine Diabetes Support and Information. I have put together an extensive file system with links to help people with understanding Canine Diabetes and everything that goes along with this roller coaster disease.

We'll be talking to more people about their pet's diabetes, so please stay tuned. 

If you are interested in sharing your pet's diabetes story, please email me at czizo@cfl.rr.com. I am especially interested in talking to anyone who has a beagle with diabetes.

PREVIOUS POSTS:

• Post 1 -- Pets get diabetes too 
• Post 2 -- Diabetes in dogs and cats: Wading through the science 

Diabetes in dogs and cats: Wading through the science

How many of know someone with diabetes? I'm betting most of us do.

For me, it's my Dad and some people at work right now. In the past it included my grandfathers and one of my great-grandmothers.

So we all think we know what diabetes is. We've seen the glucose meters and the sugar free treats in the candy aisle and the little diabetic recipe magazines in the checkout aisles in the supermarkets.

But diabetes in pets, while at its heart not a different animal, is a whole lot more complex.

I'm going to try to break it down for you in a few easy parts.

WHAT IS DIABETES?

Courtesy of VCA Hospitals.

 Essentially, diabetes is when your body is not producing enough insulin to break down the sugar (glucose) in blood. So the blood sugar level is higher. That leads to all kinds of problems in the body.

There are two major types of diabetes:

• Type I: The body (specifically the pancreas) is no longer able to produce insulin. Dogs typically get this form of diabetes, though cats can too.
• Type II: The body can still produce some insulin, but whatever is produced is no longer able to lower the blood sugar level. You sometimes here this called borderline diabetes. Cats often get this type of diabetes first. Dogs very rarely get this type.

 WHAT CAUSES DIABETES?

That's a very good question. And right now there is no definitive answer.

Could it be obesity? According to Dr. Lorie Huston, DVM, certainly in cats.

"Fat tissue is actually part of the [feline] endocrine system and secretes a number of different hormones, some of which affect the regulation of glucose," Huston said. "One of these hormones, adiponectin, increases sensitivity to insulin. In overweight cats, less adiponectin is secreted, leading to a decrease in sensitivity to insulin."

So decrease the sensitivity to insulin, the less effective it will be in breaking down sugars in the blood.

But what about Dogs?

Dr. Joe Bartges is the Acree Endowed chair of small animal research at University of Tennessee's College of Veterinary Medicine. He says there's an effect, but not a direct one so far.

"Obesity plays a role in type I diabetes but does not necessarily directly cause it," Bartges said. "Obesity does induce some insulin resistance, but not pancreatic burn out."  

Could it be genetics? Some dogs are predisposed to it. According to Dr. Joe Bartges of University of Tennessee College of Veterinary Medicine, these breeds seem to be at a higher risk:

1. Miniature schnauzers
2. Toy and miniature poodles
3. Samoyeds
4. Pugs

At lower risk?

1.  German shepard
2. Golden retriever (but they have another problem -- cancer)
3. American pit bull terrier

PetMD, however, adds the following breeds to the high risk list:

1. Keeshond
2. Puli
3. Miniature Pinscher
4. Cairn terrier
5. Poodle (no specification)
6. Dachshund
7. Beagle

 And there are diseases that can lead to diabetes. Cushing's Disease and pancreatitis can both tax the system, so that pet eventually gets diabetes.

So what about prevention? We'll talk about that on Monday.

Pets can get diabetes too: Pet Diabetes Month

This is Trouble.

Trouble was my family's cat. He came to us after being taken from his mother at a young age. We weren't planning to keep him, but many of you know how that goes.

He grew to be a big, grouchy Siamese. He loved my mom most, he and I would fight (why lay on your back if you don't want a belly rub?). But after about 10 years he started to lose weight rapidly.  The doctor said he had diabetes.

The doctor didn't think he needed insulin, I guess, because he just had mom buy the special food. But it was right around the pet food scare, and Trouble's food ended up on the recall list.

I'll never forget when my parents' told me that Trouble died at home. I cried and cried.

Diabetes is on the rise in dogs and cats. There are different factors -- genetics, obesity, pancreas-related illnesses like pancreatitis can add to the issue. But how many of us really know much about how diabetes in cats and dogs?

November is National Diabetes Awareness Month, but it's also Pet Diabetes Awareness Month.

All this month, we'll be taking a closer look at diabetes in cats and dogs -- from the diagnosis to every day life with a diabetic pet, to preventing diabetes.

We'll have giveaways too. Stay tuned for that.

I interviewed a number of experts for this series. They include:

• Dr. Lorie Huston, DVM
• Dr. Joe Bartges of the University of Tennessee Veterinary College
• Dr. Anna Coffin, DVM
• Steve from SlimDoggy

Please share this infographic with your friends, and help spread the word about diabetes in cats and dogs. The earlier people recognize the symptoms, the better it will be in treating the disease.