Type 1 Diabetes In The Animal World

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Diabetes is a very prominent disease in both the human and animal medical worlds. My grandmother had diabetes and as a child I saw how much it changed someone’s life. Anytime we went to eat anywhere or planned a trip she always had to make sure she had her medication, insulin, syringes, and glucometer. She worked so hard, followed all of the rules, and yet at times her glucose levels were unpredictable. Working in the veterinary field I have realized that it is not only the human world effected by this disease but it also has a huge influence on the animal world. I have watched many owners struggle to get control of their pets glucose levels. Since this realization I have always wondered what research has been done for both human and animal …show more content…
As with any disease it is easier to manage the earlier it is detected. The difference between type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes in pets is not clear like it is in humans. Diabetes in dogs usually occurs from the ages 4-14 years, while most are diagnosed at roughly 7-10 years old. It is most similar to type 1 diabetes in humans. Most diabetic cats are older than 6 years when diagnosed, and being overweight greatly increases the chance they will become diabetic. . Female dogs are also twice as likely to get diabetes as male dogs. Certain breeds of dogs may also be predisposed to diabetes, such as Miniature Poodles, Dachshunds, Schnauzers, Cairn Terriers, and Beagles. There doesn’t seem to be any breed predilections in cats. Diabetes in cats is comparable to type 2 diabetes in humans. Diabetes in pets can be controlled in similar ways as diabetes in humans. Both diabetes in cats and dogs are treated with daily injections of insulin. Although, unlike type 2 diabetes in humans where oral medications can be used, these medications do not work in cats. With proper monitoring, treatment, diet and exercise an owner can provide their pet with a happy …show more content…
It is still a disease that has no cure, but because of the time spent researching we have numerous ways of treating diabetes. One of the first studies done in 1889 by Joseph von Mering and Oskar Minkowski showed that by removing the pancreas from a dog, the dog developed diabetes. From there the process of discovering insulin was started. After many failed attempts at isolating and purifying insulin, a biochemist named James Collip, and a team in Toronto, were able to prepare insulin from beef pancreas in a way that was pure enough to treat diabetic patients. He used rabbits to measure the ability of his purified insulin to lower blood sugar. This process was used to standardize the extract since an overdose in insulin can be fatal. Collip’s insulin was used successfully in dogs and then in humans in 1922 and it had amazing