- Introduction- Diabetes in dogs- Diagnosis- Treatment- Home Care and Prevention - Diet- ExercisesIntroduction 
If you have a dibetic dog, you're asking how this could have happened to your dog, and what you are going to do now. Well, try to relax. You and your pet will get through this together.
In fact, you're in good company. Up to 1 in every 500 dogs becomes diabetic. Their owners have learned how to manage this chronic illness, and you can too. Today's diabetes care for dogs is based on the latest advances in human medicine, and that's good news for your dog. It's not hard to manage your pet's diabetes.
Diabetes in dogs 
Diabetes can be defined as a state caused by insufficient available insulin. Insulin is produced in the pancreas and it is a hormone secreted by the Beta cells which are located in areas of the pancreas known as Islets of Langerhans. (the word insulin means island.)
Diabetes is a disorder in which the kidney is insensitive to a hormone, called anti-diuretic hormone (ADH) or in which there is not sufficient quantity of this hormone available. The result is excessive drinking and urination, or polydipsia and polyuria. This is one cause of changes in urinary habits that leads to problems with urination inside the house in dogs in which "housebreaking" seemed to be satisfactory prior to the disease onset.
Every cell in the body needs energy in order to live. Like other animals, dogs get their energy by converting the food they eat into sugar (glucose). This glucose travels in the dog's bloodstream as a component of normal blood. Individual cells then remove some of that glucose from the blood to use for energy. The substance that allows the cells to take glucose from the blood is a protein called 'insulin'.
Insulin is created by beta cells that are located in the pancreas. The pancreas is an organ located next to the stomach. When glucose in the blood increases, the beta cells release insulin into the bloodstream, which distributes it to the cells in the body. The insulin attaches itself to proteins on the cell surface, and allows glucose to move from the blood into the cell, where it is converted into energy.
Almost all diabetic dogs have type 1 diabetes, meaning that their pancreas does not produce any insulin at all. Without insulin, the cells have no way to use the glucose that is in the bloodstream, so the cells 'starve' while the glucose level in the blood rises.
In response to the lack of energy, the brain sends out signals that tell the dog to eat more. Meanwhile, other cells in the body try to obtain glucose by asking the body to break down fat and muscle protein, which the liver can convert into glucose. A vicious cycle happens: more glucose is being created, but it cannot be turned into energy because there is not enough insulin to transfer the glucose into the cells of the body.
All of this glucose continues to build up in the dog's blood. When too much glucose is in the blood, it 'leaks' into the dog's urine. The urine of healthy dogs never contains sugar. In a diabetic dog, sugar in the urine draws water to it just like a dry sponge draws water. The diabetic dog produces large amounts of urine because of all this water. All of that urination makes the dog thirsty, so it drinks excessively.
These responses to a lack of insulin lead dogs with diabetes to show the same symptoms as people with diabetes: they lose weight in spite of an increased appetite, drink excessively, and urinate excessively.
Diagnosis Diagnosing your dog's diabetes is usually a simple process for a medical professional. The veterinarian may suspect diabetes because you noticed that your dog was urinating, drinking and possibly eating excessively, and that your pet was losing weight.
In dogs, diabetes is typically seen between the ages of 4 to 14 years, with a peak incidence at 7 to 9 years. Both males and females can develop diabetes; unspayed females have a slightly higher risk.
To firm up the diagnosis, the veterinarian will look at the most common symptoms of diabetes in dogs:
• Extreme thirst
• Excessive urination
• Weight loss
• Increased appetite
• Blood glucose too high
• Glucose in the urine
• Sudden blindness
• Lethargy
• Poor body condition
The veterinarian may also suggest some additional tests, because many diabetic dogs are older and may have other medical problems that need to be treated. Diabetic dogs are more prone to have urinary tract infections, inflammation of the pancreas, Cushing's disease, thyroid disease or cancer. They may also suffer from heart disease, kidney disease and anemia.
Some of these tests include:
• Complete medical history and thorough physical examination.
• Analysis of the urine to check for glucose and for signs of urinary tract infection.
• Serum biochemical profile to determine the blood glucose concentration and to exclude other potential causes of the same symptoms.
• A complete blood count (CBC).
• Other tests such as abdominal X-rays or abdominal ultrasound if complications or concurrent diseases, such as pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas), are suspected.
Treatment During the first month of insulin therapy, the veterinarian may want to evaluate your pet several times to see if its blood glucose is staying no lower than 100-150 mg/dL, and no higher than 250-300 mg/dL.
The veterinarian may check your dog’s weight and blood glucose level, and see if any symptoms of diabetes are still present.
• Essentially all dogs will require one or two daily injections of insulin to control blood glucose. These injections are given under the skin using a small needle.
• Most dogs become readily accustomed to the treatments. Your veterinarian's office will train you in the proper use of insulin and injection techniques.
• Most oral hypoglycemic agents only work if the pancreas is still producing some insulin. This is why oral medications are ineffective in dogs (because dogs almost always have type I DM).
• Proper weight management, a high fiber diet and regular exercise can aid in control of DM.
• Ovariohysterectomy (spaying) is indicated in female diabetic animals
to reduce the effects of estrogen on diabetes and insulin.
• Complications like urinary tract infections may require additional medications, but certain drugs, including steroids (such as prednisone), should be avoided in diabetic dogs.
• Prepare for frequent adjustments to therapy early in the course of treatment. Veterinarians prefer to start with a low dose of insulin initially and adjust upwards slowly to avoid overdosing. Your veterinarian may recommend hospitalization to measure the blood glucose every few hours (mapping a 24-hour glucose curve).
• Glucose curves may help your veterinarian determine the best type of insulin, the dosage, and the frequency of insulin administration, however they are thought to be of limited use in some pets and are not currently being recommended for all pets.
Home Care and PreventionYou will be asked to monitor your pet at home. Note any changes in your dog's appetite, attitude, body condition, drinking habits and amount of urination. You will also need to check its urine glucose and ketone levels.
Consistently high urine glucose readings along with continued excessive urination and drinking may be a sign that the insulin dose needs to be changed. On the other hand, consistently negative urine glucose readings may mean that your dog is receiving too much insulin. Insulin overdose may cause low blood glucose, potentially resulting in disorientation, weakness or seizures (convulsions). If you notice any of these symptoms in an otherwise responsive dog, offer food immediately. If the dog is unconscious, Karo® syrup can be applied to the gums. In either case, call your veterinarian as soon as possible.
Familiarize yourself with insulin, insulin syringes, insulin storage, and insulin handling; your veterinarian or pharmacist can help. You should also work with your veterinarian to develop a weight management and feeding plan. Stick to regular feeding times.
While there is no way known to prevent type I DM, proper weight management can reduce the likelihood of your dog developing type II DM.
Diet For many diabetic dogs, any high-quality balanced diet will work well. However, in some cases, the veterinarian may suggest that your dog eat a specially formulated diabetes diet.
In order to manage your dog’s diabetes, you may need to change its diet and feeding schedule. The objective is to keep your dog happy and to prevent large swings in blood glucose.
Your veterinarian will advise you what type of food your dog should eat, in what amounts.
Listen to the veterinarian's recommendation, because a diet that is best for one diabetic dog may not be ideal for another:
• If your dog has an inflammation of the pancreas it needs to stay away from high-fat canned food.
• If your dog is overweight, the veterinarian may suggest a weight loss diet, which can help you to better manage your pet's diabetes.
• Fiber-enhanced foods have been used in addition to insulin for the management of diabetes in dogs. These foods are nutritionally complete. The extra fiber slows the digestion and absorption of carbohydrates. This helps to reduce the blood glucose peak after the dog eats.
Remember that a healthy diet is useful ONLY if your dog is actually willing to eat it. If your pet refuses to eat the first food you buy, ask the veterinarian to suggest another.
Tips for feeding the diabetic dog:
• You can buy specially formulated diabetes dog food from your veterinarian.
• Because the insulin doses are set to match the amount and type of food your dog eats, you will need to feed it the same type and amount of food every day.
• Feed your dog twice a day, at the same general time every day, just before giving the insulin.
• Most veterinarians recommend twice a day feeding for diabetic pets. If your dog prefers to eat more often, that's all right. The important point is to wait until your dog has eaten, and then inject the insulin. This allows you to see if the dog has eaten all of its food and actually needs the total insulin dose before you inject it.
• If you have other pets in the home, they should be placed on a twice a day feeding schedule too, so that the diabetic dog cannot eat from their bowls.
• Avoid table scraps and between-meal treats to help your dog to achieve the best possible blood glucose control.
• Watch for signs that your dog is starting to drink more water than usual. Call the veterinarian if you see this happening. It may mean that your pet's insulin dose needs adjusting.
NOTE: There is no diet or vitamin supplement that can reduce your dog's dependence on insulin injections. This is because vitamins and minerals cannot do what insulin does in the dog's body. If you believe that your dog needs a vitamin or mineral supplement, discuss it with your veterinarian first to make sure that the supplement does not interfere with the action of the dog's other medications. You will still need to give your dog insulin injections twice a day.
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Exercises 
Managing your dog’s diabetes also means managing its activity level. Exercise ‘burns up’ blood glucose the same way that insulin does. If your dog is well regulated on insulin, any active exercise on top of the insulin might cause the dog to have a severe low blood glucose episode, called hypoglycemia.
Keep your dog on a reasonably consistent exercise routine. Your usual insulin regimen will take that amount of exercise into account.
If you plan to take your dog out for some extra demanding exercise, such as swimming at the lake or playing in the snow, give the dog only half of its usual insulin dose.
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Diabetic dog food
What diabetic dog food should you give your dog? With the growing incidence of canine diabetes, it is essential to know which diabetic dog foods to feed your pet. There are many types of Diabetic dog food now available which can he... more Thanks
Managing your dog’s diabetes also means managing its activity level. Exercise ‘burns up’ blood glucose the same way that insulin does. If your dog is well regulated on insulin, any active exercise on top of the insulin might cause the dog to have a severe low blood glucose episode, called hypoglycemia.
