Oral hypoglycemic agents are pills that lower blood glucose by stimulating the pancreas to produce more insulin or by increasing the cat’s ability to use the insulin that it makes naturally.
About 25% to 50% of cats with a mild form of diabetes may respond well to oral agents. Your cat may respond well to these pills if it has normal or above average body weight, no ketones in the blood or urine, and no underlying disease of the pancreas or other organ.
You play a vital role in your cat’s therapy. You will need to give the pills to your cat as directed, and feed it the diet prescribed by the veterinarian.
There are two types of oral agents for cats with diabetes. Each works in a different way to help manage the cat’s blood glucose. Your veterinarian will determine if any of these medications might be effective for your cat.
Agents that Promote Insulin Release by the Pancreas
Glipizide has been used successfully to treat some diabetic cats. It helps to increase insulin secretion by the pancreas, if the pancreas is still able to produce insulin. This drug also improves insulin sensitivity, so the cat can better use the insulin that it produces naturally.
Glipizide is given twice a day, just before each meal.2
Around 25% to 50% of cats with diabetes respond to glipizide. It may take 3-4 weeks to see if your cat is benefiting from this therapy. The veterinarian may check your cat every one to two weeks for a period of two to three months.
The side effects of glipizide may include vomiting, liver problems, and very rarely, severe low blood glucose (hypoglycemia).
Agents that Block Glucose Absorption
Acarbose belongs to a class of drugs called alpha-glucosidase inhibitors. Acarbose works by slowing down certain enzymes in the intestine so that less glucose is absorbed into the blood. This helps to keep blood glucose from rising very high after meals.
Acarbose has a mild glucose-lowering effect in cats. It is typically used in cats in combination with insulin and dietary changes. The principal side effect – loose stool – occurs mainly at high doses.
Making Pills Easier to Swallow
For maximum effectiveness, oral medications should be swallowed whole. However, if your cat gives you a lot of resistance, here are some approaches you can try:
*Glipizide and acarbose can be crushed if they are administered immediately to the cat. Crush the pill and mix it with a bit of cat food gravy or other tasty liquid. Watch to make sure that your cat licks up all of the mix before giving the cat its regular food.
*Crush the pill onto a piece of paper. Fold the paper and pour the powder into a 3cc irrigation syringe (this type has no needle). Pour a bit of water into the syringe and shake it to mix the pill powder and liquid. Then squirt the mix into your cat’s mouth and hold its mouth closed for a few seconds while stroking its throat to encourage swallowing.
Many cat owners feel that pilling a cat is much harder than giving it an insulin injection. If your cat resists taking pills, talk to your veterinarian about switching to insulin therapy instead.
Special Precautions
If your veterinarian feels that your cat should take oral agents and insulin injections, you will need to be especially careful. A cat on combination therapy has a greater chance of suffering a severe or even fatal low blood glucose reaction (hypoglycemia).
Always have light or dark corn syrup or maple syrup readily available, so that you do not have to search for it if your cat needs it to reverse a low blood glucose.
About 25% to 50% of cats with a mild form of diabetes may respond well to oral agents. Your cat may respond well to these pills if it has normal or above average body weight, no ketones in the blood or urine, and no underlying disease of the pancreas or other organ.
You play a vital role in your cat’s therapy. You will need to give the pills to your cat as directed, and feed it the diet prescribed by the veterinarian.
There are two types of oral agents for cats with diabetes. Each works in a different way to help manage the cat’s blood glucose. Your veterinarian will determine if any of these medications might be effective for your cat.
Agents that Promote Insulin Release by the Pancreas
Glipizide has been used successfully to treat some diabetic cats. It helps to increase insulin secretion by the pancreas, if the pancreas is still able to produce insulin. This drug also improves insulin sensitivity, so the cat can better use the insulin that it produces naturally.
Glipizide is given twice a day, just before each meal.2
Around 25% to 50% of cats with diabetes respond to glipizide. It may take 3-4 weeks to see if your cat is benefiting from this therapy. The veterinarian may check your cat every one to two weeks for a period of two to three months.
The side effects of glipizide may include vomiting, liver problems, and very rarely, severe low blood glucose (hypoglycemia).
Agents that Block Glucose Absorption
Acarbose belongs to a class of drugs called alpha-glucosidase inhibitors. Acarbose works by slowing down certain enzymes in the intestine so that less glucose is absorbed into the blood. This helps to keep blood glucose from rising very high after meals.
Acarbose has a mild glucose-lowering effect in cats. It is typically used in cats in combination with insulin and dietary changes. The principal side effect – loose stool – occurs mainly at high doses.
Making Pills Easier to Swallow
For maximum effectiveness, oral medications should be swallowed whole. However, if your cat gives you a lot of resistance, here are some approaches you can try:
*Glipizide and acarbose can be crushed if they are administered immediately to the cat. Crush the pill and mix it with a bit of cat food gravy or other tasty liquid. Watch to make sure that your cat licks up all of the mix before giving the cat its regular food.
*Crush the pill onto a piece of paper. Fold the paper and pour the powder into a 3cc irrigation syringe (this type has no needle). Pour a bit of water into the syringe and shake it to mix the pill powder and liquid. Then squirt the mix into your cat’s mouth and hold its mouth closed for a few seconds while stroking its throat to encourage swallowing.
Many cat owners feel that pilling a cat is much harder than giving it an insulin injection. If your cat resists taking pills, talk to your veterinarian about switching to insulin therapy instead.
Special Precautions
If your veterinarian feels that your cat should take oral agents and insulin injections, you will need to be especially careful. A cat on combination therapy has a greater chance of suffering a severe or even fatal low blood glucose reaction (hypoglycemia).
Always have light or dark corn syrup or maple syrup readily available, so that you do not have to search for it if your cat needs it to reverse a low blood glucose.
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