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

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a common endocrinopathy in cats, with an inc idence of ayproximately 1 in 400. Reported risk factors in the cat inc lude 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 approxi mately 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 occ urring types of DM in cats. Recent work supports the presence of both insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) or type 1 disease and non-i nsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) or type 2 disease in cats.( 23) The presence of NIDDM in the cat is supported by the transient nat ure of the disease and response to oral hypoglycemic medications.