Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Hi, My cat(the same one with the breathing problem) has a high
glucose level in the urine. As a matter of routine I check the glucose level in the urine of my cat every couple of months. His urine glucose was higher than normal last week, and in the days since it has risen higher than that. He has not been eating during the bout with the breathing problem and once a vet did not want to check the blood glucose level on a cat I had because the cat had not been eating so the read would not be accurate. Could the high and higher levels of glucose in the urine for the last week come as the result of my cat not eating. Also, can it result from dehydration? Are there any other reasons for high glucose in the urine other than diabetes?

Even though the glucose level in the urine is high my cat doesn't show many of the typical signs of diabetes- no excessive drinking, in fact he really doesn't want to drink at all and tends toward dehydration I think because he had mucus in his throat from the breathing problem. He only urinates about twice a day. No acidic or fruity odor to the urine or breath. I think I read where infections could cause high glucose levels and he is overcoming a sinus infection. Could this be the reason for the high blucose level in his urine? Any input on this would be very much appreciated. Thank you.

The other odd thing is that when he was taking Dexamethasone one of the side effects was an increased appetite and increased water consumption which he had.When the breathing problem worsened, however, he couldn't drink or eat because of all the mucus in the throat and discharge from the nasal passages and there was a problem, as the result, with dehydration. Now that his breathing is better, he can breathe through his nose and the mucus is clearing from his throat, he still doesn't want to eat very much and doesn't go to the water dish at all. I have to hydrate him daily.

Just an afterthought. My cat was, for almost four months, on either Prednisone or Dexamethasone or a combination of the two. I remember reading somewhere that taking steroids for awhile can lead to something called transient diabetes, which leaves, once the adrenal glands are able to function fully again. Could this be a possibility? My cat is currently off all steroids.

Also, is there a possibility of fructosuria?

The reason why I am trying to find the answer(with your help) to this is because there are only two clinics where I live. I've been to both. With a high glucose level in the urine they will automatically put the cat on insulin without looking into other possibilities.They have done so to other cats I have had in the past.

If one of the possibilities is transient diabetes, and this will go way in time, if my cat is automatically put on insulin simply on the basis of a high glucose in the urine reading, it could impede his pancreas from producing insulin and make him reliant on insulin injections whem there was no need for it. Once again, your input would be greatly appreciated.

Your cat has diabetes. Whether it is transitory or not, we don't know at this time. There are several ways we can lower the blood sugar level; stop all carbohydrates, which means no dry food or snacks, and give chromium picolinate. These will lower blood sugar levels. Check the urine glucose level again in a week to see how much it has improved.

Thank you. I will implement what you have suggested.