When Lucy was first diagnosed with diabetes and acute pancreatitis, I was so concerned about her that I quickly became a helicopter mom and watched her constantly. I noticed that after food and insulin, she would sleep, and I was worried that she was having a hyperglycemic episode, but it turned out that she just had a full belly and wanted to nap. Food spikes are common with our pets after they have eaten, so let’s take a look at blood sugar spikes, how to tell if your pet is having one, and why they have them.
Blood sugar spikes are common and can happen for many reasons. Let’s go over a couple of the most common reasons our pets have blood sugar spikes.
Wet food can cause blood sugar spikes in pets since it is digested faster than dry food. This is the primary reason that Vetsulin / Caninsulin is a combo insulin; the 35 percent kicks in faster to help with food spikes. Wet food that is higher in complex carbohydrates can raise blood glucose levels since carbohydrates are digested first, so lower-carbohydrate food is recommended for dogs and no-to-low carbohydrates are recommended for cats.
Stress can cause hyperglycemia; we see it with dogs and really see this happen in cats when they have to go to the vet’s office.
Getting into something they should not have – Our pets (dogs especially) are opportunists and will eat whatever lands on the floor. Anything that they get into with sugars, flours, grains, or starches will raise blood glucose levels and high-glycemic foods will cause a blood sugar spike.
Infections – Urinary tract infections are common in diabetic pets since they excrete glucose in their urine. Glucose breeds bacteria in the bladder.
Here are some common clinical symptoms of a blood sugar spike from hyperglycemia:
- Increased water consumption (polydipsia)
- Increased urination (polyuria)
- Increased appetite (polyphagia)
- Panting
- Lethargy
Whenever we see clinical symptoms of a spike in blood sugar in pets, we need to test blood glucose levels right away since hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia can present the same symptoms. We then know how to proceed with a proper treatment plan.
Test blood glucose levels – This is the most accurate way to know whether your pet is having a blood sugar spike; by testing blood glucose levels, we know what levels are in real time.
Test urine for ketones – Ketones are produced when blood glucose levels are higher and a byproduct of the liver converting fats into energy. This happens when there is not enough insulin to open cells to accept glucose as energy. Ketone buildup can cause diabetic ketoacidosis, a serious complication of uncontrolled diabetes that requires immediate medical attention.
If your pet is having a blood sugar spike, you can encourage water consumption to help with possible dehydration and to help flush excess glucose from the body. Exercise can drop blood glucose levels in some pets so a walk or getting kitty to play can be a good thing.
If your pet continues to have uncontrolled blood glucose levels, a vet visit might be necessary to rule out possible infection.
To read more about testing blood glucose levels, please click on the following links: https://shoppettest.com/blog/the-benefits-of-athome-pet-health-tests/
https://shoppettest.com/blog/a-quick-guide-to-reading-pet-glucose-meters/
Learning about ketones is important as well, and you can read about ketones here: https://shoppettest.com/blog/ketones-and-diabetic-ketoacidosis-dka-when-and-why-you-need-to-test-ketones-in-urine/
I hope that today’s blog has helped you understand some of the reasons why our diabetic pets can have a blood sugar spike and what can be done to get levels to drop.
Products you should have in your diabetes arsenal:
PetTest Blood Glucose Monitor: https://shoppettest.com/pettest-meter-kit/
PetTest Ketone Glucose Urine Strips: https://shoppettest.com/ketone-strips-for-pets/
D-Mannose: https://shoppettest.com/pettest-d-mannose-supplement-90-capsules/
If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, please start a conversation below.
For a printable version of this blog, click here.
Until next week, stay comfy, warm, and caffeinated!
Michelle Miller-Matlock
AAHA Certified Diabetes Educator
Founder/Administrator of DDO: Diabetic Dog Owners University
Administrator of Diabetic Dog Owners on Facebook
Want to learn all you can in a simple and easy to follow format? Please join DDO-U: Diabetic Dog Owners University , graciously sponsored by PetTest.
Be sure to join the PetTest family on Facebook and Instagram. PetTest has fun, interactive posts AND they have fabulous giveaways every week!