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Dog
Canine Basic Health
Canine Vaccinations
Behaviour
Your Senior Dog
Canine Eye Care
Canine Ear Care
Canine Diabetes
What is Diabetes?
Results of Lack of Insulin
Signs to Look for
Can it be Treated?
Canine Osteoarthritis
Dental Care
Medicating Your Dog
Pre/Post Operation
Household Dangers
Travel Preparation
Ticks and Fleas

Canine Diabetes

What happens with a lack of insulin?

In diabetic dogs the pancreas can no longer produce enough insulin. Without insulin, glucose is no longer able to leave the bloodstream to be used as energy by the body's cells. Hence the glucose in the blood will rise to an abnormally high level. The level will become so high that glucose overflows into the urine and your dog's urine will contain glucose.

The body's cells cannot utilise the glucose they depend upon for energy. In order to compensate for this, other 'abnormal' energy producing processes start up which do not depend on glucose (such as fat break-down). Unfortunately, these processes eventually create toxic by-products that can make your dog very sick.