You may be surprised to learn that one of the symptoms of feline diabetes is weakness in your cat’s legs.  If you notice your kitty walking on her “elbows” on her back legs instead of her feet, or on her “wrists” on her front legs, you may have a diabetic cat.Your kitty may also display weakness. She may need to lie down after a short walk, and her legs may go out from underneath her without warning.  This problem is called “feline neuropathy.”

Why Does Diabetes In Cats Cause Weak Legs?

Most pet owners don’t realize that feline diabetes may cause feline neuropathy.  This condition is a result of nerve damage caused by high blood sugar levels.  It’s very important that a diabetic cat receives veterinary treatment to lower blood glucose levels as soon as possible to prevent any further damage to her nerves.

Why Does Nerve Damage Often Go With Feline Diabetes?

Diabetes, both in humans, and in pets, results when the body can’t regulate blood sugar levels.  Either your kitty’s body isn’t producing enough insulin (type 1 feline diabetes), or her body isn’t able to use the insulin being produced (type 2 feline diabetes).

High blood sugar levels are especially dangerous for nerve, kidney, and eye cells.  Why?These cells can absorb so much glucose from the bloodstream that they’re damaged by it. This is because they don’t need insulin in order to absorb glucose.This is why keeping blood sugar in a feline diabetic at normal levels is so important.  

Can Feline Neuropathy Be Reversed?

Sometimes the nerve damage is reversed when the high blood sugar levels are brought under control, and the cat is able to walk normally again.

It’s also possible that the weakness in the cat’s legs is due to muscle wasting, which is a result of untreated feline diabetes.  Once the blood sugar levels are controlled, the cat owner may wish to gently exercise the feline to rebuild the muscle.  

Some owners have had some success in reversing feline neuropathy by treating their cats with methylcobalamin, also known as methyl B-12.  This product is available at natural food stores.

The Best Treatment Is Prevention

The best way to avoid complications of diabetes in cats is to prevent the disease in the first place.  Avoid letting your feline friend get too heavy.An obese kitty is not a healthy kitty, and she’ll be prone to many serious health issues.Instead of overfeeding high-carb dry cat food, try to switch your pet over to a high-quality canned food instead.

Regular exercise is a natural way to control blood sugar levels, besides keeping your pet slim and in good condition.

Are Natural Remedies For Cats Effective For A Feline Diabetic?

Certain herbs, such as fenugreek, astragalus, and goat’s rue, along with chromium, a trace mineral, can help to control blood sugar levels naturally in human diabetics.  Would these herbs work in cats, too?  The answer is yes.   

Many cat owners have been successful in using a combination of diet, exercise, and herbal remedies to regulate their pets’ blood sugar levels naturally.  You can learn more about natural remedies for cats with diabetes by clicking on any link in this article.