![]() Thus we have weight loss in a dog with a ravenous appetite. The body starts breaking down stores of fat and protein to use as alternative energy sources. When insulin is deficient, the cells become starved for a source of energy because the glucose can't get in. It accumulates in the blood, setting in motion a series of events which can ultimately prove fatal. Without an adequate amount of insulin, glucose is unable to get into the cells. It stands at the surface of body cells and opens the door, allowing glucose to leave the blood stream and pass into the cells. ![]() Insulin is a protein messenger, or hormone, that acts like a gatekeeper. Glucose is the main source of energy used by our body cells. Glucose is a small sugar produced by metabolism of carbohydrates and proteins. Because Type II diabetes does not occur in dogs, oral medications are not appropriate for treating diabetic dogs. People with this form may be treated with an oral drug that stimulates the remaining cells to produce insulin in an adequate amount to normalize blood sugar. However, the amount produced is insufficient, there is a delayed response in secreting it, and the tissues of the dog's body are relatively resistant to it. Type II, or Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus, is different because some insulin-producing cells remain. ![]() As the name implies, dogs with this type of diabetes require insulin injections to stabilize blood sugar. This is the only type of diabetes known in dogs. Type I, or Insulin Dependent Diabetes, results from total or near-complete destruction of the beta-cells.
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