As with people, the incidence of diabetes in cats and dogs is rising.  Some statistics show that as many as 1 in 50 pets may be affected by diabetes, especially those that are overweight.

Obese cats are prone to diabetes because they develop  insulin resistance. Insulin resistance is a process where their cells do not effectively use insulin. As a result, the pancreas secretes more insulin as well as another hormone called amylin. "When you get too much insulin secreted, you get too much amylin secreted as well, and that tends to  aggregate and destroy the insulin-producing cells," says veterinarian Richard W. Nelson, a professor at the University of California School of Veterinary Medicine in Davis.*

Dogs are primarily affected with type 1 diabetes that results from B-cell destruction, leading to a total lack of insulin   production. Obesity is a major contributor to canine diabetes through increasing insulin resistance and decreasing glucose tolerance. Oral antidiabetic agents are not effective in dogs with diabetes: exogenous administration of insulin is the most effective and reliable method to control hyperglycemia in dogs, specifically porcine insulin zinc suspension. **

Compounding pharmacists can make significant contributions to the care of pets with diabetes. Providing insulins and oral or transdermal antidiabetes medications can promote optimal  glycemic control.  Often  during the course of providing care, compounding pharmacists are asked to prepare therapies for pets with diabetes. These requests may be for antidiabetes medications or for  therapy for concurrent medical conditions. For example, a pharmacist may be asked to compound a glipizide suspension for a cat whose owner is unable to administer tablets, or to compound mitotane suspension for a dog that is diabetic as a result of hyperadrenocorticism.*

 * http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21755451/

**  International Journal of Pharmaceutical Compounding Vol. 11 No. 2 Mar/April 2007