Diet plays an essential role in helping to control your cat's diabetes and maintain its quality of life.
A number of cat foods have been created specifically for diabetic pets.
However, a food that works well for one cat may not be the right choice for another.
In suggesting a diet plan for your cat, the veterinarian will consider other medical conditions that the cat may have in addition to the diabetes.
For example,
* If a cat is overweight, those extra pounds make it harder to keep its blood glucose within a healthy range. The veterinarian may tell you to feed your pet less regular cat food, or put the cat on a special weight-loss diet.
* If a cat has pancreatitis (an inflammation of the pancreas), it may need to eat a low-fat diet.
* If a cat has kidney disease or is very prone to ketoacidosis, a diet that is lower in protein may be beneficial.
Your veterinarian will assess which diet may be better in your cat's situation. You may have to try a few different foods in order to find one that meets the veterinarian's recommendations and is accepted by your cat.
Low Carbohydrate, High Protein Diet for Diabetes Management
Cats evolved as pure carnivores. Their systems are designed to digest foods that are high in animal protein. The body composition of a mouse provides a good guideline for a healthy cat’s diet: approximately 45-50% protein, 40-45% fat and just 3-5% carbohydrate.
Some preliminary clinical trials have investigated the use of low-carbohydrate, high protein diets in diabetic cats. The results have been encouraging, with many of the cats showing improved clinical signs, reduced insulin needs, and improved blood glucose levels.
In general, most supermarket canned cat food is low in carbohydrate. Canned diabetes food sold by veterinarians is especially high in protein and low in carbohydrate.
If you prefer to feed your cat dry food, you can obtain low-carbohydrate, dry diabetes cat food from the veterinarian. It has about twice the carbohydrate level of diabetes canned cat food. However, it contains 60% less carbohydrates than regular canned cat food, and much lower carbohydrate levels than conventional dry cat food. Therefore, it is a better choice for your diabetic cat than store-bought dry cat food.
It may take some time to find a diabetes diet that your cat is willing to eat but it is worth the effort. Remember: a diabetes diet is only useful if your cat agrees to eat it regularly. If the cat turns its nose up at the first diabetes diet you try, ask your veterinarian to suggest others. If your cat gets tired of eating the same food every day for several months, you may need to identify a second choice.
Weight loss diet
Extra weight makes it harder to control your diabetic cat's blood glucose, and predisposes the cat to other complications such as heart disease. Your veterinarian will probably want to start your pet on a weight-loss program to help with its diabetes management.
Slimming down your cat may be as easy as portion control. Cut back on the food amount gradually… do not put your pet on a crash diet! Your veterinarian can calculate how many calories the cat should eat each day, and then adjust your cat's portions accordingly.
Although no clinical studies have been done testing a low carbohydrate, high protein diet specifically for weight loss, your veterinarian may suggest that you switch your overweight cat to this type of food anyway, because it is a good match to a cat's nutritional needs.
As your pet slims down, it may need a different amount of insulin or oral medications. Your veterinarian will check the cat periodically to see if the doses need to be adjusted.
A number of cat foods have been created specifically for diabetic pets.
However, a food that works well for one cat may not be the right choice for another.
In suggesting a diet plan for your cat, the veterinarian will consider other medical conditions that the cat may have in addition to the diabetes.
For example,
* If a cat is overweight, those extra pounds make it harder to keep its blood glucose within a healthy range. The veterinarian may tell you to feed your pet less regular cat food, or put the cat on a special weight-loss diet.
* If a cat has pancreatitis (an inflammation of the pancreas), it may need to eat a low-fat diet.
* If a cat has kidney disease or is very prone to ketoacidosis, a diet that is lower in protein may be beneficial.
Your veterinarian will assess which diet may be better in your cat's situation. You may have to try a few different foods in order to find one that meets the veterinarian's recommendations and is accepted by your cat.
Low Carbohydrate, High Protein Diet for Diabetes Management
Cats evolved as pure carnivores. Their systems are designed to digest foods that are high in animal protein. The body composition of a mouse provides a good guideline for a healthy cat’s diet: approximately 45-50% protein, 40-45% fat and just 3-5% carbohydrate.
Some preliminary clinical trials have investigated the use of low-carbohydrate, high protein diets in diabetic cats. The results have been encouraging, with many of the cats showing improved clinical signs, reduced insulin needs, and improved blood glucose levels.
In general, most supermarket canned cat food is low in carbohydrate. Canned diabetes food sold by veterinarians is especially high in protein and low in carbohydrate.
If you prefer to feed your cat dry food, you can obtain low-carbohydrate, dry diabetes cat food from the veterinarian. It has about twice the carbohydrate level of diabetes canned cat food. However, it contains 60% less carbohydrates than regular canned cat food, and much lower carbohydrate levels than conventional dry cat food. Therefore, it is a better choice for your diabetic cat than store-bought dry cat food.
It may take some time to find a diabetes diet that your cat is willing to eat but it is worth the effort. Remember: a diabetes diet is only useful if your cat agrees to eat it regularly. If the cat turns its nose up at the first diabetes diet you try, ask your veterinarian to suggest others. If your cat gets tired of eating the same food every day for several months, you may need to identify a second choice.
Weight loss diet
Extra weight makes it harder to control your diabetic cat's blood glucose, and predisposes the cat to other complications such as heart disease. Your veterinarian will probably want to start your pet on a weight-loss program to help with its diabetes management.
Slimming down your cat may be as easy as portion control. Cut back on the food amount gradually… do not put your pet on a crash diet! Your veterinarian can calculate how many calories the cat should eat each day, and then adjust your cat's portions accordingly.
Although no clinical studies have been done testing a low carbohydrate, high protein diet specifically for weight loss, your veterinarian may suggest that you switch your overweight cat to this type of food anyway, because it is a good match to a cat's nutritional needs.
As your pet slims down, it may need a different amount of insulin or oral medications. Your veterinarian will check the cat periodically to see if the doses need to be adjusted.
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