Feeding your diabetic cat

he daily dose of insulin is adjusted to match your diabetic cat's daily energy requirements. So, your cat's diet and activity level are critical.

Diabetic cats must be fed regularly. Your cat should always be fed the same amount of food at the same time every day.

Some cats prefer eating small amounts throughout the day. If this is your cat’s habit, your veterinary surgeon probably will not try to change it.
The ideal diet for a diabetic cat

Diabetic cats should be fed a diet containing a high quality, highly digestible protein and restricted fat.

If your cat is overweight, your veterinary surgeon will advise a weight management programme to help reduce its weight gradually. Weight loss will make your cat’s diabetes easier to manage.

If your cat is underweight, your veterinary surgeon will advise you on a diet to help your cat regain its normal weight.

About blood glucose curves

our veterinary surgeon may want to make a blood glucose curve for your diabetic cat.


What is a blood glucose curve used for?

A blood glucose helps to determine:

1. If and when the insulin given to your cat starts working.
2. How efficient the insulin dose is at reducing the blood glucose level.
3. How low your cat’s blood glucose falls and when this occurs.
4. How long the insulin works in your cat.

This information is used to:

1. Monitor the response to an insulin dose – especially in diabetic cat’s just starting treatment or after a change in insulin dose.
2. Investigate diabetic cats that appear not to be responding to insulin treatment – sometimes after a period of stability


How is a blood glucose curve made?

1. Your cat may be hospitalised for up to 24 hours.
2. Food and insulin injections will be given according to the schedule you use at home.
3. A blood sample will be taken prior to feeding and insulin dosing.
4. Blood samples will then be taken every 2-4 hours for up to 24 hours.
5. Blood glucose will be measured in each of these samples.
6. The blood glucose levels are plotted against time to produce a curve. This curve indicates the changes that take place in blood glucose levels after insulin is injected.