Pet Diabetes Awareness and Prevention Program

by Defeat Diabetes Foundation

Diet and Nutrition 

Low-carb diet 

When we talk about carbohydrates, it also helps to know they break down into two categories: simple and complex. An example of a simple carbohydrate is lactose (found in milk); pasta and bread are examples of complex carbohydrates. One can go a bit further with this, knowing that both bread and pasta are made from grain--mainly wheat, to include other food items made from them.

The simple ones are rapidly converted to glucose and promptly raise blood glucose levels. The liver takes longer to convert the complex ones into glucose, and so they raise blood glucose levels more gradually. This is important to know when choosing foods for those with diabetes.

There are two other terms for carbohydrate classification; besides these are--soluble and insoluble. The terms refer to how easily they are broken down in the digestive tract.

Soluble carbohydrates are grains, such as wheat, rice, barley, oats and corn. When cooked and present in pet foods, digestion is easy and rapid.

Insoluble carbohydrates are those we refer to as fiber, which pass through the intestinal tract without being digested. Bran, corn (and its by-products), soy fiber, and beet pulp are some examples found in pet foods.

It may be in the best interests of the particular dog in question that a diet not so high in fiber be utilized, due to other health considerations or that the dog refuses to eat commercial foods higher in fiber. In these cases, home preparation of food may be the only solution. Many people prepare meals for their diabetic pets that  have no need of additional bolus insulins.

The right cat food and diet is important regulation tool when your cat has diabetes.

Much in the area of diet and food has been changing over the past few years. New food formulations have emerged, and new theories of what cats are supposed to eat are gaining traction. One thing is certain—diet is one piece of the regulation puzzle.

Whenever you change your cat's diet, slowly change the ratio of new to old food that you feed until you are feeding only the new diet. Monitor your cat's BG and symptoms closely when changing diets to help prevent hypoglycemic episodes.

Cat Food Comparisons & Recommendations

Choosing a healthy cat food is tough work since cat food reviews are often subjective, and ingredient information is scarce. All pet food varies greatly in nutritional content, carb values, low or high protein, ash content, etc.

Low-carb and studies

Healthy cats have even been shown to have improved insulin sensitivity and better weight control when eating a high protein/low carbohydrate diet, which may mean less tendency to become diabetic in the first place.

Intervet brings up an interesting point re: the carbohydrates present in the low-carb diet. Drawing from Dr. Greco's 2001 study as reference, they suggest that the carbohydrates of the low-carb foods chosen should be as low in the glycemic index as possible. This is echoed in the "Feeding the Diabetic Patient" presentation from Ohio State University's Endocrinology Symposium in 2006.

Switching to low-carb

For cats, it is not necessary to buy a prescription low-carb diet for uncomplicated diabetes. Instead, look at cat food nutrient breakdown and choose a food you can afford with carbohydrate content between 4% and 10% calories from carbohydrates. Some cats do well with even lower, others find less than 4% too low and their cats experience paradoxical high blood glucose levels.

Raw food with proper nutritional supplements are often best for both cats and dogs.

Supplements