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How to Treat Feline Diabetes With Dieting

by Gayle Rodcay

Overview

Diabetes mellitus, or sugar diabetes, is one of the most common endocrine diseases in cats. It is a serious, even life-threatening disease, but it doesn't need to be a death sentence for your cat. Feline diabetes needs to be diagnosed by a veterinarian, who will conduct blood and urine tests to confirm the disease. Once diagnosed, the cat will be placed on a treatment regimen that will help keep blood glucose levels under control. Although many cats will require insulin or oral medications, some cats may be able control or reverse their need for medications simply through diet and weight control.

Step 1

Discuss with your veterinarian the type of diet best suited to your cat's condition. There are two schools of thought for a diabetic diet: a high protein, low-carbohydrate diet or a high-carbohydrate, low-fat, high fiber diet. Both diets have been successful for losing weight and controlling blood-sugar levels, but each cat will respond differently to the two types, so testing may be necessary to find which works best for your cat.
Step 2

Know that a low-carb diet means that carbs are replaced with proteins and fats. This higher-protein diet might not be a suitable approach if your cat has kidney, liver or bowel disease. Therefore you'll need to consider any underlying health conditions before choosing this diet. Most canned foods, as well as Purina DM or Hill's M/D are in this category.
Step 3

Understand that in the high-carb, high-fiber approach, the added soluble fiber (typically psyllium) will slow the conversion of starch to glucose and therefore keep the glucose levels under control. If your cat needs to gain weight, this is not the best choice as this type of diet is best for weight loss. Foods in this category include Hill's W/D, Hill's R/D and Purina OM.
Step 4

When determining what diet works best for your cat, it is important that you monitor your cat for signs of high blood sugar. Watch for excessive thirst or urination. You can also use urine strips to check for ketones, a waste product produced when the body burns fat for energy, or a glucometer (human) to check blood glucose. Check with your veterinarian about normal levels for your cat.
Step 5

Be consistent with what you feed and when. Feed at the same time each day and if you change food, always do it gradually.

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A low-carb or high-fiber diet, as prescribed Urine strips Glucometer, if necessary for monitoring
A low-carb or high-fiber diet, as prescribed
Urine strips
Glucometer, if necessary for monitoring