Sweet Success Treating Diabetes In Cats & Dogs

Diabetes is one of the most common nutritionally responsive health conditions in dogs and cats. While it’s often reversible in cats, dogs rarely regain the ability to produce their own insulin.

Managing feline and canine diabetes still usually requires insulin or other medications, so it’s best to consult with a veterinary nutritionist or veterinarian who has successfully created dietary management plans for diabetic animals.

What is diabetes?

Diabetes occurs when the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin, a hormone that regulates glucose uptake. Insulin is required for the body to effectively metabolize carbohydrates and efficiently use sugars, fats, and proteins. Non-diabetic bodies use glucose for energy, but diabetic bodies use their fat stores for energy. This results in keeping body tissues “in a condition of semi-starvation all time”. (Pitcairn) This is why most untreated diabetic pets lose weight and are always hungry, even though they eat a lot.

What are signs and symptoms of dogs and cats having diabetes?

Cats and dogs with diabetes usually have the following symptoms:

• Increased appetite.
• Unexplained weight loss.
• Increased water consumption.
• Increased urination.

The following factors increase the likelihood of diabetes developing:

• Breed. Several dog breeds are predisposed to diabetes: Miniature Poodles, Dachshunds, Schnauzers, Cairn Terriers, and Beagles.
• Age. Middle-aged and older pets are more likely to develop diabetes.
• Gender. Female dogs have a higher chance than male dogs of developing diabetes.
• Obesity. Diabetes is much more common in overweight animals.

Dogs and cats with diabetes have an increased chance of developing liver problems like hepatic lipidosis (fatty liver disease) because of their increased metabolism and the way fat accumulates in their livers. They’re also more likely to have recurring bladder, kidney, or skin infections.

How is diabetes managed and treated in dogs?

Initially, your veterinarian will probably want to see your pet every 2-4 months as you begin to look for effective treatments. Since many health issues interfere with insulin regulation, it’s also important for diabetic pets to see their vet anytime a health problem develops.

Most diabetic pets have insulin injections once or twice a day. Many cats can be treated with pills instead of injections, but there isn’t an effective pill for diabetic dogs at this time. The insulin needs of many animals changes over time, which requires changes in medicine and perhaps diet.

Dietary changes are usually part of the treatment plan for diabetes. More details about diets for diabetic pets are below.

Increased exercise is another frequently recommended treatment because it reduces the amount of insulin needed. Exercise needs to be regular and sustained to be effective, though, because erratic exercise can destabilize insulin needs. Of course, it is important to talk to your veterinarian before making major changes in exercise.

Diabetic pets are always at risk of developing low blood sugar. Symptoms of low blood sugar include weakness, staggering, seizures, or just being more quiet than usual. Keep corn syrup on hand to rub on their gums if they have signs of low blood sugar. Be careful to not pour corn syrup in their mouth – a little bit is all that’s needed. Your veterinarian can provide more info about when and how to do this.

How can diet and feeding routines affect dogs and cats with diabetes?

When looking for a good diet for diabetic pets, it’s best to consult with a veterinary nutritionist or veterinarian who has experience creating successful dietary plans for diabetic animals.

Many veterinarians recommend scheduling regular meals and feeding equal, measured amounts of food at the same time every day to help manage diabetes.

In addition, feeding the right diet is crucial for managing diabetes.

The dietary approaches are very different for dogs than for cats. Canine diabetes is more like Type I diabetes in humans: their pancreas doesn’t produce any insulin at all.  Feline diabetes is more like Type II diabetes in humans: their pancreas produces insulin, but not enough.

Ideal diets for diabetic cats    

Here are the most common general guidelines for dietary treatment of diabetes in cats:

• High protein, low carbohydrate foods are ideal. Because cats are obligate carnivores, they actually have no dietary requirement for carbohydrates.
• Moist, canned foods are best, because they’re higher in protein and lower in carbs than dry kibble foods. Research indicates that wet food diets that are very low in carbohydrates (2% or less) and high in protein (about 15%) lower the insulin requirements in most cats.
• Overweight, diabetic cats need to lose weight in order to regulate insulin. When you’ve chosen a diet, feed equal amounts every 12 hours, and give insulin injections just after each meal. (Cats should lose weight very slowly, no more than 2% of their body weight per week. Losing weight too quickly puts cats at high risk for developing hepatic lipidosis, a form of liver failure.)

Ideal diets for diabetic dogs

Here are the most common general guidelines for dietary treatment of diabetes in dogs:

• High protein, low fat foods are best. Many nutritionists recommend food that has metabolizable energy that is less than 30% fat, but this information is rarely available on pet food labels.
• Moist, canned foods are best, because they’re higher in protein and lower in carbs than dry kibble foods.
• High fiber diets have been recommended for many years, but recent research has led some veterinarians to change their minds about this. In many cases, adding insoluble (non-digestible) fibers helped keep blood sugars stable throughout the day. That’s because fiber reduces the jump in blood sugar levels that usually occur after eating and it slows down the digestion of carbohydrates. Also, for diabetic dogs who are overweight, fiber helps them feel full after eating which can lead to weight loss. If your vet suggests increasing fiber intake, pumpkin and squash are the best options for diabetic dogs.
• Some experts recommend different diets depending on which type of insulin a dog is using. For more info about this, visit http://www.caninediabetes.org/beginners2.html

Additional nutritional factors

• Look for foods that are high in arginine, an amino acid that helps healthy pancreas insulin production. Most meat-based proteins are high in arginine.
• Try to find a diet high in L-carnitine, an amino acid that helps metabolize fatty acids.
• Brewer’s yeast contains chromium, which can help the body efficient use blood glucose. Adding between 1 teaspoon and 1 tablespoon to each meal can be beneficial.
• Many nutritionists recommend Vitamin E supplements because it reduces the need for insulin.

A few important notes about carbohydrates

Understanding the important and complex role that carbs play in pets’ diets can be confusing because there are so many factors to consider. Visit the American Diabetes Association web site for an in-depth look at these factors.

The simplest way to reduce overall carbohydrate intake is to reduce or eliminate dry kibble from the diet. The carb content in wet foods is usually quite low. In fact, wet foods can be made without any carbohydrate content at all. This is not true of dry kibble.

If you can’t entirely eliminate dry kibble from a pet’s diet, there are still changes you can make to reduce their carb intake. Whole grains are better than refined grains. Also certain grains (particularly barley and oatmeal), legumes (like peas and green beans), and potatoes are better for diabetic animals because they are metabolized more slowly. That means the glucose in these carbohydrates enter the system more slowly, which requires less insulin during digestion than higher glycemic ingredients (like rice).

Many of the grain-free diet foods are not recommended for diabetic pets because the carb ingredients used in these foods are metabolized too quickly and they are high in fat.

(Note: Nonexclusive use of this article has been granted to other pet industry organizations but Kari Kells retains copyright.)

Select sources

• Aiello, Susan, ed. “Diabetes mellitus.” Merck veterinary manual. Whitehouse Station, NJ: Merck & Co., Inc. 24 Oct 2014.
• American Diabetes Association. 24 Oct 2014. http://www.diabetes.org.
• Brooks, Wendy C. “Diet for the diabetic cat”. The Pet health library.  11 Feb 2010. 24 Oct 2014. http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=3057
• Brooks, Wendy C. “Diet for the diabetic dog”. The Pet health library.  17 Feb 2010. 24 Oct 2014. http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=3060
• College of Veterinary Medicine at Washington State University. “Diabetes mellitus.” Pet health topics. 25 Oct 2012. http://www.vetmed.wsu.edu/ClientED/diabetes.aspx
• Dick, Judy. Pet diabetes easy reference list. 5 Oct 2012. http://petdiabetes.com
• Eldredge, Delbert G. M., Liisa D. Carlson, James M. Carlson, M Debra. Cat owner’s home veterinary handbook. Indianapolis: Wiley Pub, 2007.
• Eldredge, Delbert G. M., Liisa D. Carlson, James M. Carlson, M Debra. Dog owner’s home veterinary handbook. Indianapolis: Wiley Pub, 2007.
• Merck Animal Health. Canine and feline diabetes. 25 Oct 2012. http://www.cat-dog-diabetes.com.
• Merck Animal Health. Pet diabetes month. 24 Oct 2014. http://www.petdiabetesmonth.com.
• Messonnier, Shawn. “Diabetes.” Natural health bible for dogs and cats. New York: Three Rivers Press, 2001.
• Pitcairn, Richard. “Diabetes.” Dr. Pitcairn’s complete guide to natural health for dogs & cats. New York: Rodale Books, 2005.
• Schermerhorn, Thomas. “Medical and nutritional management of feline diabetes mellitus.” Waltham feline medicine symposium, Jan 18-22 2003, Mariott. Orlando, FL, 2003.