Cat diabetes can be a serious condition and potentially life-threatening if left untreated. Some of the symptoms can cripple the cat and if left undiagnosed will eventually kill the animal. Diabetic cats seem to be increasing in number and this may be because there are more indoor-only pets where formerly most cats had the opportunity to roam outdoors. Part of the problem with indoor-only cats is that they lose many chances for exercise and never engage in hunting or other skills that would bring them prey for food. Indoor cats may also have a diet based entirely on dry cat food and this may be causing their diabetes.
Dry cat food is largely based on cereal or grain based sources and thus is high in carbohydrates. They are probably simpler carbohydrates that easily digest and are converted into glucose and absorbed into the cat's bloodstream. This diet can over time cause a chronic high blood sugar condition and some breeds are more prone to this condition than others. Cats which are older, neutered, male or obese are more at risk at contracting diabetes. Obesity and the high carbohydrate diet seem to hand in hand as the increased blood sugar is stored as fat on the animal.
A feral cat would almost never eat any carbohydrate based food as part of their diet as most of their food consists of meat that they catch and eat. Feral cats are also rarely obese and the diet they eat and exercise they get is the main reason for their condition. An indoor diabetic cat can regain its health by changing to a diet based nearly completely on meat based protein sources such as canned cat food. If you read the labels even the cheaper canned or foil pouches have significant meat-based protein as an ingredient and can help your pet regain good health.
Protein does not get broken down into glucose and thus doesn't contribute to a high blood sugar level. It helps keep blood sugar in normal ranges and reduces the need for insulin in the cat's body, whether it is through injection or through the cat's own pancreas secreting it. Glucose monitoring or urine testing will be necessary to see if dietary changes alone have changed the high blood sugar condition. Most cats require injections of U 40 insulin to get their blood sugar back in normal ranges, but by following a high protein, low carbohydrate diet, may require less and less insulin to maintain a normal blood sugar level. Some cats, if kept on a strict diet can get by with no insulin injections. Age of the cat and how early they were diagnosed is usually the determining factor on how completely the diabetes can be reversed.
Insulin injections are also part of the treatment and U40 insulin syringes matched to the U40 insulin make correct dosing and injections easier to accomplish. U40 insulin is weaker in strength and allows for finer regulation of blood sugar by more precise dose amounts.
Proper diet for cats is more important than many people realize and the correct food intake is an easier solution for good health than insulin injections and other veterinary treatments.
Dry cat food is largely based on cereal or grain based sources and thus is high in carbohydrates. They are probably simpler carbohydrates that easily digest and are converted into glucose and absorbed into the cat's bloodstream. This diet can over time cause a chronic high blood sugar condition and some breeds are more prone to this condition than others. Cats which are older, neutered, male or obese are more at risk at contracting diabetes. Obesity and the high carbohydrate diet seem to hand in hand as the increased blood sugar is stored as fat on the animal.
A feral cat would almost never eat any carbohydrate based food as part of their diet as most of their food consists of meat that they catch and eat. Feral cats are also rarely obese and the diet they eat and exercise they get is the main reason for their condition. An indoor diabetic cat can regain its health by changing to a diet based nearly completely on meat based protein sources such as canned cat food. If you read the labels even the cheaper canned or foil pouches have significant meat-based protein as an ingredient and can help your pet regain good health.
Protein does not get broken down into glucose and thus doesn't contribute to a high blood sugar level. It helps keep blood sugar in normal ranges and reduces the need for insulin in the cat's body, whether it is through injection or through the cat's own pancreas secreting it. Glucose monitoring or urine testing will be necessary to see if dietary changes alone have changed the high blood sugar condition. Most cats require injections of U 40 insulin to get their blood sugar back in normal ranges, but by following a high protein, low carbohydrate diet, may require less and less insulin to maintain a normal blood sugar level. Some cats, if kept on a strict diet can get by with no insulin injections. Age of the cat and how early they were diagnosed is usually the determining factor on how completely the diabetes can be reversed.
Insulin injections are also part of the treatment and U40 insulin syringes matched to the U40 insulin make correct dosing and injections easier to accomplish. U40 insulin is weaker in strength and allows for finer regulation of blood sugar by more precise dose amounts.
Proper diet for cats is more important than many people realize and the correct food intake is an easier solution for good health than insulin injections and other veterinary treatments.
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