Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Feline diabetes mellitus: low carbohydrates versus high fiber?
- Journal:
- The Veterinary clinics of North America. Small animal practice
- Year:
- 2006
- Authors:
- Kirk, Claudia A
- Affiliation:
- Department of Small Animal Clinical Sciences · United States
- Species:
- cat
Plain-English summary
Managing diabetes in cats mainly involves giving insulin and controlling their diet. The aim has shifted from just keeping blood sugar levels stable to helping many cats go into remission, where they can temporarily stop needing insulin. Studies show that feeding cats low-carbohydrate food can increase the chances of remission by four times, but some cats may actually do better on high-fiber food. Ultimately, the choice of diet depends on the veterinarian's judgment, trial and error, and what works best for each individual cat.
Abstract
Treatment of diabetes mellitus (DM) in the cat relies primarily on the adequate insulin therapy and controlled dietary intake. The goals of managing DM in the cat have changed from attaining glycemic control to achieving diabetic remission (transient diabetes) in a large proportion of cases. Remission rates of up to 68% have been published. The used of low-carbohydrate foods for cats improves the odds of achieving diabetic remission by fourfold. Nonetheless, some cats show an improved response to high-fiber food. Clinical judgement, trial, and personal preference to currently dictate which diet to offer an individual animal.
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Search related cases →Original publication: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17085236/