The Best Diet for Cats with Diabetes

This post is a sponsored post*

Feline diabetes is a growing concern among cat parents. While the exact cause of diabetes isn’t always clear, obesity is a significant risk factor. Other factors include genetic predisposition, increased age, and the use of steroids to treat other illnesses. Managing diabetes in cats involves a multi-faceted approach, with diet being a key component. A carefully controlled diet can significantly improve your cat’s blood sugar levels, overall health, and quality of life.

Understanding feline diabetes

Diabetes mellitus in cats occurs when the body becomes resistant to insulin or doesn’t produce enough of it. This condition leads to high blood sugar levels, which can result in symptoms like excessive thirst, frequent urination, weight loss, and lethargy.

Diet plays a key role in managing this disease because it directly influences blood glucose levels. A proper diet can help stabilize these levels and may even reduce or eliminate the need for insulin injections in some cases.

Nutritional goas for diabetic cats

1. High protein low carbohydrate

Cats are obligate carnivores, meaning their bodies are built to derive energy from protein, not carbohydrates. Diabetic cats benefit from a diet high in animal-based protein and low in carbs. Carbohydrates are broken down into sugars, which can spike blood glucose levels, which is exactly what needs to be avoided.

2. A Consistent feeding schedule

Feeding your cat at the same times each day helps maintain stable blood sugar levels. This is especially important if your cat is on insulin, as timing meals with insulin injections can prevent dangerous blood sugar fluctuations.

3. Never feed dry food to a diabetic cat

Wet foods are lower in carbohydrates and higher in moisture, which helps with hydration and overall health. Dry foods, unless specially formulated, contain too many carbs. In addition, dry food is a poor nutritional choice even for healthy cats.

Diet recommendations for diabetic cats

While there are so called prescription diets for diabetic cats on the market, their ingredient lists aren’t always the most appropriate for obligate carnivores.There are several commercial wet foods that can be suitable for diabetic cats. Look for foods with a protein content of 40 to 50% on a dry matter basis.

Dr. Lisa Pierson offers a comprehensive explanation of how to select an appropriate diet for your diabetic cat. Don’t let the dated design of the site fool you, the information presented is solid.

Is a raw diet appropriate for diabetic cats?

Raw diets can be a good choice for diabetic cats because they’re high in protein and very low in carbohydrates. Additionally, a raw diet can help obese diabetic cats lose weight, which often improves insulin sensitivity. It is essential that the raw diet is properly balanced, including calcium, taurine, and other essential nutrients. A commercial, properly formulated diet is going to be the best choice.

Additional tips for managing a diabetic cat’s diet

• Follow your vet’s guidance for monitoring blood glucose levels regularly.
• Keep water available at all times.
• Watch for weight changes. Obesity worsens insulin resistance.
• Work closely with your veterinarian. Every cat is unique, and dietary needs can change over time.

Regardless of which diet you choose, always consult with your cat’s veterinarian before changing your diabetic cat’s diet. Switching to a low-carb raw diet may significantly lower his or her insulin needs.

About Darwin’s Natural Pet Food

Darwin’s is doing everything right, both in terms of what’s in the food and what’s not:

• • 100% meat – no animal-by-products or fillers
  • Ethically sourced human grade ingredients from farms they trust
  • Formulated under the guidance of veterinary nutritionists
  • Free range, pasture raised, cage-free meats
  • No GMO
  • No steroids
  • No hormones
  • Made fresh: you will receive your meals 4-6 weeks from production
  • Ready to serve

Darwin’s statement on H5N1

Darwin’s is very selective in choosing which suppliers we work with. We have been in contact with our poultry suppliers who all have testing protocols in place for a range of viruses, including H5N1, and will not ship products from flocks in which even one bird tested positive. In addition, as part of Darwin’s normal production process, all our meals are treated with an organic Peracetic Acid solution, which is effective against multiple pathogens, including H5N1.

If you are concerned about feeding raw, cooking poultry to a temperature of 165° Fahrenheit will destroy H5N1. Sous viding is the gentlest option that retains the most nutrients. Since sous viding is not always accessible for all pet parents, we also recommend very gently sauteing Darwin’s. This should be low and slow, and all liquid rendered from the cooking process should be served with the food. The food should be completely cooled before serving.

Special offer: Get 75% off your first 10 pounds

Darwin’s has an introductory offer that can’t be beat so you can try this for your own cats: get 75% off your first 10 pounds of raw food. You can customize the proteins depending on your cat’s taste preferences.

Use code PURRSOFWISDOM to take advantage of this special offer.

For more information and to order, please visit DarwinsPet.com.

*This post is sponsored by Darwin’s Natural Pet Products. Purrs of Wisdom is an affiliate partner of Darwin’s Natural Pet Products. This means that if you decide to purchase through any of our links, we get a small commission. We only spread the word about products and services we’ve either used or would use ourselves.

Image by Adrian Khoo from Pixabay