Diabetes mellitus in cats is a growing problem.
As much as 2% of the cat population is afflicted with diabetes mellitus, but experts say that it is a very under-diagnosed disease. Diabetes mellitus is marked by a cat’s inability to produce enough insulin to balance out the level of glucose in the blood. Some medications, pancreatitis, Cushiong’s syndrome and genetics are all causes of diabetes mellitus in cats, but one of the biggest risk factors is obesity. That is why our veterinary clinic in North Bellmore has come up with the following guide on how to feed your cat to prevent diabetes:
Feed your cat the right kind of food.
You can find all kinds of things in your everyday cat food that your cat doesn’t actually need, including carbohydrates. Cats can use carbohydrates to generate energy, but cats are primarily carnivorous, and their bodies are NOT designed to handle a diet that is high in carbohydrates. In fact, if you give your cat too many carbohydrates, it can cause them to become insulin resistant.
Instead of food that is high in carbohydrates, you should look for food that is high in protein and has a moderate amount of fat. This kind of diet is an effective preventative measure that can help to stave off both insulin resistance and diabetes in high-risk cats. In general, dry cat food tends to have a lot more carbohydrates than canned food. Just keep an eye out on the ingredients in the canned food, because some brands can have more carbohydrates than you might think.
Now that you know what kind of food to look for to prevent diabetes in your cat, stay tuned for our next blog to learn about how much food you should be giving your cat.