Diets and supplements for diabetic cats

Cats can also suffer from diabetes mellitus, which can be type 1 or type 2. Type 1 diabetes totally or almost totally inhibits insulin production; with type 2 diabetes, on the other hand, the cat is able to produce insulin, but the body cannot use it properly.

Feline diabetes mellitus is, therefore, a disorder characterized by difficulty in synthesizing sugar and using it as an energy source. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas without which glucose cannot be transferred to the organs and stagnates in the blood, thus causing high blood sugar levels. Dogs can also suffer from diabetes and the form they are mainly affected by is type 1.

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Feeding the diabetic cat: kibble and recommended foods

Your veterinarian will propose a treatment protocol based on your cat's type of diabetes: this may require daily administration of insulin by injection in addition to the adoption of a specific dietary regimen. Diets for diabetic cats aim to reduce the need for insulin: there are several cat food brands that produce kibble suitable for the treatment of this condition. Cats with diabetes tend to drink, urinate frequently, and eat with great frequency. Obese or overweight cats are more likely to develop diabetes mellitus: achieving a healthy weight, therefore, can decrease the onset of the disease. In the case of overweight diabetic cats, however, the return to a healthy weight may make daily insulin injections no longer necessary.