Organic Cat Food for Diabetic Cats

Feline diabetes is a relatively common disease in which a cat's pancreas does not produce enough insulin, or the cat is unable to fully utilize the insulin that is available. With proper treatment, cats with diabetes can live a long and healthy life. One way to successfully manage feline diabetes is through diet. An organic diet that is high in protein and low in carbohydrates--which more closely mimics a cat's natural diet than processed food--may even eliminate the need for insulin injections.

  1. Identification

    • Insulin is a hormone that is created in the pancreas and regulates glucose, which provides energy needed to survive. When insulin in a cat is no longer available, or cannot be utilized by the cells, the cat's body will resort to breaking down protein and fat stores for energy. This results in the cat consuming more food, yet losing weight. Feline diabetes typically occurs in older, overweight cats, although it can develop at any age.

    Symptoms

    • A cat with diabetes will typically exhibit four major symptoms: increased thirst, weight loss, extreme hunger and increased urination. Diabetes is diagnosed by high sugar levels in the blood and urine. As with humans, cats may require daily insulin injections to keep the condition under control. Less severe cases may be managed with the oral medication glipizide, which lowers blood glucose. Regardless of medications that may be administered, dietary changes play a significant role in managing the condition.

    Considerations

    • Feline diabetes is uncommon for cats in the wild, whose natural diet is high in protein and with minimal carbohydrates. Cats primarily use proteins and fat for energy, and their digestive systems do not break down carbohydrates well. Yet canned and dry cat food--even those specially formulated for diabetic cats--still contain considerable amounts of fillers and carbohydrates.

    Solution

    • According to Lisa A. Pierson, DMV, many diabetic cats can be taken off insulin once they are switched to a low-carbohydrate diet. A high-fiber diet--which reacts favorably on diabetes in both humans and dogs--does not lessen the condition in cats, since fiber is not part of their natural diet.

    Benefits

    • Organic cat food has the advantage of being free from hormones, antibiotics and preservatives, all of which negatively impact a cat's health. Look for a brand in which the first ingredient is a meat source, such as chicken or liver. Pierson also suggests making a raw meat diet at home, which most closely mimics a cat's natural food intake. Add meat, liver and bones to a meat grinder, and mix with a solution of water that contains Vitamins E and B-complex, taurine, eggs and salmon oil. The mixture can be stored in freezer containers for future use.