Glucose Digestion in Cats

The food you feed your cat each day is broken down into glucose during the digestion process. Glucose is fuel for your cat's body, necessary to sustain life. In order to keep your cat healthy and disease-free, it helps to understand how a cat's body digests several different types of foods, including carbohydrates and proteins.

  1. Glucose Production

    • All food that your cat ingests contains a certain amount of carbohydrates. These carbohydrates will be broken down into glucose during the digestion process, Digestion begins in the mouth of your cat, as it chews its food. Digestion continues as the food travels from the mouth to the stomach, and later to the intestines. Glucose is produced during this process and is used by your cat's body as energy. All of your cat's cells need glucose in order to survive. However, just as in humans, too much glucose in the bloodstream can result in weight gain, diabetes and even death.

    Canned vs. Dry Cat Food

    • There has been recent debate that dry cat food contains more carbohydrates than canned cat food and can therefore result in the overproduction of glucose. The natural prey of cats are small rodents, which are made up of more than 50 percent protein and only a very small percentage of carbohydrates. The average store bought dry cat food contain almost 45 percent carbohydrates, while canned food comes in around 10 percent carbohydrates. While there is no recommended daily allowance of carbohydrates available for cats, it is important to note that pregnant or nursing cats have an increased need for carbohydrates.

    Feline Diabetes

    • Feline diabetes is detected when blood an other lab tests reveal an abnormally high amount of sugar in the bloodstream. Just as in humans, as glucose enters the bloodstream, the pancreas emits insulin to help the body break down the extra glucose. Diabetes occurs when the cat's body is unable to produce enough insulin to rid the body of the extra glucose. Some of the warning signs of feline diabetes include abnormal hunger, weakness, lethargy, disorientation and increased thirst. Be sure to speak to your veterinarian if your cat exhibits any of these symptoms.

    Other Considerations

    • Some veterinarians suggest cat food with less than 7 percent carbohydrate content for cats suffering from diabetes or obesity. Increasing the amount of fiber in your cat's diet can also help aid in glucose digestion. Ask your vet for recommendations for high-fiber cat food and whether the extra fiber will aid your cat's digestion of glucose.