Diabetes affects more dogs and cats in the U.S. than ever before. If your pet is diagnosed, you might initially feel overwhelmed. This disease is manageable with the right combination of medications, weight loss, and good nutrition.
Injections of insulin are the main type of treatment for managing diabetes, but managing the weight and nutrition of your dog or cat are just as important. Fatty tissue releases factors that impair the effects of insulin, increasing the insulin resistance of your pet. Nutrition recommendations vary for dogs and cats. Dogs with uncomplicated cases of diabetes respond positively to a diet that is high in fiber and carbohydrates, but low in fat. Cats with uncomplicated diabetes require a protein-rich diet that is low in carbohydrates.
Remember, when it comes to diabetes mellitus and your pet, an ounce of prevention by avoiding obesity is definitely worth the pound of cure that would be necessary to treat an animal with diabetes!
