Good nutrition is key to managing feline diabetes. It may even help cats achieve diabetic remission — that is, maintenance of normal glucose levels for over four months without treatment.
In a recent trial, 72 overweight, diabetic, insulin-treated cats were fed the same specialized diet, but one group received maintenance portions while the other was fed calorie-restricted meals. After three months, 50 percent of cats in the calorie-restricted group achieved diabetic remission compared to 30 percent in the maintenance group. Even in those not achieving remission, insulin doses were reduced in 36 percent of cats in the calorie-restricted group.
In overweight diabetic cats, feeding a calorie-restricted diet with low-digestible carbohydrate and an increased nutrient-to-calorie ratio is a robust treatment tool.