Diabetic cat food: how it can reduce the need for insulin

It is now generally accepted that human diabetes is an immunological disorder. There seems to be no reason to suppose that feline diabetes is any different. This particular immune disorder takes the form of a failure of the pancreas to produce insulin.

An immune system breaks down due to the load placed on it, mainly a chemical load. When you consider all the chemicals most pets are subjected to, it’s no wonder their immune systems go on strike. Drugs, vaccines, pesticides in the garden, harsh cleaners in the house, but perhaps worst of all by virtue of their frequent ingestion, are the preservatives in your daily diet.

A typical cat food is processed and comes in a box, packet, or can. Dry cat food must contain high levels of preservatives to keep it at room temperature, indefinitely, despite what the package says. Believe me, there is no other way to have such a long shelf life.

Cats are particularly sensitive to chemicals, so they easily succumb to them. A stay at a hatchery can put a strain on them, as most hatcheries meticulously clean their pens with strong disinfectants or bleach to ensure there is no cross-contamination.

There are several things you can do right away to help your cat overcome this serious illness, even if she’s had it for a while. You never know how much good you can do until you try.

1. The first thing that is really important to address is your diet. Start feeding your cat good quality raw diabetic cat food. Human-grade raw meat, from a butcher, will generally not contain any preservatives or dyes, as most countries have laws against that.
2. It is better to feed a diabetic cat 3-4 small meals a day, rather than 1-2 larger meals.
3. Diabetic cat food differs slightly from normal healthy cat food in terms of fat content. The food should be low in fat (but not fat-free), as the pancreas is responsible for the production of enzymes that help break down fat.
4. No healthy pet food should contain sugar, particularly diabetic pet food. Many, perhaps most, commercial pet food manufacturers use sugar as a filler. Meat is bulky and cheap, with a worldwide glut.
5. No cat food should contain large amounts of carbohydrates, which are a fundamental part of almost all processed cat foods, including those intended for diabetic cats.
6. The mineral chromium helps the body use insulin more efficiently, so adding a half teaspoon of brewer’s yeast to diabetic cat food will help your cat. Chromium is also found in liver, beef, and spirulina.
7. Including vitamin E in diabetic cat food reduces the amount of insulin required. Vitamin E is found naturally in the fat of raw meat and in spirulina. Vitamin E is also found in eggs and wheat germ oil, but diabetic cat food should be low in oil and fat, so while these are recommended, they should be in small amounts. You can also supplement it in the d alpha tocopheric (the natural form). Try to avoid the synthetic form, which is more commonly used. Synthetic vitamins are not as well utilized by the cat. Dose 30 IU per day until you see improvement.
8. And play with your cat, so he can get some exercise. Exercise tends to decrease the need for insulin.

A good diabetic cat food, like any good cat food, is as close to a feral cat food as you can get. Cats have evolved to use raw food efficiently. They cannot use processed and cooked foods in the same way, as they lack the nutrients that are destroyed by cooking.

Once your cat is regularly eating good quality raw food, less insulin may be needed. And if he’s not too far along, there’s no reason why he shouldn’t make a full recovery. Recovery from serious illness is not uncommon when the cause is addressed. Ensuring your cat only eats a healthy, high-quality, raw diet will at least reduce her need for insulin.