Treatment of Feline Diabetes with Diet and Insulin

Hall, T. D., O. Mahony, et al. (2009). "Effects of diet on glucose control in cats with diabetes mellitus treated with twice daily insulin glargine." Journal of Feline Medicine & Surgery 11(2): 125-130.

Diabetes mellitus is a common feline disease and is treated with a combination of dietary therapy and insulin. Insulin glargine (Lantus, Sanofi-Aventis) is a long-acting recombinant human insulin that is frequently used to treat diabetic cats. The purpose of this study, from Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, was to compare a low carbohydrate/high protein (LCHP) diet to a non-prescription control diet in diabetic cats receiving insulin glargine twice daily. Over the 10-week trial, 6 cats were given the LCHP diet (DM Dietetic Management Feline Formula dry & canned, Nestle Purina) and 6 cats were given control diets (Pro Plan Adult Cat total Care Chicken and Rice dry, Nestle Purina and Friskies Special Diet Turkey & Giblets Dinner canned, Nestle Purina). Re-evaluations (blood glucose curves, serum fructosamine, and assessment of clinical signs) were performed at weeks 1, 2, 4, 6, and 10. Using insulin glargine twice daily and frequent monitoring, all cats in both groups did well. The main difference between the two groups was that the cats fed the LCHP diet had significantly lower serum fructosamine levels compared to the cats on the control diets. The clinical significance of this is unknown as all cats in both diet groups achieved good glycemic control. [SL]
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Related articles:
Marshall, R. D., J. S. Rand, et al. (2008). "Glargine and protamine zinc insulin have a longer duration of action and result in lower mean daily glucose concentrations than lente insulin in healthy cats." J Vet Pharmacol Ther 31(3): 205-212.
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Rios, L. and C. Ward (2008). "Feline diabetes mellitus: diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring." Compend Contin Educ Vet 30(12): 626-39; quiz 639-40.
>> PubMed Abstract

More on cat health: Winn Feline Foundation Library
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