Nutrition
Dietary control
Insulin is only the treatment component for diabetes, but diet is also very important. The aim of a good diabetic diet is to help control your dog's diabetes.
A diet must provide all the nutritional needs of patients and should minimize fluctuations in glucose concentrations. The essential features of the diet should be:
- Consistent from day to day (to prevent unnecessary alterations in insulin requirement).
- High in complex carbohydrates so that glucose is released in a steady fashion from the gut.
- Given so that glucose absorption from the gut coincides with peak action of administered insulin.
- Of the correct caloric value to take diabetes weight to optimal weight.
- Fat-restricted.
The ideal diet for your dog should contain restricted fat, increased carbohydrates and increased fiber, and should be chosen to suit both you and your diabetic dog. There are a number of prescription diets that have been specially formulated for the management of diabetic dogs. These can be particularly useful for achieving weight loss in obese dogs. However, most diabetic dogs can be stabilized on a carefully controlled program using their normal diet. Stabilization on a non-prescription diet is much easier if a complete, moist food is being fed.
Clean drinking water should be available at all times. A reduction in excessive water consumption indicates successful management of diabetes mellitus.
Importance of an ideal body weight
In dogs that are underweight or overweight, it is desirable that the ideal body weight is reached by gradual weight gain or loss, respectively.
In underweight dogs, very calorie dense diets should be avoided, especially those that are high in soluble carbohydrates.
Obesity contributes to insulin resistance. Overweight dogs should lose weight in a gradual, controlled fashion. Weight loss in obese animals decreases the insulin requirement. Diets designed to promote weight loss are high fiber diets and are suitable for feeding to diabetic pets.
Obesity in diabetic dogs
Diabetics are most effectively stabilized when they are at their ideal body weight. Dogs that are very overweight (obese) may have "insulin resistance" meaning that insulin therapy is less effective and higher doses are required.
Weight loss should be gradual. Overweight dogs should be fed 2/3 of the recommended daily allowance of a suitable diet until they have reached their ideal body weight. Your veterinarian or veterinary technician will help you calculate the ideal body weight and food requirements for your diabetic dog and monitor its weight loss.
Prescription diets
Complete prescription diets for diabetic dogs are available from your veterinarian. Your veterinarian or veterinary nurse will advise you on the correct type of diet to meet your dog's specific needs.
Prescription diets available
For information about complete diets available for dogs with diabetes mellitus, see the following websites:
Things to consider
Some factors that need to be taken into consideration are:
- Will your dog eat the food?
Some dogs can be fussy eaters. You may have difficulty trying to convince your dog to eat a low fat, high fiber diet. Don't worry – your dog can also be stabilized on its usual food, although it will need the same food every day and the insulin dose may be slightly higher. - Is your dog underweight?
A diet high in fiber is not suitable, as it may cause further weight loss. Fiber may have to be restricted and additional supplements given until the ideal body weight is reached. If your dog is underweight, your veterinarian will advise you on a diet to help your dog regain its normal weight.
Timing of meals
Your veterinarian will advise you on the proper feeding of your dog. In general, meals should be timed so that the absorption of glucose from the gastrointestinal tract coincides with the peak action of the administered insulin. This will minimize fluctuations in blood glucose concentrations and thus episodes of hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia.
- Dogs administered insulin once daily
- The first meal (e.g. 1/2 of the daily amount) is given prior to the morning insulin injection. This allows you to see that your dog is feeling well and eating normally before the insulin is administered.
- The second meal (the remainder of the daily amount) is usually given about 6-8 hours later.
- Dogs administered insulin twice daily
It has to be ensured that your dog does not become hypoglycemic during the night. Ideally, the daily ration should be divided into four meals, if feasible. An alternative is to feed two or three meals of approximately equal size, spread as evenly as possible throughout the day.- The first small meal is given prior to the morning insulin injection. This allows you to see that your dog is feeling well and eating normally before the insulin is given.
- The second meal is usually given about 6-8 hours later.
- A third small meal is given prior to the afternoon/evening insulin injection.
- A fourth meal can be given last thing at night.
