Cats, like humans, can suffer from Type 2 diabetes and with a diabetic cat in your family, you must take extra care in feeding the animal the right way. Although diabetes is quite problematic as a disease, by following diet tips for cats with diabetes mellitus, you can ensure that the furry one stays healthy and happy.

Choose Wet Foods to Increase Protein Intake
As one of the foremost diet tips for cats with diabetes mellitus, always choose wet foods with a high proportion of protein. Chicken, fish, and beef are ideal in this regard as they can satiate the hunger of your cat. Canned wet foods with a good level of protein also ensure the required intake of water. This is crucial because cats with diabetes often get dehydrated easily.

Select Foods that are High in Fiber
For your diabetic cat, you must always choose foods that are high in fiber and low in carbohydrates and fat. Foods with a significant proportion of fiber help your cat absorb the glucose and the fat in their diet. Also, the fiber content in the food assists in weight loss, which is again crucial because most diabetic cats are overweight or obese. As one of the important diet tips for cats with diabetes mellitus, read the label of the cat food you wish to buy, check the nutritional values and ensure at least 50% of it is protein and fiber.

Give Your Cat Insulin Before Feeding
It is not just what you feed your diabetic cat but how you schedule the feeding that is important. As a rule, always give the insulin first and follow it up with a meal. This will ensure that the insulin is absorbed properly and that the sugar level does not fall too low. Vets usually recommend giving the insulin just before the cat’s scheduled feeding time.

Stick to the Same Feeding Times
Among the diet tips for cats with diabetes mellitus, the most important one is sticking to a strict and regular feeding schedule for your cat. If you feed your cat twice a day, make sure that the time remains the same, which can be once in the morning and once at night before bed. Even snacking should be on time when it comes to feeding your diabetic cat.

Reduce the Proportion of Cat Food for Each Meal
Most diabetic cats are obese and, often, regulating or reducing the amount of food intake helps the cat in losing the excess weight and in turn, keeps the blood sugar levels under control. However, you should do this after consulting your vet. Also, when introducing your cat to a new kind of food or making any changes to its feeding schedule, make the transition gradually and not suddenly.

These diet tips for cats with diabetes mellitus promise long-term results and ensure that your cat doesn’t suffer too much from the symptoms of diabetes.