Comparison of a low carbohydrate-low fiber diet and a moderate carbohydrate-high fiber diet in the management of feline diabetes mellitus

Abstract

This study compared the effects of a moderate carbohydrate-high fiber (MC-HF) food and a low carbohydrate-low fiber (LC-LF) food on glycemic control in cats with diabetes mellitus. Sixty-three diabetic cats (48 male castrated, 15 female spayed) were randomly assigned to be fed either a canned MC-HF (n = 32) food or a canned LC-LF (n = 31) food for 16 weeks. Owners were blinded to the type of diet fed. CBC, urinalysis, serum chemistry panel, fructosamine concentration and thyroxine concentration were determined on initial examination, and a complete blood count, serum chemistry panel, urinalysis and serum fructosamine concentration were repeated every 4 weeks for 16 weeks. Insulin doses were adjusted as needed to resolve clinical signs and lower serum fructosamine concentrations. Serum glucose (P = 0.0001) and fructosamine (P = 0.0001) concentrations significantly decreased from week 0 to week 16 in both dietary groups. By week 16, significantly more of the cats fed the LC-LF food (68%, 22/31), compared to the cats fed the MC-HF food (41%, 13/32), had reverted to a non-insulin-dependent state (P = 0.03). Cats in both groups were successfully taken off of insulin regardless of age, sex, type of insulin administered or duration of clinical disease before entering the study. There was no significant difference in the initial or final mean body weights or in the mean change in body weight from week 0 to week 16 between dietary groups. Diabetic cats in this study were significantly more likely to revert to a non-insulin-dependent state when fed the canned LC-LF food versus the MC-HF food.

Fig 1

Box plots of mean serum fructosamine concentrations at weeks 0, 4, 8, 12 and 16 in cats fed a low carbohydrate–low fiber food (LC–LF) and in cats fed a moderate carbohydrate–high fiber food (MC–HF). The responder groups consist of cats eventually taken off of insulin. The non-responder groups consist of cats that continued to require insulin throughout the study. Each box represents the 25th to 75th percentile range of the data. The whiskers represent the 5th to 95th percentile range of data. The horizontal bar within the box indicates the median concentration. Outlying data points are shown as closed circles. Significance (P<0.05) in comparison to week 0 is denoted with a cross above the box plot.

Fig 2

Box plots of mean serum glucose concentrations at weeks 0, 4, 8, 12 and 16 in cats fed a low carbohydrate–low fiber food (LC–LF) and in cats fed a moderate carbohydrate–high fiber food (MC–HF). The responder groups consist of cats eventually taken off of insulin. The non-responder groups consist of cats that continued to require insulin throughout the study. Each box represents the 25th to 75th percentile range of the data. The whiskers represent the 5th to 95th percentile range of data. The horizontal bar within the box indicates the median concentration. Outlying data points are shown as closed circles. Significance (P<0.05) in comparison to week 0 is denoted with a cross above the box plot.