Does Dry Food Cause Diabetes in Cats?
Diabetes mellitus, also known simply as diabetes, is a disease that is characterized by chronically high blood sugar levels. It leads to increased thirst, pathological weight loss, poor quality hair, weakness and neurological problems. If it is not treated, diabetes ultimately kills affected cats.
Feline diabetes is similar to type 2 (adult onset) diabetes in humans. Obesity is a known risk factor for the disease.
Many people, including many veterinarians, have speculated that commercial cat foods, especially dry foods, also contribute to the development of diabetes in cats.
In the wild, cats eat a diet that is high in protein and low in carbohydrates. Commercial foods, especially dry foods, have high levels of carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are readily converted to sugar in the body. Therefore, chronically high levels of carbohydrates in feline diets may contribute to the development of diabetes.
In theory, this makes sense. However, theories like this are easy to test. Take two groups of cats: one that eats dry food, another that eats wet food. Control for confounding variables such as obesity, age and breed. Compare rates of diabetes.
The April, 2008 NAVC Clinician’s Brief contains a summary of just such a study. From the summary:
Analysis of data . . . showed no significant correlation between dry food consumption and development of [diabetes mellitus]. Since dry cat food has a much greater carbohydrate content than canned, high carbohydrate intake also did not appear to be a risk factor.
In my opinion the conclusion that carbohydrate consumption is not linked to diabetes may be a bit of a stretch (I feel that the study was not comprehensive enough to draw such a broad conclusion). However, the study does provide solid evidence that dry food is not specifically linked to increased risk of diabetes.
You have questions. 
Dear Dr. Barchas,
If you would only spend some time here:-
http://feline-diabetes.net
and visit the forum where so many concerned pet parents are dealing with their cat’s diabetes, you will realize the evil that is, dry food. Once the cat’s are off dry and transitioned onto wet/raw, their health improved significantly. If you ever need any reference and case study material, you know where to go to.
Hi Lucy,
If you can cite or link directly to a scientific study showing that dry food plays a role in the development of feline diabetes, I’d be very interested in reading it.
Unfortunately, the only peer-reviewed scientific study I have encountered is the one I cited. That is why I wrote the article–conventional wisdom and testimonials aren’t being backed up by rigorous review. At least not yet.
Frankly, I was surprised by the findings of the study I cited. Carbohydrate ingestion plays a big role in type two human diabetes, so it stands to reason that it should be equally important in feline diabetes. There is a big movement in veterinary medicine to put diabetic cats on high-protein, low-carbohydrate diets. I’ve been a part of that movement.
But, as I mentioned in the post, theories about diabetes and diet should be easy to prove with rigorous scientific studies. I’m definitely interested in reading any such studies that are out there.
[...] Does Dry Food Cause Diabetes in Cats? [...]
Many overweight kittys are suseptable to Diabetes - but if caught early enough if can be reversed with a change in diet.
I am the rare kitty in that I was born with Diabetes and Bilateral Cataracts. They said my chances for survival were slim to none. Grrrrrrr
I am now 3 years old, eat only Fancy Feast, take Insulin Shots twice a day, and had my eyes fixed at Cornell University. I have never been allowed any dry food - even the Diabetic Dry Cat Food.
And I am a handsome, healthy wopping 8 pound Pirate Gato.
Mom did tons of research when she got me. She spoke to vets all over the world and none of the other case study kittys ever made it past 4 months old. So sad………
So not all case studys are accurate?
Purrs
Morgan
Hello there.. My mommy took me to the vet a months ago to find out what wrong with me and the way i walk..
the vet found out the I have Diabetic…
So right now i have to take 2 shots a day every day I mean…. But we wanted to know if it safe for me to eat small amount of regular wet food…
I know i am Not suppose to but LOVED eating wet food once a while..
is there speical diet wet food for Diabetic>
Please let us know.. so we can play it safe… Snce my sis sheba goes after my dry food silly her.. (she healthy cat) purr
have a pawsome day..
From Star
Star,
I assume you are on DM Dry Food? You may be better on a wet food, and happier! If you check out the Feline Diabete FDMD Health Forum, you will see a link for Janet & Binky’s food charts.
http://www.felinediabetes.com/phorum5/list.php?8
Those will give you a list of all the safe foods to eat as a Diabetic Kitty. They list the carbs which is very important for us. I personally have never been allowed any dry food - even DM. I have grown up on Fancy Feast, and Fancy Feast Medleys.
Purrs
Morgan
I HAVE TWO DOGS BOTH IN GOOD HEALTH, MY FRIEND JULIE HAS A DOG WITH DIABETES, I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF ANIMAL HAVENIG DIABETES BEFORE. JULIE MADE A WEB SITE TO HELP OTHER OWNERS WHO HAS A DOG OR CAT WITH DIABETES. YOU CAN CONTACT JULIE TO ASK HOW SHE COPED IN THE BEGINNING. YOU CAN ALSO SEND PICTURES OF YOU PET THAT CAN BE PUBLISHED ON HER WEB SITE.
TAKE A LOOK
http://www.diabetesinpets.com
My sister’s senior cat is the fattest one I’ve ever seen, at up to 27 pounds, and he is remarkably healthy and diabetes-free. Does this mean obesity does not cause diabetes in cats?
My stepfather is morbidly obese and my mom is just overweight, yet she’s the one with diabetes. Does this mean obesity does not cause diabetes in people?
The answer to both questions is no. Theorizing from one or even a few examples is not reliable (I work at a medical journal that doesn’t even publish case studies or case series for that very reason). Kudos to Dr. Barchas for reporting on this first scientific study, even though he’s skeptical about the results.
One thing that is true about dry food is that it’s usually higher in calories than wet food. Perhaps that’s the connection — more dry food, more extra weight, more risk of diabetes. Hm.
You can’t have it both ways. Either you believe the study or you don’t. You said you didn’t feel the study was comprehensive enough,but then went on to say that it couldn’t possibly be the dry food.
Who did the study? who funded it? if it was a company that makes pet food, then I would be very suspect of the results no matter how “comprehensive” it was.
I have treated four diabetic cats. All were fed dry food prior to the diagnosis (as were all the cats I’ve seen) All four had their blood sugar levels dramatically improve with a change of diet to eliminate as many carbohydrates as possible.
Does dry food cause diabeties?? I doubt it. Just as I doubt cookies causes it in humans. But being fed a species appropriate diet helps a body work at optimal levels and doesn’t over tax the system causing it to work better longer. Dry food is not a species appropriate food for cats, just as cookies are not species appropriate for humans. Feed optimal, get optimal.
Talk to or read the information put out by the vets who study and specialize in feline nutrition. Dr Elizabeth Hodgkins, Dr. Lisa Peirson, Dr. Debra L. Zoran and make your own conclusions.
[...] or vaccine protocol is the best. I have covered both subjects several times on this blog. Click here, here, here or here to read some food-related articles. Click here, here, here, here, here, or here [...]
This article cited in the original entry was published in The Veterinary Journal, Volume 179, Issue 2, February 2009, Pages 247-253. You will note at the bottom the study was “supported” by Iams. Enough said.
There are numerous other peer-reviewed articles showing the remission rates achieved by switching to a low-carbohydrate diet. I’ve spent the last week digging them out as my cat was just diagnosed with diabetes, after haveing been placed on Hill R/D for the past few years… with a carbohydrate ratio of 35%. I feel duped by the pet food company, and by my vet for not being nutrionally informed about what he is selling. The websites mentioned by other readers above have been a godsend - a “cold-turkey” switch to low-carb canned food has already resulted in a significant reduction in my cat’s glucose levels, and a return to normal behaviour. I’m preparing a strongly -worded letter to Hill’s as I speak, as I have no doubt their food was a significant factor in causing this disease.
There may not be enough information about dry food causing diabetes, but in my clinic we have been able to get 75% of our diabetis cats off insulin by changing them to canned food only and two meals a day instead of free feeding.
<<>>
It would be news to you, Doctor, as beings every veterinary university receives generous $$$ from the commercial pet food companies.
Why don’t you ask Eukanuba (whose ads grace this very page) to explain just why they market cereal containing grains and fillers for a STRICT CARNIVORE?? Or ask the company who gives $$$ to your Alma Mater??
Just google for rresearch Evidence of Pet Food Harms — or for LIVING PROOF, just see felinediabetes.com forums, or yourdiabeticcat forums where cat owners are getting their cats OFF OF INSULIN by merely feeding them a SPECIES APPROPRIATE diet.
Doctor, I sugest you google “OBLIGATE CARNIVORE” or better yet, go to ANY LIBRARY and look up “CAT”; “FELINE”; “FELID” in an ENCYCLOPEDIA.
You should be ashamed.