The Silent Health Crisis You Need to Know About

The biggest contributors to the development of diabetes are processed diets and sedentary lifestyles. Kibble and canned food diets are highly processed and contain 40% to 60% carbohydrates which is exceedingly high. The sad fact is even prescription diets and high end boutique foods have exceedingly high carbohydrates.  

From an evolutionary perspective, dogs are scavenger carnivores that have become tolerant of small levels of dietary carbohydrates. Cats are obligate carnivores requiring no dietary carbohydrates. This excessive chronic exposure to carbohydrates, coupled with high toxin exposure and a sedentary lifestyle is leading to the explosion of diabetes (and many other chronic degenerative dis-eases) in pets.

Symptoms of diabetes include excessive thirst, frequent urination, unexplained weight loss and fatigue.

There are 2 forms of diabetes in dogs and cats:

Type 1 Diabetes results when the pancreatic beta cells responsible for producing insulin are destroyed, often by an autoimmune process (the body’s immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas). The result is the high levels of glucose in the blood are unable to be carried into the cell where it is needed for energy production. Other risk factors include exposure to toxins and excessive chronic inflammation exasperated with a highly processed high carbohydrate diet. Without adequate beta cells, there is a resultant deficiency in insulin production. Though some cats can have type 1 diabetes, this is more common in dogs. These pets require insulin injections twice daily to transport blood glucose into the cell.

Type 2 Diabetes is more common in cats. “Insulin resistance” develops when the cells become resistant to the effects of insulin, or when the pancreas fails to produce enough insulin to meet the body’s needs. Like type 1 diabetes, insulin resistance leads to elevated blood sugar levels but the glucose can not get into the cell where it is needed.  Symptoms may be similar to those of type 1 diabetes but often develop more gradually. In addition to excessive thirst, frequent urination and fatigue, pets with type 2 diabetes may experience slow wound healing and recurrent infections.  

Comprehensive Management Strategies:

1. Work with a veterinarian to get a complete diagnostic evaluation. Perform blood work to evaluate organ function and a urinalysis. Further testing is recommended to determine nutrient deficiencies and toxicities. In addition, do x-rays and an abdominal ultrasound. It is important to rule out comorbidities. 
2. Dietary Modifications: Transition to a species appropriate raw, grass fed/grass finished diet, low in carbohydrates. It is possible in some cases of Type 2 diabetes to reverse the dis-ease with proper diet and weight loss.
3. Nutritional Supplements: Provide the essential vitamins, minerals, fatty acids and amino acids for the biological pathways to function properly. 
4. Focus on improving gut health. Heal the leaky gut and consequent inflammation along with aiding and improving the microbiome diversity with fermented foods.
5. Detoxification: There are 6 organs of elimination. Kidney, colon, lungs, liver, skin and lymphatic/fascia. Particular attention should be placed on the liver and lymphatics/fascia. Pet parents can learn how to perform Fascia Decompression For Their Fur Family through my on demand course.  Click Here to view the course!
6. Lifestyle Modifications: Regular exercise and weight management are integral to diabetes management.