Diabetes is, unfortunately, something I know rather a lot about as a number of the members of my family have been diabetic. What is more the basic principles for living successfully with diabetes are the same for animals.
Firstly you have to take a look at what you are feeding your animal and whether it contains sugars (sometimes called caramels), preservatives and additives. You can read the tiny small print on the back or you can always locate the food manufacturer on the label of the packet, tin or pouch, and ask them. However, to be absolutely sure there is no sugar in the food it is obviously better to indulge in some home-cooking. The dog or cat should have two light meals a day always at the same time to keep up the blood sugar levels. Protein should be from lean meat or fish in the case of felines whereas canines can be vegetarian and eat pulses and tofu as well. Vegetables such as green beans or peas are very good and for carbohydrates brown rice, millet, polenta and oats are particularly helpful. Oats are very good for sustaining blood sugar levels. Some of my cats are partial to a little porridge and Burns Oat biscuit is very good for dogs (Burns is a vet so all the Burns foods are formulated by him). All the C and B vitamins are very important and vitamin E may help with deteriorating eyesight. The minerals zinc and chromium may also be useful. Diabetes is a disease of the circulation so a certain amount of exercise will certainly help the situation although too much all of a sudden can send blood sugar levels plunging particularly in animals with advanced diabetes. The other factor which can play havoc with sugar levels in the blood is stress so try and keep the animal away from other aggressive animals or rowdy thoughtless children, fireworks and generally alarming outside influences.
HOMEOPATHICALLY: Dr. Richard Pitcairn recommends Natrum Muriaticum 6x and the vet Francis Hunter particularly advocates Syzigium Jambolanum. The suggested potency of 3x of the latter can be given 3 times daily and can actually help to reduce the amount of insulin given and in some mild cases may replace insulin altogether.
HERBALLY: Dandelion, seaweed and organic garlic are beneficial.
A RECOMMENDED HOME RECIPE:
1 cup raw rabbit ( cooked if not from a fresh reliable source)
Half a cup using equal measures of cooked brown rice and diced cooked beans and peas
Combine the ingredients and serve at room temperature.
This should be enough for four meals for an average sized cat or small dog.
I hope that may be helpful. I can always be contacted through www.abcanimalsanctuary if you would like any advice based on my 25 years of keeping many various animals in return for a small donation to the animal sanctuary for all the 150 rescued animals.
I hope you and your animals have a happy and healthy new year.
All the very best,
Alexandra Bastedo.
Alexandra is the author of the veterinary recommended “Healthy Cat” and “Healthy Dog” books. J. Kemnitzer did the recipes which were gladly woofed up by the sanctuary residents.
She also runs a pet vitamin company called Pet Nutrition Concepts at www.petnutrition.co.uk with the eminent homeopathic vet, Mark Elliott at www.homeopathicvet.co.uk and the renowned pharmacist Kalpesh Patel ( his company Vega Vitamins do excellent vegetarian capsules). The latter is at www.vegavitamins.co.uk
