Diabetes is a result of the pancreas not producing enough insulin to allow the body to utilize blood glucose, (Type 1, common in dogs), or the cells do not respond to insulin (Type 2 common in cats). This results in high blood sugar levels causing increased drinking and urination.
Glucose becomes markedly elevated after a large carbohydrate meal, but pets lack the ability to rapidly break it down.
This has serious implications for the increased incidence of diabetes. By flooding your pet’s blood with glucose they can’t break down, we are likely overwhelming the Pancreas – and ultimately seeing a decrease in Insulin production, and subsequently, Diabetes.
This supplement may be very beneficial..(Chromium)
Here is a paper supporting it's use
Dietary chromium tripicolinate supplementation reduces glucose concentrations and improves glucose tolerance in normal-weight cats
Abstract
The effect of dietary chromium supplementation on glucose and insulin metabolism in healthy, non-obese cats was evaluated. Thirty-two cats were randomly divided into four groups and fed experimental diets consisting of a standard diet with 0 ppb (control), 150 ppb, 300 ppb, or 600 ppb added chromium as chromium tripicolinate.
...Importantly, this study has shown a small but significant, dose-dependent improvement in glucose tolerance in healthy, non-obese cats supplemented with dietary chromium.
.. Cats most likely to benefit are those with glucose intolerance and insulin resistance from lack of exercise, obesity and old age.
..Healthy cats at risk of glucose intolerance and diabetes from underlying low insulin sensitivity or genetic factors may also benefit from long-term chromium supplementation.
About Chromium
Chromium is a crucial nutrient in the body’s fight against diabetes. By using either brewer’s yeast stocked with chromium, or chromium chloride, diabetic patients may be able to improve glucose tolerance, lower their fasting glucose levels, decrease insulin levels and cut cholesterol and triglyceride levels, whilst increasing HDL-cholesterol levels.
Several principal double-blind studies have shown that supplemental chromium may raise glucose tolerance in patients with both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
Chromium is very high in Brewer's Yeast
Dose: 1 tsp. of brewer's yeast per day for your cat
Benefits of brewer's yeast for cats
Brewer's yeast is a good source of both B vitamins and the mineral chromium. B vitamins play an essential role in the health of your cat's skin, coat, and eyes. They facilitate fat, protein, and carbohydrate metabolism to keep a cat's energy levels up and support both his liver and nervous system.
Commercial cat food is also often lacking vitamin B1. Severe vitamin B1 deficiency can cause seizures, lack of motor coordination, and even death. Also, some but not all brewer's yeast contains chromium (it's often removed in nutritional yeast because it tastes bitter). Chromium can be used to regulate blood sugar in diabetic cats after diagnosis. A veterinary concern with supplements is that sometimes they are used to treat symptoms, leaving underlying causes to go without correct treatment for too long.
Brewer's yeast for fleas
Finding natural and eco-friendly solutions for flea medications and pesticides is currently trendy, so many pet people are advocating the use of brewer's yeast or nutritional yeast for cats as an alternative flea prevention method.
However, because brewer's yeast contains thiamine and fleas are repulsed by the smell and taste of thiamine, it's believed to be a natural flea repellent. Fleas apparently don't like the taste of thiamine on the cat's skin or in the blood.
