Dietary carbohydrate source affects glucose concentrations, insulin secretion, and food intake in overweight cats

Effect of Dietary Carbohydrate, Fat, and Protein on Postprandial Glycemia and Energy Intake in Cats

“…This finding has important implications for cats predisposed to diabetes, for example obese and European‐origin Burmese cats, and cats with insulin resistance. It is also likely important for cats already exhibiting some degree of beta cell failure resulting in impaired glucose tolerance—some obese cats and the majority of diabetic cats in remission . Decreasing the glucose load from a meal has been shown to be important for achieving remission in diabetic cats .…”

“…The International Diabetes Federation defines postprandial hyperglycemia in humans as a plasma glucose concentration of greater than 7.7 mmol/L (140 mg/dL), and glucose toxicity can cause impaired beta‐cell function at glucose concentrations that are only 1 mmol/L (18 mg/dL) higher than normal . Given that the upper cutpoint for normal fasting blood glucose is similar in humans and cats, and that cats have a very prolonged postprandial period (≥12 hours), postprandial blood glucose concentrations >7.7 mmol/L (140 mg/dL) might also be detrimental in cats . Diets with moderate to high levels of carbohydrate (6.7–14.5 g carbohydrate/100 kcal; 23–50% metabolizable energy [ME]) result in peak and mean 24‐hour postprandial glucose concentrations greater than 8 mmol/L (144 mg/dL) in some cats .…”

“…Given that the upper cutpoint for normal fasting blood glucose is similar in humans and cats, and that cats have a very prolonged postprandial period (≥12 hours), postprandial blood glucose concentrations >7.7 mmol/L (140 mg/dL) might also be detrimental in cats . Diets with moderate to high levels of carbohydrate (6.7–14.5 g carbohydrate/100 kcal; 23–50% metabolizable energy [ME]) result in peak and mean 24‐hour postprandial glucose concentrations greater than 8 mmol/L (144 mg/dL) in some cats . Of concern was that a diet with 14.5 g/100 kcal (51% ME) resulted in peak glucose concentrations as high as 10.8 mmol/L (194 mg/dL) in lean cats, and 13.4 mmol/L (241 mg/dL) after moderate weight gain (mean body condition score 6.3 out of a 9 point scale), which is considered in the diabetic range for cats .…”

“…Of concern was that a diet with 14.5 g/100 kcal (51% ME) resulted in peak glucose concentrations as high as 10.8 mmol/L (194 mg/dL) in lean cats, and 13.4 mmol/L (241 mg/dL) after moderate weight gain (mean body condition score 6.3 out of a 9 point scale), which is considered in the diabetic range for cats . Overweight and obese cats have increased mean concentrations and duration of the postprandial glucose and insulin response . Therefore, reduced carbohydrate diets might be useful in cats that are at risk of diabetes, especially obese, physically inactive cats, European‐origin Burmese cats, diabetic cats in remission, and cats with intrinsically low insulin sensitivity.…”

Sorghum: An Underutilized Cereal Whole Grain with the Potential to Assist in the Prevention of Chronic Disease

“…Numerous animal feeding studies have shown that sorghum in the diet effectively improves glucose metabolism compared to sorghum-free diets. (111,(160)(161)(162) A limitation in some of these studies is that the specific type of sorghum extract is not defined, thus it cannot be determined whether effects are linked to phenolic, fiber or macronutrient contents.…”