Diabetes
The Truth about Diabetes
By Dr. Robert Goldstein, VMD, and Susan Goldstein

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Myth #2 Diabetes is hereditary and you cannot prevent it.

Untrue! Nothing exhausts a pancreas more than junk food. Yet today, many dogs and cats exist on just that -- a processed diet that is high in refined carbohydrates. Refined carbohydrates basically add up to a serving of sugar, AS CERTAIN pet foods contain up to 25-35% refined carbohydrates in the form of white flour, milled rice and corn sweeteners. The rapid burning off of these carbohydrates results in a speedy elevation and depression of blood sugar levels, which can tire out the pancreas as it tries to meet the insulin needs in a rapidly changing environment. INSTEAD SWITCH TO A DIET THAT CONTAIN COMPLEX CARBOHYDRATES (WHOLE GRAINS SUCH AS BROWN RICE)

Myth #3 Once on insulin, always on insulin

Good news – often an intelligent holistic program combined with appropriately dosed and monitored insulin (directed by your veterinarian) WILL help to control the condition and CAN eventually reduce the amounts of insulin or even totally eliminate any dependency on it. Your animal’s holistic program should include a well-balanced whole food high fiber diet, appropriately dosed vitamins, minerals, antioxidants and herbs, as well as an increased exercise program. Your veterinarian will ALSO instruct you on how to closely monitor the blood levels of sugar by frequently checking the urine.

Please remember that injectable insulin, while essential in regulating the blood sugar levels, can actually trick the body into thinking that adequate levels are being produced, oftentimes affecting the body’s own production of insulin. When the pituitary detects adequate levels of insulin, it will actually tell the pancreas to slow production. Consequently, your animal’s body will become insulin dependent. So it’s important at this point to ignore the propaganda that your animal will need injections for the rest of his or her life. In fact, once your animal’s blood levels stabilize on injectable insulin, you should make it your goal to introduce a proper nutritional program to slowly replace injections. At this time, you may find the need to confer with both an alternatively interested and experienced veterinarian for support and guidance.

Myth #4 Sugar “highs” go with the territory and there is nothing that you can do to help control them.

Yes you can! In a pinch, if your animal is acting ravenously, serve him a bowel of freshly cooked oatmeal. Oats, along with green beans and sprouts, contain vitamins, minerals and enzymes that have insulin-like activity. Oats are also rich in beneficial fiber.

Myth #5 You will just have to live with frequent “accidents” in the house.

Don’t buy into this grim prognosis. The serious side effects of excessive thirst and urination can often be temporary if you and your veterinarian can bring the diabetes under control. Initially, you can accomplish this with insulin injections. Simultaneously, the proper feeding and nourishment (vitamins, minerals, co-factors and antioxidants) of the pancreas and other important glands of the body will start the process of re-establishing gland balance and function. This, combined with an increased exercise program, will help to bring the condition under control and diminish all adverse symptoms associated with diabetes.

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Published in the Fall 2001 issue of Animal Wellness