Can milk raise blood glucose?

sharon and sparky · Nov 18, 2011

If you give your cat regular 2% milk, can it raise the bg levels? I know milk has lactose which is a sugar, does anybody know for sure if it will? Thanks for your help.

Carl & Polly & Bob (GA) · Nov 18, 2011

This from the ASPCA "poison control center" oddly enough:

Is milk bad for cats?
Unless they are spoiled or moldy, milk, cheese and other dairy foods are not considered to be poisonous to pets. However, cats do not possess significant amounts of lactase, the enzyme that breaks down lactose in milk. Feeding milk and milk-based products to cats can actually cause them to vomit or have diarrhea, which in severe cases could lead to inflammation of the pancreas. For this reason, it's always a good idea to check with your veterinarian before offering any "people food" to your pets.
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The "inflammation to the pancreas" is what caught my eye.

And according to pets webmd cats can be lactose intolerant:

Cats and Dairy: Get the Facts
WebMD discusses the facts about cats and dairy, and why substituting a saucer of milk for water may not be best for your kitten.
By Wendy C. Fries
WebMD Pet Health Feature Reviewed by D. West Hamryka, DVM
Cats and milk: In children’s stories, it always seems to be a match made in heaven. Who hasn’t seen adorable illustrations of a kitten lapping at a saucer full of cream?

As with so many romances, the one between cats and dairy isn’t quite what it’s cracked up to be. That’s because even though most cats adore a bit of milk, milk doesn’t always return the affection.

Cat Care

Keep your little kitty healthy and happy. Get advice about cat health and behavior from experts at WebMD.
What to Do When Your Cat Gets Fat
To Declaw or Not to Declaw
Newborn Kitten Care
Behavior Problems in Older Cats
Gum Disease: A Common Cat Problem
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Slideshow
Foods Your Cat Should Never Eat
You’ll be surprised to learn how many common foods are dangerous (or even deadly) to your cat.
Related Links
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© 2009 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.
The main culprit is milk’s lactose, which many cats have trouble digesting. The result: diarrhea or stomach upset. Not exactly romantic.

Do cats and dairy ever get along? Can cats drink milk? Here is what cat nutritionists and veterinarians told WebMD.

Cats and Dairy Fact 1: Lactose Intolerance Is the Norm

Just like people, cats can be lactose intolerant. And although we tend to think that’s a problem, it’s actually completely normal, says Linda P. Case, MS, adjunct assistant professor at the University of Illinois College of Veterinary Medicine and author of The Cat: Its Behavior, Nutrition, and Health.

“The only time animals are exposed to lactose is when they’re babies -- in their mother’s milk," Case says.

To digest lactose, a milk sugar, the human and feline digestive systems must contain the enzyme lactase. We have plenty of this enzyme in our systems at birth, and it helps us thrive on our mother’s milk.

But as we grow up, it’s normal for people and cats to begin producing less lactase. Less lactase means less ability to digest lactose. The result may eventually be lactose intolerance.

When a lactose-intolerant cat drinks milk, the undigested lactose passes through the intestinal tract, drawing water with it, according to the Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine's web site. Bacteria in the colon also ferment the undigested sugars, producing volatile fatty acids.

All that activity might lead to an upset tummy and induce vomiting. But the most common symptom of lactose intolerance in cats is diarrhea, usually within eight to 12 hours, says Susan G. Wynn, DVM, CVA, CVCH, an animal nutritionist in Atlanta and co-author of the Manual of Natural Veterinary Medicine.

Cats and Dairy Fact 2: Many Cats Can Drink Milk

Most of us have probably given our cats a bit of milk and never noticed a problem. That’s because some cats tolerate milk just fine, Wynn tells WebMD.

How can you tell? Try offering your cat a tablespoon or two of milk. If you don’t see symptoms within a day, chances are good your cat will do fine with milk as an occasional treat.

Still, most veterinarians don't recommend it. Cats don’t need milk, and the potential problems outweigh the potential benefits.

Remember that treats of all sorts -- such as tuna, meat, cheese, or other “people foods” -- should make up no more than 5% to 10% of your cat’s diet. The rest of your cat's calories should come from a high-quality, nutritionally complete cat food.

If you’re not sure what that means for your cat, talk to your veterinarian. Also, remember that offering table food to a cat often teaches a cat to be finicky
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Carl

sharon and sparky · Nov 18, 2011

Thanks Carl but the question of raising blood glucose levels I did not see answered. When you have an OTJ kitty can giving a teaspoon of milk in the morning raise the bg numbers. I am just trying to figure out why Sparky's numbers rose.

Carl & Polly & Bob (GA) · Nov 18, 2011

In humans, apparently the answer is "yes" because it contains lactose:

Does milk raise blood sugar?
In: Diabetes
Diabetes Condition healthynow.com

Wiki Answers > Categories > Health > Conditions and Diseases > Diabetes >
Does milk raise blood sugar?
Answer:
Any food or drink other than water has some effect on the blood sugar level, yes.

Answer
Yes, milk does raise the blood sugar level because it contains lactose which is milk sugar. It also contains protein though, which will slow down the digestion of lactose. Also depending on the fat content, since milk is from an animal and the fat is saturated, it could speed up the digestion of the milk. Just remember, the three things that will slow down the digestion and thus the amount of sugar in the blood are protein, fiber, and fat (only if the fat is either mono or polyunsaturated.)
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Carb Content of Milk
Please Note: all carbohydrate values are approximate

Milk (serving size 1 cup)
Carbs (g)
Milk, whole, 3.3 percent fat
11.3g
Milk, low fat, 2 percent fat
11.7g
Milk, low fat, 1 percent fat
11.6g
Milk, fat free/ skimmed
11.9g
Buttermilk, from skimmed milk
11.7g
Milk, canned, evaporated, whole
3g
Goats Milk
10g
Soy Milk, regular
4g
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just thinking, but if a kitty is lactose intolerant, then maybe he can't digest it, and it wouldn't raise his BG? But if he isn't lactose intolerant, does that mean he can digest it, and then it would raise the BG?

Unfortunately, I can't find the same type of answer specific to cats.
Carl

Melanie and Smokey · Nov 18, 2011

I'd say yes. I would assume it is the same as humans and it is one of the first things diabetics can reach for to bring up their BGs and try to sustain a longer hold on the higher numbers. In the hospital, milk is what the nurses kept bringing us to get into my mother when she was hypo and we were trying to keep her blood sugars up.

sharon and sparky · Nov 19, 2011

I know Sparky is not lactose intolerant and his numbers have gone up recently in conjunction with my giving him a little milk each morning when I am making my coffee. So I had to put him back on 1/2 unit of Lantus to get him back in line. I of course have stopped giving him milk. So I hope it is the milk that made his numbers go up. Thanks for the great information.

Dyana · Nov 19, 2011

I was told recently that Heavy Whipping Cream is very low on carbs, and so J.D. was able to have a little of that for his birthday last week. He loves milk, and the treat of heavy whipping cream suited him just fine for one of his special treats.
Here's the thread: http://felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=28&t=55603&hilit=milk

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Can milk raise blood glucose?

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