Why do cats need a pancreas if they are carnivores?

Sounds silly, but my diabetic human friend alerted me to ask this question: Why does an obligate carnivore even need a pancreas and self-made insulin? Do cat bodies need insulin for other reasons?

Our diabetic cat Woody is now on canned food ONLY that has ONLY 2-5% of calories as carbs (used the excellent list available on this website: Merrick, Weruva, Wellness, etc.). Yet he still runs-- with Lantus injections ranging from zero to 2 units twice a day based on pre-shot BG readings-- from 150 to 350 BG on any given pre-shot reading.

If he survived on mice, for example, or even (low nutrition)100% cooked chicken breasts (or (sadly) high protein spider webs when we rescued him), would he still have a BG problem?

Ellen and Woody
PS- how do I post Woody's picture on my account????

 

http://maxshouse.com/feline_nutrition.htm

http://www.petplace.com/cats/structure-and-function-of-the-pancreas-in-cats/page1.aspx

Insulin is still needed to enable the cells to absorb glucose to provide the body with energy. Cats don't need carbohydrates at all, just like you were thinking. But they do turn proteins and fats into glucose. Without a pancreas, there'd be no insulin available to let them "use" whatever glucose they produce through digestion.

 

Translation of the metabolism bit:
The metabolism clips off the non-carb pieces from the carb pieces n and rearranges the carb pieces into glucose as needed.

Organic chemistry at work!