Your Thoughts on Glucose vs Protein

bambinaki

bambinaki

Member Since 2010
Hi-

I saved this statement/advice, but I don't remember where I got it. I'd like to know what you think of it.
(My cat has both diabetes and kidney disease.) Thank you.

If blood tests show the kidneys have been damaged, ask the vet for a reduced protein food even if it means compromising glucose control. Read the labels on everything you feed to check it's protein content. Processing protein is harder on the kidneys than flushing a little glucose.
 
tiffmaxee said:
That’s good advice but easier said than done. Concentrate on lower phosphorus but high quality protein.
Click to expand...


Most Veterinary studies recommend diabetic diets for cats with renal disease until later stages. Protein can cause the kidneys to have a harder time filtering other things- then urea and phosphorus levels build up. Too little protein increases the muscle wasting that often occurs with kidney disease and can cause other issues...
Limiting the other things like phosphorus and not cutting back on protein until you absolutely have to is usually advised.
 
Si am cat mom said:
Most Veterinary studies recommend diabetic diets for cats with renal disease until later stages. Protein can cause the kidneys to have a harder time filtering other things- then urea and phosphorus levels build up. Too little protein increases the muscle wasting that often occurs with kidney disease and can cause other issues...
Limiting the other things like phosphorus and not cutting back on protein until you absolutely have to is usually advised.
Click to expand...

That’s why I said to find lowest phosphorus quality protein.
 
My cat CKD experts use Hills and RX starting with late stage 2 and frowns upon Dr. Becker. Hills is not quality so on that one I can’t wrap my head around their reasoning. They are so smart in all other ways.
 
Until later stage CKD, the current recommendation is to feed a low phosphorus diet with good quality protein. Restricting protein in early stages is "old school'.

Weruva makes a large selection (both in flavors and textures) of foods that are both low carb/low phosphorus. Also BFF (a spin-off brand of Weruva)

You can also add a bit of cooked egg white to food to increase the protein level without adding phosphorus.
 
Thanks for your replies.

Do I look at the protein percentage in calories, as fed, or dry matter? The nutrition info (at least from Weruva) presents the protein (and phosphorus, etc.) in all 3 ways, and each one is a different percentage.

Tanya's site says for cats with kidney disease says dry matter protein percentage should be 28-35%. This means most of the food I've just spent a fortune on for Maxi is too high in protein for his kidney disease. :-0 :-(

I'm totally confused again about what food to give him that's best for both kidney disease and diabetes.
 
Last edited:
Thanks for that, Deb.

I just called and they told me Maxi is in stage 1 kidney disease.

My research until now has led me to feed him:

Weruva BFF Topsy Turvy
Weruva BFF Checkmate
https://weruva.com/nutrition-landing/bff-play-ni/

Weruva Truluxe Glam 'N Punk
Weruva Truluxe Steak Frites
Weruva Truluxe On The Cat Wok
https://weruva.com/nutrition-landing/truluxe-ni/

Weruva Cats in the Kitchen Chicken Frick 'A Zee
https://weruva.com/nutrition-landing/citk-ni/

Weruva Paw Lickin' Chicken
https://weruva.com/nutrition-landing/wcc-ni/



This is the conclusion of recent research results published in 2019:
"In conclusion, cats with CKD readily transition to renal food. The data suggest that renal foods with high concentrations of carnitine and essential amino acids, and of higher energy density, are critical for cats with IRIS stage 1 and 2 CKD to maintain body weight, BCS and LBM as these cats may have decreased appetite and fluctuations in daily food intake. Attributes of renal therapeutic foods considered important for managing major metabolic disorders associated with cachexia (increased resting energy requirements, decreased appetite and muscle atrophy) and for maintaining LBM are enhanced palatability, high caloric density, high concentrations of all essential amino acids, L-carnitine supplementation and added fish oil as a source of (n-3) highly PUFA. As in dogs,30 these results support the recommendation that feeding a renal-support diet to cats with IRIS stage 1 and 2 CKD should be considered the standard of care."
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6589452/

How do I use this info and balance it with a proper diabetes diet?

According to page 11 of the link above, Checkmate and Glam 'N Punk are best for Maxi (of the foods I have). Am I right? But what about the conclusion of the 2019 article?

Please advise.

Many thanks
 
Last edited:
Si am cat mom said:
Most Veterinary studies recommend diabetic diets for cats with renal disease until later stages. Protein can cause the kidneys to have a harder time filtering other things- then urea and phosphorus levels build up. Too little protein increases the muscle wasting that often occurs with kidney disease and can cause other issues...
Limiting the other things like phosphorus and not cutting back on protein until you absolutely have to is usually advised.
Click to expand...

This is the conclusion of recent research results published in 2019:
"In conclusion, cats with CKD readily transition to renal food. The data suggest that renal foods with high concentrations of carnitine and essential amino acids, and of higher energy density, are critical for cats with IRIS stage 1 and 2 CKD to maintain body weight, BCS and LBM as these cats may have decreased appetite and fluctuations in daily food intake. Attributes of renal therapeutic foods considered important for managing major metabolic disorders associated with cachexia (increased resting energy requirements, decreased appetite and muscle atrophy) and for maintaining LBM are enhanced palatability, high caloric density, high concentrations of all essential amino acids, L-carnitine supplementation and added fish oil as a source of (n-3) highly PUFA. As in dogs,30 these results support the recommendation that feeding a renal-support diet to cats with IRIS stage 1 and 2 CKD should be considered the standard of care."
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6589452/
 
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