Are insulin injections the only answer for your diabetic dog?
Are insulin injections the only answer for your diabetic dog
?There are natural ways to treat and help your diabetic dog but the fact still remains, if they need insulin, then insulin they must have. But even if this is the only answer you can still considerably reduce the amount of insulin to be administered along with improving your dog's health and wellbeing.
Diet.
It goes without saying that sugar needs to be reduced or cut out completely. But although it is pretty easy to recognize sugar or glucose within foodstuffs, it isn't so obvious to recognize the other big culprit for diabetic mayhem carbohydrates. Most dry dog foods, including the prescription diets your vet sells, are predominately made from grains. The problem with grains is that they're usually very high in carbohydrates, which you and your dog's body quickly turns into glucose thus producing a spike in blood sugar levels.
If you think of the principle of the Atkins diet with the cutting out of carbs, you can begin to understand what happens when you or your dog consumes carbs. Carbs = sugar = weight gain (sometimes diabetes). Both simple and complex carbs produce glucose but they are released into the blood stream at different speeds. Simple being quick, complex being slow. Generally they are OK for your energy levels but the over-consumption of carbs has probably been the leading cause of obesity and diabetes in both humans and dogs. In times gone by before the modern medical marvels of treating diabetes if someone became diabetic it was unlikely they would live past 30. But the doctors of old recommended a diet of protein and fat with no carbs or sugar (fruit), perhaps you could say those doctors of a couple of hundred years ago began the Atkins diet! The best way to regulate the glucose being released into the bloodstream is to prolong the digestion process with a diet higher in protein and fat. In the case of your diabetic dog perhaps try a good quality canned food or better still a homemade diet.
Exercise.
Any good diabetic will tell you that exercise does wonders for their condition. Getting the blood pumping helps shift that excess weight and helps regulate your blood sugar levels. The fatter you are, the more difficult it is to keep good sugar levels and control. Diabetes is all about good control. The only thing to be mindful of is that exercise will burn your sugar up so beware of the hypo. The same applies to your dog, give him as much exercise as possible but have something on hand should he show symptoms of a hypo. With this in mind perhaps you should work out an exercise plan with your vet.
Your vet will tell you that consistency is the key and will probably suggest that you exercise your pet at the same time every day keeping the sessions the same length without being over-vigorous; you do not want your dog getting out of breath as he could be on the way to having a hypo. If your dog goes dizzy or weak or starts to act in an unusual way, give him something sweet and get to the vet quickly.
Natural Remedies
Many studies have shown that certain herbs, vitamins, nutrients and minerals can be helpful in regulating blood glucose levels in a diabetic dog. These include:
Fenugreek: helps to slow down carbohydrate absorption and may stimulate insulin production.
Astragalus: is often used in Chinese Medicine. Clinical research has proven its effectiveness to regulate glucose levels and it can also prevent or slow the formation of cataracts, which are almost a guaranteed effect of canine diabetes.
Goat's rue can lower glucose levels without causing hypoglycaemia (hypo) and may also reduce your dog's risk of cataracts, and may also prevent kidney damage.
Bilberry is another cataract preventing favourite with herbalists with some even believing Bilberry can reverse them.
Chromium is an essential mineral for glucose regulation in the blood. Popular with humans in supplement form, it is also an excellent product for your diabetic dog. It can prevent insulin resistance, which is usually a precursor of type 2 diabetes which is the most common form of this disease among canines and humans.
All the above are fine to use along with insulin but some owners wish to pursue this herbal direction to a point where their pet is no longer insulin dependent. This is a great goal but consult with your vet before making any major changes. Remember mainstream vets are not champions of any alternative remedies or medicines, so make sure your vet is forward rather than backward thinking.
Diabetes is a horrible aging disease but with good blood sugar control for you or your dog it will mean a virtually normal and happy existence.
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