Veterinary Specialty Hospital - North County

We are investigating a new diet that has been shown to reduce body fat, maintain lean muscle mass, and eliminate the need for insulin in cats with newly diagnosed diabetes.

STUDY OBJECTIVE:

We are enrolling diabetic cats in our study

We are studying a new diet that has been shown to reduce body fat while maintaining lean muscle mass in cats. It may also decrease the need for insulin therapy in cats. This study will determine whether this new diet alone (without concurrent insulin therapy) can help cats with newly diagnosed diabetes reach insulin remission.

Diabetes is a frequently diagnosed condition in cats and is usually treated with insulin therapy. The management of diabetes in cats can require regular office visits, hospitalization, and frequent injections of insulin. All of this medical intervention goes against the instincts of cats, who would prefer not to go to the vet so frequently and also not to receive twice daily insulin injections.

WHAT TO EXPECT

This study involves a series of physical examinations, blood sample collections, and associated questionnaires on the diet over the course of 4 months.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

• Cats who have been diagnosed with diabetes in the past month

  • As a result, they have not yet received much or any insulin therapy

  • Cats who have had no diet changes in the last 21 days.

• Cats with no history of unscheduled hospital visits for diabetes-related reasons in the last 30 days, specifically:

  • A hypoglycemic episode

  • Ketoacidosis

• Cats with healthy appetites

  • No prolonged period (more than 3 days) of decreased appetite or vomiting in the last 30 days.

PARTICIPATING HOSPITALS

• Veterinary Specialty Hospital – Sorrento Valley, San Diego, CA

• Veterinary Specialty Hospital – North County, San Marcos, CA

Benefits of Participation

Pet owners who participate receive

• Participation is free to the pet owner.

  • All of the procedures associated with the study are covered, including the treatment of adverse events up to $3,000. Should the patient fail to respond adequately to the trial, this amount can also be used towards the cost of transitioning the patient to insulin.

If you’re interested please ask the person treating your dog for more information about this study, and for an eligibility screening.