Research overview: low-carbohydrate diets in feline diabetes management

Because cats are obligate carnivores adapted to low-carbohydrate, high-protein diets, feeding low-carbohydrate therapeutic foods reduces postprandial glucose load and has been associated with improved glycemic control and higher rates of diabetic remission. Dietary carbohydrate restriction is a foundational component of management alongside insulin or oral agents. This overview synthesizes the nutritional literature rather than one citation, describing the metabolic rationale rooted in feline carnivore physiology, why reducing dietary carbohydrate lowers insulin requirements and supports remission, and how diet is integrated with weight management and pharmacologic therapy. It matters because diet is a powerful, accessible lever in feline diabetes, reflecting the broader theme that aligning a cat's nutrition with its evolved metabolism influences the course of metabolic disease.