397: Beyond insulin: What’s new in feline diabetes

In this episode of The Vet Blast Podcast, host Dr. Chrisman sits down with Dr. Lacey Lee, a feline medicine expert and owner of the Cat Care Center of Baton Rouge, to explore the latest advancements in managing feline diabetes beyond insulin. Dr. Lee emphasizes that diabetes in cats is increasingly prevalent, particularly in obese, indoor, middle-aged females, with lifestyle and diet playing major roles. She highlights prevention strategies focused on kittens and overweight adult cats, stressing the importance of body condition scoring, nutritional education, and caregiver engagement. The conversation dives into treatment options, including the growing role of SGLT2 inhibitors for healthy cats with simple diabetes, while cautioning against their use in cats with comorbidities. Dr. Lee champions Royal Canin's Glyco Advanced diet as a cornerstone of management, citing its palatability, high digestible protein, low starch, and success in achieving remission—demonstrated in a case study of a cat who entered complete remission within four weeks post-DKA treatment. The episode underscores a team-based, individualized approach to care, with strong emphasis on nutrition, caloric restriction, and long-term monitoring to support remission and quality of life.