Horses can get diabetes. Since they are not only beloved companions but incredibly valuable pieces of property, there is a huge interest on the part of drug companies to find a diabetes cure for horses. Part of a horse’s inherent value is that they are so fragile. Unlike catastrophic leg or digestive problems, which come up from out of the blue, a diabetes cure or at least control is very possible.
Property?
Unfortunately, horses as well as other animals, are legally classified as “property”. This has both its advantages and disadvantaged for horse slaves…er, I mean, owners. Because they are property, they have a monetary value. Unlike a car, a horse’s book value tends to either stay the same or grow no matter the age of the horse.
1964 Kentucky Derby winner Northern Dancer became even more valuable as a breeding stallion, and then more and more valuable as he got older and his offspring cleaned up on the track. In 1961, Northern Dancer could not be sold at auction, because he was “too small”. By 1981, he was worth over $40 million. When he passed away in 1990, the value of all of his surviving offspring skyrocketed.
This is a huge financial incentive for drug companies to find an equine diabetes cure. They know the horse owners will pay for it gladly.
Basic Equine Diabetes Information
Horses get what’s known as Type II diabetes, which happens when the body cannot absorb enough natural insulin because there’s too much fat in the way. Horses are notorious gluttons. When they get older, they can’t metabolize their food as effectively, so they often put on the weight that leads to diabetes. So far, the only sure fire equine diabetes cure there is is prevention.
Horses needing a diabetes cure are overweight, even when put on a diet, sluggish, get laminitis (a recurring, potentially lethal disease in the hooves) and take much longer to recover from simple illnesses. You need to have your veterinarian make an accurate diagnosis. These symptoms are also very close to Cushing’s disease. There’s no sense starting a diabetes cure if your horse doesn’t have diabetes!
Since equine diabetes is common in older horses, there are commercially available feeds made just for diabetic horses that may help you lead your horse to a diabetes cure. You will also need to reduce grain and increase hay. You also need to be sure your horse exercises everyday. Just turning out to pasture may not be sufficient if your horse is feeling sluggish.
Diabetic Diet Facts
People who are diagnosed with diabetes face many changes in their life. One of the most significant changes they will have to make is to their diet. Diabetics can often control the disease simply by changing their diet and losing excess weight. Even if the disease is not completely controlled the diabetic diet will be a major factor in managing blood sugars and preventing further complications.
It is important for people afflicted with diabetes and their family members to understand the basic facts about the diabetic diet. Knowing about how various foods affect the blood sugars will allow a person to make the necessary changes that will positively affect the disease. Carbohydrates, proteins and fats are all important parts of any diet that will need to be considered in the diabetic diet.
Carbohydrates In The Diabetic Diet
Carbohydrates cover a broad expanse of food items. In fact, if a food is neither a protein nor a fat it can most likely be categorized as a carbohydrate. Carbohydrates are important to the human body because they are broken down into sugars and converted to energy. Carbohydrates can be classified as either simple or complex. Simple carbohydrates are the ones that are more simple sugars and are quickly used in the body.
Simple carbohydrates are sugar, honey, juices, and foods that contain these items such as candy, syrups, and sweetened processed food. Complex carbohydrates are foods that require more effort to be broken down by the body and contain many of the vitamins and minerals required by the body.
Complex carbohydrates are whole grain breads, vegetables, cereals, and some fruits. People who are diagnosed with diabetes will need to control their carbohydrate intake and will want to avoid any simple carbohydrates. Choosing the more nutritious, vitamin packed complex carbohydrates will prove very beneficial in the diabetic diet.
Proteins In The Diabetic Diet
Proteins are foods that are used by the body to build tissues and assist in various body functions. Proteins are great for the diabetic to eat because they are not easily converted into sugars but if too much protein is eaten in the diabetic diet the are potential complications especially to the urinary system.
Diabetics will want to choose proteins such as lean red meat, lean chicken and fish to fill this need in their diet. Eggs are also an excellent source of protein. Legumes, peanuts and beans, will provide complete proteins when combined with whole grains. People do need to realize that a serving of protein is not a sixteen ounce sirloin. Only a few ounces of protein are needed to make up once serving. One piece of chicken such as a leg or thigh is considered a serving of protein.
Fats In The Diabetic Diet
Fats are very important in the human diet to provide necessary elements for good body functioning but the diabetic diet should focus on reducing the amount of overall fat that is consumed. An important thing to consider in reducing the fats in the diet is to try to cut down on the animal fats and change to vegetable fats.
It is important for people afflicted with diabetes and their family members to understand the basic facts about the diabetic diet. Knowing about how various foods affect the blood sugars will allow a person to make the necessary changes that will positively affect the disease. Carbohydrates, proteins and fats are all important parts of any diet that will need to be considered in the diabetic diet.
Carbohydrates In The Diabetic Diet
Carbohydrates cover a broad expanse of food items. In fact, if a food is neither a protein nor a fat it can most likely be categorized as a carbohydrate. Carbohydrates are important to the human body because they are broken down into sugars and converted to energy. Carbohydrates can be classified as either simple or complex. Simple carbohydrates are the ones that are more simple sugars and are quickly used in the body.
Simple carbohydrates are sugar, honey, juices, and foods that contain these items such as candy, syrups, and sweetened processed food. Complex carbohydrates are foods that require more effort to be broken down by the body and contain many of the vitamins and minerals required by the body.
Complex carbohydrates are whole grain breads, vegetables, cereals, and some fruits. People who are diagnosed with diabetes will need to control their carbohydrate intake and will want to avoid any simple carbohydrates. Choosing the more nutritious, vitamin packed complex carbohydrates will prove very beneficial in the diabetic diet.
Proteins In The Diabetic Diet
Proteins are foods that are used by the body to build tissues and assist in various body functions. Proteins are great for the diabetic to eat because they are not easily converted into sugars but if too much protein is eaten in the diabetic diet the are potential complications especially to the urinary system.
Diabetics will want to choose proteins such as lean red meat, lean chicken and fish to fill this need in their diet. Eggs are also an excellent source of protein. Legumes, peanuts and beans, will provide complete proteins when combined with whole grains. People do need to realize that a serving of protein is not a sixteen ounce sirloin. Only a few ounces of protein are needed to make up once serving. One piece of chicken such as a leg or thigh is considered a serving of protein.
Fats In The Diabetic Diet
Fats are very important in the human diet to provide necessary elements for good body functioning but the diabetic diet should focus on reducing the amount of overall fat that is consumed. An important thing to consider in reducing the fats in the diet is to try to cut down on the animal fats and change to vegetable fats.
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