Understanding How Gut Microbiota and Metabolic Changes Influence Diabetes

Some studies indicate about 20% of diabetic cats are euthanized in the first year of diagnosis because of reduced quality of life of both the pet and owner. Given the high prevalence of feline diabetes, it’s critical to find new ways to screen prediabetic cats and develop new strategies to slow or prevent disease progression. Researchers will evaluate changes in the gut microbiota of diabetic cats that interfere with the cats’ metabolism and contribute to the development of diabetes. The team hopes to identify novel biomarkers and biochemical pathways specific to feline diabetes as a first step toward the discovery process for new diagnostics and therapies to help these patients.