How Do I Lower My Horse’S Blood Sugar?

Feeding low glycemic index feeds, like plain beet pulp and warm-season grasses, will also help to lower blood glucose and insulin. Increasing the amount of exercise your horse gets is also very important in maintaining a healthy horse.

What causes high glucose levels in horses?

Age and diet may be directly related to the development of equine metabolic syndrome. Age is thought to decrease the horse’s sensitivity to insulin. Meals high in starch and sugar cause significant spikes in blood glucose and insulin, and years of consuming such meals might lead to insulin resistance.

What is a high insulin number in horses?

Liphook Equine Hospital (Immulite CIA) – 20 mIU/l and above is considered above normal and diagnostic of hyperinsulinaemia. Reference ranges for insulin may be breed specific, therefore a cut-off of 20 µIU/ml may not be appropriate for all breeds.

What do you feed a horse with diabetes?

Affected horses will get along best on a ration with low starch content and good-quality fermentable fiber. Free-choice grazing and grass hay can be supplemented with molasses-free beet pulp, and vegetable oil can be added to the diet unless the horse’s triglyceride level is elevated.

What hay is best for insulin resistant horses?

Alfalfa can be an excellent addition to most horses’ diets, even for those that are insulin resistant (IR). I often recommend feeding it because it boosts the overall protein quality of a grass-hay diet and, in general, enhances the horse’s muscle tone, immune system and overall health.

What happens if a horse gets too much sugar?

The sugars in horse feed are known as water-soluble carbohydrate (WSC) and too much can lead to diet-related metabolic disorders. As well as weight gain, too much sugar can lead to more serious health implications for horses such as Laminitis, Metabolic Syndrome and Insulin Resistance.

Does grazing raise blood sugar?

New study suggests that eating two large meals per day improves insulin sensitivity and promotes weight loss better in patients with type 2 diabetes than grazing. Conventional dietary wisdom holds that eating frequent but small meals—“grazing”—helps to maintain steady blood glucose and promotes weight loss.

How do you fix high insulin levels?

14 Ways to Lower Your Insulin Levels

1. Follow a lower-carb eating plan.
2. Try supplementing with ACV.
3. Notice portion sizes.
4. Eat less sugar.
5. Prioritize physical activity.
6. Add cinnamon.
7. Choose complex carbs.
8. Increase activity level.

What is an alternative to metformin for horses?

NoMetSyn is a natural alternative to the drug metformin which is commonly used to improve insulin sensitivity in horses and ponies. Insulin resistance is one of the most common predisposing factors in equine laminitis and Cushing’s Disease.

Can an insulin-resistant horse eat grass?

Grass is the most natural food for horses, but fresh grass can be your worst enemy if you have an insulin resistant (IR) horse. Known as Equine Metabolic Syndrome (EMS), insulin resistance presents a special challenge when it comes to grazing.

What is the best hay to feed a horse with laminitis?

The horse should be fed low-NSC hay at the rate of 1.5 to 2% of body weight. Alfalfa hay (lucerne) can be part of the diet during the acute stages. Chaff, beet pulp, and soy hulls can provide part of the fiber intake.

What can insulin-resistant horses eat?

Select hay with a low level of soluble carbohydrates for the IR horse. Small grain hays such as oat and ryegrass have much greater sugar content than other grass hays like timothy and orchard grass.

What vegetables are low in sugar for horses?

For a different treat, try bananas or celery, or if your horse is an unadventurous eater try low-sugar veg such as swede, parsnips and turnips. These can also act as boredom busters if you hang them in the stable.

Which hay is lowest in sugars?

In a recent study, Teff hay proved beneficial for laminitic horses because of its low sugar and starch content, making it safe for horses with certain conditions or diet restrictions to consume. Teff hay is usually grown in warm seasons that originate from Ethiopia as a grain.

What are the signs of insulin resistance in horses?

Early signs of Insulin Resistant Horse:

• Abnormal weight gain or weight loss.
• Increased or excessive water consumption.
• Loss of stamina and muscle tone.
• Tendency to develop laminitis or colic.
• Abdominal bloating.
• Increased blood triglyceride levels.

Can you reverse insulin resistance in horses?

Whether or not insulin dysregulation can be reversed once it develops remains unclear, but one recently published study suggests that it can. The reversal of insulin dysregulation was demonstrated using Shetland ponies, which are known for their propensity to gain weight and develop insulin dysregulation.

Are carrots full of sugar for horses?

Carrots – as they are fed to the horse, in a fresh state – are NOT high in sugar or NSC (non-structural carbohydrates). Fresh carrots are – by official human food definition – a low sugar food at less than 5% sugar. Carrots are around 80% water, so any sugar in them is diluted i.e. they are mostly water.

What happens if you feed a horse too many apples?

Most people like to feed their horses with treats such as apples. However, too much of something is poisonous, and this is true for fruits. When your horse has a belly filled with apples, it is likely to cause colic, which may further lead to founder. You should not give your horse more than two pieces of fruit.

How do you take care of a horse with diabetes?

They include:

1. Reduce sugars in the horse’s diet. “If we have horses who have a higher insulin concentration, we know that keeping them on a low-sugar diet does not stimulate insulin release as much,” says Frank.
2. Feed frequent small meals.
3. Restrict grazing.
4. Don’t let the horse become fat.

What spikes blood sugar fast?

In general, foods that cause blood sugar level to rise the most are those that are high in carbohydrates, which are quickly converted into energy, such as rice, bread, fruits and sugar. Next are foods high in protein, such as meats, fish eggs, milk and dairy products, and oily foods.

What is the dawn effect on blood sugar?

The dawn phenomenon is an early-morning rise in blood sugar, also called blood glucose, in people with diabetes. The dawn phenomenon leads to high levels of blood sugar, a condition called hyperglycemia. It usually happens between 4 a.m. and 8 a.m.