The invention provides methods for reducing absorption of carbohydrates in a companion animal, comprising identifying the companion animal having a health condition or at risk for the health condition associated with high carbohydrate ingestion and feeding a dietary formulation in a therapeutically effective amount to the companion animal. Such dietary formulations can be any of those as described herein. Generally, the dietary formulation can comprise 20% to 60% protein, 10% to 40% fat, 10% to 50% carbohydrates, and 0.01% to 5% alpha-amylase inhibitor. Typically, the therapeutically effective amount can be effective for reducing absorption of carbohydrates in the companion animal as measured by lowering the postprandial blood glucose of the animal as compared to the postprandial blood glucose of the companion animal ingesting a comparable dietary formulation that excludes the alpha-amylase inhibitor.