What is laminitis or cushing’s disease in horses? What is the best treatment? Feeding management for horses with laminitis generally require a low sugar, low starch diet. The sugar and starch in a horse's diet is called the non-structural carbohydrates, or NSC. ALL feeds and forages in the diet of a horse with laminitis should contain less than 12% NSC to help keep their blood glucose and insulin levels as low as possible and/or to prevent the passage of starch into the hindgut.