Expert: KC - 3/21/2008

Question
MY CAT WAS JUST DIAGNOSED WITH DIABETES, I HAD BEEN FEEDING HIM WITH EVO CANNED AND DRY FOOD, ALSO PLAIN YOGURT SOMETIMES, THE VET SAYS NO MORE YOGURT OR DRY FOOD, HE LOVES DRY FOOD AND YOGURT,IS EVO A GOOD FOOD? AND ANY HELP ABOUT THE DIABETES WOULD BE APPRECIATED.
THANK YOU

Answer
Hi Catherine,
I'm sorry to hear about your cat's diagnosis.  However, I'm very happy that you are concerned about his diet and obviously researching it online.  Hopefully your vet is well informed as well and does not advocate the Science Diet Prescription diet, etc.  Most of those top name brands are made as cheaply as possible and are loaded in sugars (from grains) and do more harm than good...especially in a diabetic cat!  Years ago, one of my own cats suffered from diabetes, no doubt because of my limited knowledge of foods and diet at that time.  I had always fed free choice, especially dry, because that is what the cats preferred.  I also feed only Science Diet at the time because my vet recommended it.  My cat's diabetes was well controlled for over two years.  He was fed twice a day (the Science Diet m/d) and given PZI insulin.  The PZI is an excellent choice in cats and works far better than other brands.  He required a lot of insulin...almost 5 units with each meal (twice per day).  After running across an article on feline nutrition and the dangers of most commercial foods, I began to research it for myself...  I was appauled when I learned what really goes into foods...the big brands are by far the worst.  Please check out some of Ann Martin's books and also the information that a vet has posted online at www.rawmeatybones.com.  After much debating I decided to take my cat off insulin and change his diet.  I decided to discontinue the insulin because I had no idea what the new food would do to his blood glucose level nor how high (or low) his blood glucose would peak between meals.  I didn't want to risk him becoming hypoglycemic.  After changing foods, I measured his blood glucose level every 1-2 hours (around the clock for the first day..and yes, that was a LOT of insulin strips!).  I had a blood glucose curve plotted and monitored him for several days.  Initially, he went from needing 5 units to only 1.  Within two weeks, he no longer needed insulin at all...his blood glucose (around the clock) was in a perfectly normal range...not even on the high end of the range!  Within two months his weight was perfectly normal, his dry itchy skin and coat was healthier than it had been in years, and he was far more active than he'd been in a very long time.  He was also, for the first time ever, completely content between meals (only twice per day).
Thus, I'm now a major advocate of a by-product free and grain free diet.  I only use foods that are made from human grade ingredients.  I also feed raw foods...all kinds of raw meats.  I also preach that both cats and dogs only be fed twice daily, as carnivors don't have a digestive tract that is designed to graze all day.  Feeding more often only causes problems...with obesity being one of them.  So, with that said, I highly recommend the Nature's Variety brand of food.  They make excellent canned and frozen varieties and also grain-free dry food.  Wellness is also an excellent choice.  The Innova EVO is also very good.  I do prefer to feed diabetic cats a canned food, even though the grain free dry foods are very healthy, they will contain more carbohydrates...it's difficult to make a dry (due to the consistency) without certain additives.  I would really try to get him on the Nature's Variety first...give their raw foods a try as they are fully supplemented and easy to feed.  Their canned foods are very low in sugars and carbs and would be great for him.  I truly think their brand is among the best.  Also check out www.felinespride.com.  It's another fully supplemented raw.  A cat will most likely not want the raw foods immediately...they have to get used to them.  If a cat is used to eating a high sugar dry food all the time...especially if they are used to grazing on it whenever they like, they will have a major adjustment to make...just stick with it.  I hope this answers your questions.
Best of luck with your cat!
P.S. Please read over some of my past answers in the All Experts site.  I've answered quite a lot on diabetic cats, the amount to feed, etc.