Cat diagnosed with diabetes

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sostratos

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I have a 5 year old neutered male cat. He's been urinating a lot recently and even vomited a couple of times, so I took him to see the vet today. His blood sugar tested at 411, so he was prescribed insulin injections twice a day for the next 5 days, after which I'll take him back in to check his progress.

My concern is this: The vet told me that the canned food I had been feeding was not suitable for a cat with diabetes, and that I should feed a special formula dry food. The canned food in question is Friskie's turkey and giblets classic pate. Is this true? I haven't been able to find anything to back this up, and have seen lots of talk about canned food being one of the best things you can feed a diabetic, or indeed any, cat. I brought the special dry food home anyway, and my cat ate it eagerly. I just want to be sure I'm doing the best thing I can for him.
 
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missmimz

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I would definetly continue feeding wet over any dry, including any RX foods, but Friskies pate isn't great food. IMO It's okay for rotation but I wouldn't feed it exclusively just because it's low quality. What about something like Instinct, Merrick, Wellness, Nutro? Diet is going to be really key in helping him do well with his recent diagnosis, so if you can upgrade his food to better quality, it will only help him. 

http://feline-nutrition.org/health/feline-diabetes-the-influence-of-diet

http://feline-nutrition.org/health/what-is-an-appropriate-diet-for-a-diabetic-cat
 
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fairycatmom

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Hi, I don't have any cats with diabetes, but I read in the book Your Cat: Simple New Secrets to a Longer, Stronger Life by Dr. Elizabeth M. Hodgkins that many of her patients can have their diabetes controlled just by taking them off dry food and feeding high quality canned food. Definitely something to talk with your vet about.

Some other options that are a little less expensive are Canidae and Triumph. I buy mine online on Chewy or Pet360.
 
LTS3

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Please visit the FelineDiabetes.com message board You'll get a lot more detailed help and advice from ther diabetic cat owners there than you can from TCS but you are certainly welcome to stay here on TCS and ask general cat questions and join in some of the fun things happening in the Lounge forum
Here is one TCS member's positive experience with the FDMB board: http://www.thecatsite.com/t/318949/does-your-cat-have-diabetes-if-so-please-read

Friskies Turkey and Giblet pate is perfectly fine to feed
It's low carb enough for a diabetic cat. You want to feed canned food that has under 10% carbs. Use this chart: http://catinfo.org/docs/FoodChartPublic9-22-12.pdf There are many low carb brands you can feed so feed whatever your cat likes and you can afford.

You do not need the dry food, not even prescription food for diabetic cats. Dry foods are way too high in carbs to be fed to  diabetic cat, kind of like feeding a Human diabetic sugary junk food. Plus dry food is one reason why many cats end up diabetic in the first place.

Treats need to be low carb, too. Freeze dried 100% meat or fish treats are best. PureBites is one poular brand but there are others: http://www.thecatsite.com/t/314398/what-treats-do-you-feed-your-cat

5 years is a bit young for diabetes but juvenile diabetes can happen. Did the vet diagnose the diabetes with a fructosamine blood test? A simple quick blood glucose test, like how a Human diabetic pricks a finger to get blood and puts the sample into the little meter, only tells what the glucose level is at that very moment. Many cats are sto stressed out at the vet's office that their blood glucose levels is really high.
 
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sostratos

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LTS3 said:
 
Please visit the FelineDiabetes.com message board You'll get a lot more detailed help and advice from ther diabetic cat owners there than you can from TCS but you are certainly welcome to stay here on TCS and ask general cat questions and join in some of the fun things happening in the Lounge forum
Here is one TCS member's positive experience with the FDMB board: http://www.thecatsite.com/t/318949/does-your-cat-have-diabetes-if-so-please-read

Friskies Turkey and Giblet pate is perfectly fine to feed
It's low carb enough for a diabetic cat. You want to feed canned food that has under 10% carbs. Use this chart: http://catinfo.org/docs/FoodChartPublic9-22-12.pdf There are many low carb brands you can feed so feed whatever your cat likes and you can afford.

You do not need the dry food, not even prescription food for diabetic cats. Dry foods are way too high in carbs to be fed to  diabetic cat, kind of like feeding a Human diabetic sugary junk food. Plus dry food is one reason why many cats end up diabetic in the first place.

Treats need to be low carb, too. Freeze dried 100% meat or fish treats are best. PureBites is one poular brand but there are others: http://www.thecatsite.com/t/314398/what-treats-do-you-feed-your-cat

5 years is a bit young for diabetes but juvenile diabetes can happen. Did the vet diagnose the diabetes with a fructosamine blood test? A simple quick blood glucose test, like how a Human diabetic pricks a finger to get blood and puts the sample into the little meter, only tells what the glucose level is at that very moment. Many cats are sto stressed out at the vet's office that their blood glucose levels is really high.
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Thanks to everyone for all this information. I will definitely have a look at the Feline Diabetes message board. To address a specific point: I believe the diagnosis is very preliminary. My cat (his name is Tarzan) has always been very easily stressed out, so that could certainly be a factor, but with all the reported symptoms my vet still seemed to think diabetes was the likely problem. Tarzan is due to go back in either Saturday or next Monday for follow-ups, so I'll request some more definitive lab tests just to make sure. 
 
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