Our vet has just informed us that our cat has diabetes. Is there a special diet I should be following? Thanks.

From: Cat Chat, the Radio Show

A high-protein, low carbohydrate diet is best for diabetes. Ideally, the goal is to reduce the amount of body fat by feeding a diet of no more than 20% carbohydrates. There are commercial diets specifically formulated for feline diabetes, but when you read about the quality of food ingredients in commercial cat food in the nutrition chapter, you may decide to fashion your own diabetes diet. We’re really just talking about feeding your cat lots of meat, and a high protein diet is actually what a cat would be eating if guided by her own instincts. Just remember that with a diabetic cat you should always consult with your vet about any changes you want to make in her diet, to accommodate her diabetes.

A caring and smart listener answered my rhetorical question with the following, and I humbly and thankfully accept that she caught my ignorance on this. I DEPEND on the Cat Chat community to make me, and every other listener, wiser.

"The reason a vet would put a cat with an inflamed pancreas on a diabetic diet is because the pancreas produces insulin, and until the organ heals the kitty may have low or erratic insulin production, which affects blood sugar levels."

Thanks, Carol!

"Regarding the pancreatitis, please don't say you were ignorant.  There are a lot of things that many of us do not realize, due to our specific interests and training.  Just trying to help.  I happen to be in the medical field (human), and I knew why.  We all learn every day from each other!  Thanks for your personal help.  Don't see much of that anymore."
—Carol

Tracie Hotchner