My cat was recently diagnosed with diabetes. He has high sugar levels in his urine and a fructosamine level of 570. I'm currently giving him Lantus insulin injections twice a day. Since Barsik is prone to sand formation, and we've already treated him with a special urinary tract diet, could these factors have triggered the diabetes? The urinary tract diet isn't very good in terms of nutrition, as meat is far from the top ingredient.
New Member 14.07.2026 Leonid & Barsik
- OP Leonid
- Start date
CORKY
Member Since 2023
Hello and welcome. You are correct, those "prescription vet" diets that help with crystals are very high in carbohydrates. Your kitty Barsik is not the first to become diabetic from them. My second kitty got crystals one week after my Neko was diagnosed with diabetes. I needed a food both can eat, so her vet suggested raw food. I gave raw with plenty of water added. I found out later that it didn't have to be raw, but rather a wet food that is lower in phosphorus with lots of water added. More information on this website by a vet specializing in feline nutrition: Cat Urinary Tract Diseases: Cystitis, Urethral Obstruction, Urinary Tract Infection
What food was Barsik eating before he was put on the special urinary food?
What food was Barsik eating before he was put on the special urinary food?
Mix of canned food for sterilized cats and dry food. Now i also try to feed him with something natural, yet he refused to eat chicken without addition of canned food. I'll look for supplements that provide all the necessary nutrients and make the food more appealing. Are there any natural diets with reduced phosphorus? Barsik's creatinine is 142 and cystatin C is 11.5, which indicates decreased kidney function.
What country are you in? Maybe we can suggest some food that you can find there that is appropriate. With my girl Neko, I looked for raw food that used eggshell calcium instead of ground bone - those were reduced in phosphorus. I also made my own cat food with a meal completer that I added to meat. The meal completers (I tried two of them) also used eggshell calcium instead of ground bone. If he doesn't like chicken, you can always add supplements to another protein he does like. This website is one that provides a list of what you need to add to meat to make a complete meal: Making Cat Food
Is Barsik's phosphorus elevated? I had one kidney kitty that did not have high phosphorus, so I just fed somewhat lower phosphorus.
Is Barsik's phosphorus elevated? I had one kidney kitty that did not have high phosphorus, so I just fed somewhat lower phosphorus.