I’m Kayla, and my old guy, Milo, was diagnosed with diabetes last winter. He’s a 10-year-old terrier mix with a crooked smile and a thing for squeaky ducks. The day we got the news, it was cold, and my hands shook when I learned how to do insulin. I cried in the car. Then I did what most of us do—I went hunting for the right food.
Here’s the thing: food matters a lot. But food isn’t magic. We paired it with insulin, steady walks, and a boring-but-true routine. You know what? That routine kept Milo safe.
Below is what we used, what happened, and what I’d change if I could hit rewind.
What my vet drilled into me (and she was right)
- Feed at the same times every day (we do 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.).
- Give insulin after he eats, not before.
- Look for steady carbs, good fiber, and moderate fat.
- Keep treats simple and low sugar. Think green beans. Bits of his own kibble. Freeze-dried chicken.
I also did glucose curves with an AlphaTRAK meter at home. Later, our vet placed a Libre sensor for a week. That data told us more truth than my hope ever could.
Food #1: Hill’s Prescription Diet w/d (Glucose/Weight/Urinary)
We started here because it was easy to get and our vet liked it. For anyone in the UK, it's simple to grab a bag from zooplus.co.uk, which ships fast.
What I saw:
- Milo’s energy evened out by day 4. No wild ups and downs at lunch.
- His poop got firm. I know that’s not cute, but it’s important.
- He didn’t love the dry kibble alone. Warm water helped. Sometimes I mixed a spoon of the canned w/d to tempt him.
Good stuff:
- Predictable. His morning numbers were calmer on this.
- Less begging between meals.
Not-so-great:
- The smell is… strong. My pantry smelled like a vet clinic.
- It’s pricey, and the canned version can gum up the spoon.
- First week, he had some gas. It passed, but wow.
Verdict: Solid starter. It took the chaos down a notch. We used it for two full months.
Food #2: Royal Canin Glycobalance (dry)
We switched after a curve still showed some late-day spikes. My vet suggested this one. I was nervous to change, but we eased in over 10 days.
What I saw:
- Milo ate it without bribery. No extra toppers needed.
- His Libre graph looked smoother in the afternoon. Those little mountain peaks turned into gentle hills.
- His coat got shiny. That was a surprise.
Good stuff:
- Palatability. He ran to the bowl.
- Better “curve shape” on days when he got stressed (mail truck = big feelings).
Not-so-great:
- Slightly softer stool for the first week.
- The bag doesn’t seal well. I had to use a clip.
- Also not cheap.
Verdict: This became our weekday food. It gave us the most stable chart, especially with my work schedule.
Food #3: Purina Pro Plan Veterinary Diets DCO (Dual Fiber Control)
We tried this after a friend with a senior beagle swore by it.
What I saw:
- Slower eating. The kibble shape made Milo chew more, which I liked.
- No stomach drama, even on the switch.
- His mid-morning numbers sat a bit higher than with Royal Canin, but still okay.
Good stuff:
- Good stool, easy transitions.
- Budget-friendly compared to the other two.
Not-so-great:
- Milo got hungry early in the afternoon. More begging by 3 p.m.
- Needed tight treat control to avoid a late-day pop.
Verdict: A steady, workable choice. We kept a bag as our “backup” and used it for travel.
A quick note on Farmina Vet Life Diabetic (sample bag)
We tested a small bag from our clinic out of curiosity.
- Milo liked it, and his numbers stayed steady for the short trial.
- Kibble is a bit oily; my hands smelled like a feed store.
- It’s harder to find near me, so we didn’t stick with it.
If it were easier to buy, I’d give it a full month test.
For detailed ingredient comparisons and real-world feeding tips, I leaned on My Food Trip, which compiles vet-backed reviews for most of these diabetic diets.
Our routine that kept things boring (which is the goal)
- 6:50 a.m.: Walk and water break.
- 7:00 a.m.: Breakfast measured by grams on a small kitchen scale.
- 7:10 a.m.: Insulin shot, quick ear rub, and a “good boy.”
- 12:00 p.m.: Green beans if he’s begging. Or 5 kibbles from breakfast allotment.
- 6:50 p.m.: Short walk.
- 7:00 p.m.: Dinner.
- 7:10 p.m.: Insulin.
- Sunday: Glucose curve every other week, unless numbers look odd.
It sounds strict. It is. But it works.
Little things I wish someone told me
- Warm water on kibble helps scent and slows eating.
- Buy a clip for the bag. Stale kibble makes blood sugar weird. At least it did for us.
- Keep a spare vial of insulin in the fridge. I cracked one on tile. Big mess. Big cry.
- Log meals and numbers. I used the Notes app. Nothing fancy.
All that note-taking and schedule-keeping can leave you drained. I learned I’m a better dog mom when I squeeze in my own decompression time—sometimes that means a 30-minute massage while a friend watches Milo. If you’re near south-central Pennsylvania and looking for reputable spots, this no-nonsense guide to RubMaps Chambersburg lays out locations, service types, and user reviews so you can relax without the guesswork.
Treats that didn’t mess things up
- Frozen green beans (Milo crunches them like chips).
- Tiny bits of freeze-dried chicken.
- His own kibble counted out from the daily amount.
- For birthdays: a small scoop of plain pumpkin in his bowl. Party hat optional but encouraged.
We skipped soft bakery treats and anything with syrup, honey, or molasses. I learned that lesson fast.
Still, I’d be lying if I said I never thought about slipping him a slice of pizza crust—diet cheating temptation is real. Before you cave, take a look at this Heated Affairs review; it’s a surprisingly handy reminder that stepping outside the rules, whether in love or in a feeding plan, usually leads to more drama than joy.
So, which food did we keep?
- Weekdays: Royal Canin Glycobalance dry, measured on a scale.
- Weekends or sensitive tummy days: Hill’s w/d because it settled his gut best after stress.
- Travel: Purina DCO—reliable and easier on the budget.
Could I be wrong about parts of this? Maybe. Dogs are quirky. Weather changes things. Walk length matters. Even new toys can spike his numbers because he zooms around like he’s two. But across months of charts, this is what held up for us.
Fast buyer’s notes from one tired, hopeful dog mom
- Check the label for fiber and calories per cup. Write it down.
- Ask your vet about timing. Food without routine is like a seatbelt without the buckle.
- Switch slow. Like 10 days slow.
- Taste matters. If your dog won’t eat, nothing else matters.
If you’re standing in the pet aisle feeling lost, I’ve been there. Take a breath. Pick one of the prescription options your vet likes, measure it, and keep notes for two weeks. Patterns will show up. And when they do, it gets a little less scary. Milo still chases ducks in his dreams. And yes, I still cry sometimes—but mostly in a good way now.
Need a deeper dive into our week-by-week trials and Libre screenshots? I documented everything in one place: my full diary of what actually worked.