Diet is very important in canine diabetes although do not expect a change in diet alone to control your dog's diabetes. Paying attention to what your dog eats will have a profound affect on the control of the diabetes, however. Veterinary research on a specific diet is scanty and there is no one specific food recommended in the veterinary literature for diabetic dogs. Your dog's diet will depnd on the stage of the diabetes, general health, and other factors.

The current recommendation for the dietary management of diabetic dogs is to provide a diet high in complex carbohydrates (starch and fiber), low fat, and no simple sugars. Dietary fiber slows the rate of digestion in the small intestine resulting in a slower release of nutrients into the dog’s circulation. In this way, dietary fiber helps moderate the increase in blood glucose after meals in a diabetic dog.

Semi-moist foods should be avoided as they contain simple sugars. Unlike cats, dogs are omnivores and appear to have no difficulty with dry diets.

Most dog foods contain both soluble and insoluble fiber although higher percentages of insoluble fiber are desirable in the diabetic canine. Sources of insoluble fiber include vegetables, fruit and vegetable skins, whole wheat products, corn bran, and seeds and nuts. Note that seeds and nuts are often high in fat and are not good sources of insoluble fiber for the diabetic dog.

There are prescription foods for diabetic dogs that may be obtained only through veterinarians or through outlets that require a veterinarian's prescription. These foods include Royal Canine Veterinary Diet canine DIABETIC HF, Hill's canine W/D .

Overweight diabetic dogs may initially be prescribed a reduced calorie, low fat, high fiber diet such as Hill's R/D. Rather than a specialized diet, portion control, exercise, and regulation of the diabetes are more important factors in normalizing the weight of a heavy dog.

A "super premium" dog food that is gluten-free, contains complex carboydrates and has a low percentage of fat is a good choice for your dog. Note that these foods are often more calorie-dense than cheaper foods and you may need to feed less. If you feel your dog is having trouble adjusting to a smaller volume of food, canned green beans are acceptable to add to each meal. Look for low-sodium varieties. To determine what foods are considered super-premium, you can consult your vet and look at online recommendations such as Dog Food Analysis . I personally feed my diabetic dog "Taste of the Wild" dry kibble and find she has excellent blood sugar control with all varieties.

References:

Graham PA, Maskell E, Rawlings JM, Nash AS, Markwell PJ. J Small Anim Pract. 2002 Feb;43(2):67-73. Influence of a high fibre diet on glycaemic control and quality of life in dogs with diabetes mellitus.

Kavmme JL, Phillips TD, eds. Petfood Technology. 1st edition, 2003.

Kimmel SE, Michel KE, Hess RS, Ward CR. J Am Vet Med Assoc. 2000 Apr ;216(7):1076-81. Effects of insoluble and soluble dietary fiber on glycemic control in dogs with naturally occurring insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.

Rand JS, Fleeman LM, et al. J. Nutr. 134:2072S-2080S, August 2004. Canine and Feline Diabetes Mellitus: Nature or Nurture?