What are the stupid odds that we would both be diagnosed within a week of each other>>>>>>>>Freaky.
Anyway, anyone out there have a dog with diabetes? Can you offer any advice or tips. How did you cope? He will have to have 2 shots a day.
And while you are at it, any advice for me? Testing to me hurts. Any tips on making it less painful? Have any of you gotten your levels down without meds?
I do not like to take any type medication and this whole thing has me pretty depressed and angry -- about me and poor furbaby.

DH was diagnosed about a year ago. He went to the classes and really learned a lot. I'd highly recommend going to classes. He follows the diet recommendations extremelly well (who ever would've thought?). He has never had to take medication and has lost about 40 pounds. He started out checking his blood twice a day and is down to twice a week. HTH

I had a friend with a diabetic dog. She gave the dog shots also.

I know this is rough on you. Hang in there and try to take care of yourself (and your dog) and eat well. Good luck.

I am so sorry about that. I know nothing about dogs with diabetes - I know enough about DHs with it! My DH was diagnosed with type 2 in June and since then, it seems, we have a new family member. The best thing we did, was to go to a nutrition seminar (from the local hospital, covered by insurance). DH changed his eating habbits and lost 70 lbs. Initially he tested his blood 4 times a day, now he's down to 1. There are support groups, take advantage of them! Good luck to you and your fuzzy one!

Sorry to hear about you and your dog That is kinda freaky getting news like that a week apart.

My advice. Go low carb. Carbs = sugar. Also go low carb for your dog. Dry dog food is loaded with carbs from corn and wheat fillers.
I am diabetic too.. and recently I have started taking Extra Virgin Coconut Oil. I am trying to work up to 3 Tblsps a day. EVCO is good for diabetes, weight loss and a whole host of other things...you can even feed it to your dog. Do some research on it. Tons of people swear by it.

As for painful testing.. Prick the side of your fingers instead of the pads of your fingers. I find that to be less painful. And keep switching fingers, don't do the same finger every time.

Good luck and remember everything will be ok

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About 2 months before our 18 1/2 year old cat died he was diagnosed diabetic and I had to give him shots twice a day. Most days he came to meet me at the refrigerator to get the shot--strange! A bit of advice, and ask your vet about this, but when his sugar got high/low (I'm not sure nor can I remember) our cat had seizures. Our vet told us to give him some Karo syrup and that would regulate his sugar; it did, both times. If your vet agrees you might want to keep some on hand along with an eyedropper or needleless syringe. Best of luck to both of you.

My sister's cat had diabetes, too. She gave her shots twice a day from probalby 8 years or so. The cat lived to be 20 1/2 years old. She also did the Karo syrup thing occassionally.

As for you, the South Beach Diet or the Insulin Resistence Diet are good to help regulate your blood sugar. But, I would get the advice of a nutritionist before doing anything.

Lisa

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"It's not having what you want,
It's wanting what you've got"

"The happiest people don't necessarily have the best of everything;
they just make the best of everything they have."

We have an 18 yo cat with diabetes. I've been giving him injections twice a day for more than 2 years now. The only difficult time was right at the beginning. I had to have his blood checked every few days until we found what the right dose of insulin was.

He's so good about getting his shot! Health wise, he's doing as well as an old cat can be expected to do. Some arthritis but still spry enough to come outside with me from time to time.

I'm sorry to hear you're going through this for both yourself and your dog. I agree with others who said it might be good to get into a support group.

Best wishes to you both.

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My almost 4 year old yellow lab was recently diagnosed with diabetes. I give her 2 shots of insulin per day. I was scared to death when I first found out about her diagnosis, but then I thought I was not ready to give up my baby, and I would do anything to keep her around. I don't even think about the shots now, and they don't bother her since the needle is sooooooo tiny. She is doing great, looks good and is the frisky puppy she used to be. Definately worth the cost and everything.

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Crap might separate them,
But they always come back together.

My furbaby is jumping, running and acting like himself. He doesn't seem to mind, but it breaks my heart for him. He is ten and skinny and diabetic.
I am 53, fat and diabetic. No justice in the world.

I've got a cat with Diabetes - he's currently on a low-carb all moist-food diet and gets twice daily injections human-grade Lantus versus Vetsulin or another pet-formulated insulin. We also test his blood sugar at home using a regular glucose meter for humans. There's a huge feline diabetes message board with thousands of members - not sure if there's one for dogs but it would be worth looking into. If nothing else if you google feline diabetes message board you'll find the cat one and you could post on the Community section looking for dog owners to give you advice. Right now a LOT of cats are getting off insulin if they're treated quickly with Lantus versus Vetsulin etc. As for diet - cats are obligate carnivores so an all-moist wet-food, high protein low carb (under 10% of calories from carbs) diet works really well for diabetic cats and can make many of them diet-controlled. There may be a similiar diet for dogs out there if you look around. Be proactive - don't just do what your vet says. If I'd obeyed my original vet my cat would be dead - instead he might well be off the insulin and diet controlled by Christmas. At the very least he's much better now that I found a vet who will work with me and use the newer treatment options like Lantus.

One other thing to know - There's an FDA advisory about Vetsulin right now, there have recently been some batches that are "less effective" and imo should have been recalled but haven't yet. Its JUST happened and barely hit the news.

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