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Me and my Dog newbies

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S

Smylera

New Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 2
Hi to all
After 6 years and no problems. My annual diabetes found it necessary
To see the diabetes doctor who has prescribed Metformin for life.
At the same time our dog Sally now diabetic and I inject insulin twice every day
and take blood samples for testing.
The vet wants her in for whole day to conduct a CURVE. Is it necessary. ?
 
Sorry, why on earth would most of us know what the vet is talking about? What on earth is this CURVE?
 
trophywench said:
Sorry, why on earth would most of us know what the vet is talking about? What on earth is this CURVE?
Click to expand...
Sorry I thought I put my question to the informed. The vet will take our dog Sally at 9.30 then test blood every 2 hours then they discuss the results with me and take her home at 6.30.
Cost. £190. My question is it necessary ?
 
OK, I've never had a diabetic dog, I'd have to ask the Vet what he's trying to find out, were it my dog.

I and most of the other people on this forum only know about diabetes in humans like me and you!
 
Sorry, once again, I am now on Metformin. At the same time our dog Sally, who saved my life when I had had major lung surgery in 2010. She got me out walking when it was very hard going. I want to repay her by doing all we can but not at the vets expense which has already gone over £1400 in a month. Sorry I have interrupted you all. Goodnight and Goodbye
 
Smylera said:
The vet wants her in for whole day to conduct a CURVE. Is it necessary. ?
Click to expand...

I fear the forum is full of people familiar with various kinds of diabetes in humans, and it's quite likely dog treatment is different. (Quite likely there are forums containing people who have dogs with diabetes.)
 
Taking blood tests every 2 hours sounds like a basal test, i.e. checking how your blood sugars change throughout the day with a view to getting your insulin doses more accurate. If that it what the vet is trying to do it sounds sensible, you'd have to ask the vet though, and of course it depends how easily you can afford the £190!
 
Sally71 said:
Taking blood tests every 2 hours sounds like a basal test, i.e. checking how your blood sugars change throughout the day with a view to getting your insulin doses more accurate. If that it what the vet is trying to do it sounds sensible, you'd have to ask the vet though, and of course it depends how easily you can afford the £190!
Click to expand...
Thank you for your very polite and helpful reply. Basal is a word I found when I had small skin cancer.
However, I take on board your summary, and although I am now on Metformin, our dog Sally comes first.
 
“Basal” in Diabetes terms means background, so people on insulin usually take a basal insulin which acts slowly over 24 hours or so, to keep them steady between meals, and then a fast acting “bolus” insulin with meals. Presumably the insulin regime for a dog is less complicated than that, doing lots of testing initially to get the doses right seems sensible though.

Your dog has a very cool name by the way :D:D
 
Smylera said:
Sorry I thought I put my question to the informed. The vet will take our dog Sally at 9.30 then test blood every 2 hours then they discuss the results with me and take her home at 6.30.
Cost. £190. My question is it necessary ?
Click to expand...
Erm I hate to tell you this but this forum is for humans with diabetes.
So why on earth would you think this is a veterinary forum?
To answer your question then imho it's not necessary as the insulin acts in a certain way which can not be changed. So it's money for old rope from the vet. Do you not have ins to cover the costs?
Many years ago I had a dog with diabetes who was put on insulin he had none of the tests mentioned I just gave him his normal food with his insulin adjusted to fit in with his lifestyle which was a working collie.

I always made sure I had a some glucose and milk in a small container when out with him just in case of a hypo.

Insulin from the vets will be expensive so ask for a prescription so you can buy it on line. Make sure you ask for a repeat over 6 months so you cut the prescription costs down as well.
 
Smylera said:
Hi to all
After 6 years and no problems. My annual diabetes found it necessary
To see the diabetes doctor who has prescribed Metformin for life.
At the same time our dog Sally now diabetic and I inject insulin twice every day
and take blood samples for testing.
The vet wants her in for whole day to conduct a CURVE. Is it necessary. ?
Click to expand...
Hi there, welcome to our forum. We're happy to have you involved and will all do our best to answer any questions you might have.

I'm not sure on the specifics of this test. Have you reached out to any online communities for pet owners whose animals have health conditions? It could be quite a valuable resource.

I'm not sure if this will help but the Blue Cross has lots of information about diabetes in dogs. They may be able to provide a bit more information: https://www.bluecross.org.uk/pet-advice/diabetes-dogs

I hope Sally is well and if you have any other questions do let us know. We'll help however we can 🙂
 
A friend had a cat with diabetes, and it was interesting comparing the regime that she followed to mine.
Similar to Basal Bolus that I follow. As others have said the testing every two hours may well be to work out the basal insulin dose, which deals with the glucose that is released from the liver to keep things ticking over. Bolus Insulin is what Is used for meals to cater for the glucose from any carbohydrates eaten.
 
Hello @Smylera
Welcome to our forum. I do hope that you find a good solution for Sally, that things work out well for both of you and you can enjoy many more walks together.

What about you? Coping with diabetes well for 6 years is a considerable achievement. Have there been any particular changes that have caused the need for metformin?
Many of us on the forum ( including me) take metformin to help control our blood sugar levels.
The other main things we focus on is what we eat, and exercise. It sounds as if you have had this under control, but maybe there are have been some changes so you might want to review this?

If you do I can send you some information and links.
Very best wishes
 
Welcome to the forum @Smylera

Sorry we can’t help so much with Sally’s diabetes. Hope she settles-in to her treatment, and has many more happy years.

Several members here happily use Metformin, but it can cause some gastric upheaval (it is sometimes nicknamed ‘Metfartin’). You may find a slow release version easier if you get any discomfort. And it can also help to take it in the middle of a meal I believe.

What sorts of foods are you choosing as part of your management strategy? If you give folks here an idea, they may be able to make some suggestions or give you ideas based on their experience.
 
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