to encourage you who are starting

[julie & punkin (ga)]

I know how scary this disease is when you first get the diagnosis and are trying to figure it all out. it's scary, it's overwhelming, the idea of giving shots is bad enough and then you arrive here and people want you to test your kitty's blood sugar at home. scary - but all of us here will tell you that it's do-able. we will hold your hand and teach you what you need to know to keep your cat safe and as healthy as possible.

You can learn this - people on FDMB will hold your hand and teach you. This was posted this morning from a person who joined here in September - and her cat just went OTJ "off the juice" or off of insulin. Cats who get treatment right away can go off of insulin - it happens fairly regularly here. so here is Jennifer's post today:

http://www.felinediabetes.com/FDMB/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=58359

viewtopic.php?f=9&t=58287
Of course on the last day of his OTJ trial Milo decides to get into my daughters dog's (or as I call him the Chihuahua from hell) food! Not a high number mind you but he has been green for so long seeing the blue was odd..oh well at least he is now going to be officially OTJ after today!!! I can't even believe it!!

I posted this not realizing today was MILO's Party!!!! I just saw the video and thank you CD you did an awsome job...Me and Milo love it sooo much!!!
I just want to thank everyone for their help and support. I was so overwhelmed when I found this forum, well I think I was boarderline phycotic!! Everyone was so patient and understanding, they made me feel like I could do what ever I needed to do to make Milo better. Had I just went through my vet (who I love but must say uninformed about feline diabetes) Milo would have had a very bad outcome givin the doses he was on etc..This group is very special to me and Milo.. we have met people who are really passionate about their "furry kids" and who don't just look at them as pets...We will always be a part of FDMB family!!! Thanks!!!

 

[ohbell]

What a wonderful read today....ty for posting this.........Says alot in a short read and explains exactly how I felt and being able to celebrate Beans OTJ was absolutely untouchable. I could not have done that without this forum...

 

[julie & punkin (ga)]

my own cat has acromegaly (tumor in the pituitary gland that causes the diabetes) and i don't know that he will ever go off of insulin.

but i do know that he is healthy and happy - and i am certain we'd never have gotten to this point without the folks here. feline diabetes is something that many vets don't see that much of - my vet's practice (3 vets) had 2 diabetic cats total and of our 3 vets, only 1 even recognized the word "acromegaly." if i hadn't learned about acromegaly from people here and had him tested i don't know what would've happened.

but my main point is that while this is tough, some effort poured into your kitty now can really pay off in your cat's health. so hang in there and all of us here will do our best to help you through. it's an intensive learning curve but it gets easier very quickly. i remember thinking "well i've only been doing this for 4 days (testing at home) and for 4 days i'm not doing too badly."

now i've been doing it for 9 months and i can do it without even thinking.