Advice for Newbies--Your Input Needed

[We Hope]

For those who've been dealing with diabetes: What single piece of advice would you give to someone whose dog has just been or recently been diagnosed?

[Brandy mom]

I would tell them that diabetes is not a death sentence. You can manage diabetes with a little work. At first it seem like a lot, but it will become habit and does get much easier. So take a deep breath you can do this too.

Second I would recomend home testing. I know they are overwelmed now with diet and shots. And scared to death they will make a mistake. So if they can learn how to home test it will make regulation much easier.

Dawn and the girls

[k9diabetes]

People who have diabetes learn to manage their food and insulin so it doesn't have to be a mystery that only the vet understands - you are a very important part of the treatment team.

Learning as much as you can about how to manage it, including home testing blood glucose if you can, will make everything for you and your dog easier and give you the power to know your dog is getting the best care and management possible. You won't have to worry or wonder whether there's more you could do.

[BestBuddy]

First I would say "Don"t Panic" then I would say it is impossible to learn it all at once so take one day at a time and take it slow and just try to learn something new everyday.

[Debbie & Apollo]

I would say "no question is dumb" -
If you found this forum grab a cup of coffee and read, read read! :).

Also when you get blood work ups done at the Vet ask for a complete copy of the results. Then, each time one is done, compare the results yourself -- you might not know what all of the words mean but YOU will see CHANGES - then you get to ask those 'questions' :cool:

Debbie and Apollo

[k9diabetes]

I was supposed to pick one but...

I always want new folks to know that I didn't learn what I know now in a week or a month or even a few months.

Don't feel like you're behind because you're new at it. We were all new at one time and remember well what that feels like.

[rhodesian46]

I have more than one piece of advice!
Take control of your dog and health. Read Read Read Knowledge is power! Don't test your dog every day and get addicted to the results. Look at the clinical signs. Have they gotten better? Have a good relationship with your vet. A vet that isn't opposed to home testing or questions that you may have concerning your dog. Make sure your vet has treated diabetic dogs Ask how many he's treating.? Ask if he has used Novolin N rather than Vetsulin.Have an emergency game plan Know what is an emergency. Have all records and tests at home in a file where you can get at them.Don't freak when inject and the insulin comes out the other side of their scruff and drips on the floor Has happened to the best of us! Better to have high bgs than low bgs as an animal can die from low bg's. And what I have learned the most is to trust your gut. If at anytime you think your vet is not knowledgeable :get a second opinion. I told ya'll I had more than one piece of advice!!:D:D:D:D:D

[eyelostit]

Your dog will be OK, its not a death sentence, double check on your vet's :mad: input and advise and read all the info on these boards.

Vegetables like brocolli and green beans and brown rice are your dogs best friends, I should not have waited too long to add this to food and it really lowers the BG and works with insulin better.:)

Don't use a vet who only does one blood draw a week and bases the insulin dose on that. :mad:

Look at the weights and food types of the dogs on our board and the insulin types and units of insulin they are getting.

No question is dumb, so ask away :rolleyes: