The End of the Beginning

This weekend, I conducted another ‘curve’ on my long-suffering cat, Tucker. I woke, as always, at 5.30, and poked his ear to draw blood. Then, after his insulin shot and a breakfast, we all went back to bed, only to rise again two hours later, for more blood-letting. That was too early for a Sunday, so we returned to bed yet again. Though I did eventually stay up, the jabbing of Tucker’s ear went on all day.

I am pleased to record that the results were at least worth the effort, though Tucker may disagree. The lowest point in his numbers was reached about 1.30, and, according to the roly poly’s veterinarian, to whom I emailed my findings, the results are “fantastic”. She is very pleased with Tucker’s situation right now. It will need to improve, of course, but for where he is at this point, he is doing very well.

Naturally, there is a way to go. That the insulin is having an effect may be seen from the fact that all of Tucker’s numbers, from before dawn until dusk, were lower than those found during his first ‘curve’, though the dosage is the same. That dosage, of three units twice a day, will remain unchanged. I am told that insulin does have a cumulative effect and is being used well by his body.

This is a great relief to me. My cat has a long fight ahead of him; constant vigilance will be required. But, as Sir Winston Churchill said at one point in World War Two, “Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning.”