The Points of Insulin

Tucker’s treatment for his diabetes continues well. His ‘numbers’, as indicated by the ‘curves’ I perform on him each month, are good. I have recently increased his morning insulin amount by a unit, while keeping the evening one as it was. I spoke with his doctor, expressing concern that his ‘numbers’ were not dipping low enough, and she agreed that I should increase the amount. I would have preferred to boost both his morning and evening injections by half a unit, but the ‘pen’ I use does not allow for that.

I have had to change the needles that I attach to the pen. I have been using the 12.7 mm / 29 gauge needles, but have been advised that they are no longer being made. I assume that, in keeping with other products these days, companies found it cheaper to make another kind. I have therefore switched to the 8 mm / 31 gauge needle. This is more than a third shorter than the previous needle, and is minutely thicker. I worried that Tucker would feel this difference. I tried one of the new needles, therefore, before I ran out of the old, to measure his response. Thankfully, the roly poly one seemed not to have noticed any alteration.

He continues to accept his injections with good humour. He lies down without protest and, in fact, has almost always purred through the brief process, his chubby paws flexing. I make sure to talk to him during it, but I don’t think the procedure bothers him in the slightest. I wonder sometimes if he feels immediate relief of some sort, which accounts for his readiness to accept a twice-daily jab. In any case, he makes my part in the action very easy. Since I must give him his shot before I go to work each weekday, I must do it at the same time on my days off, as well, which means waking at 5.30 every morning. But at least on weekends, I can go back to bed. Tucker, of course, has that option every day, the lucky dog. But it doesn’t trouble me. As long as the roly poly sausage feels as calm and content as this most of his days, I will, too.