Where We Want Him

Parker is my foster-cat, and he, like my perma-cat, Tucker, has diabetes. This weekend demonstrated that Parker’s condition may be under control.

Last weekend, I performed a ‘curve’ on the orange sturdy-boy. It showed that, at their nadir, his blood-glucose numbers were within the ‘normal’ range, which is between four and eight. In other words, he is receiving the correct dosage of insulin to lower his sugar to an acceptable level and make his body work properly. I ran a ‘mini-curve’ of just a few blood samples the next day, and, though the nadir was a little lower than what we would like, it was close enough to be pleasing.

The doctor rightly wanted to make sure, so I conducted yet another ‘curve’ on my long-suffering foster-cat this Saturday. The results were very similar to the previous Saturday’s, confirming that Parker is receiving the right amount of insulin, aided by a fitting diet of low-carbohydrate food. We have him, in other words, right where we want him. His doctor was happy with Parker’s status.

This is especially satisfactory as he will head into dental surgery on August 3rd. His stability is important for such an event. I would like eventually to try lowering his insulin dosage, especially since his nadir is at the lower end of what is acceptable, giving room for a slight rise in the numbers, while keeping it within ‘normal’. This, however, will not be attempted, if at all, for some time.

In a way, this is just the beginning for Parker. He may be on insulin for the rest of his life; he may be on lower doses of insulin. There is a chance of a remission of his diabetes. Whatever happens, however, it had to start here, with control being taken of his condition, a platform built from which to make changes for the better at a later date. Diabetes, I have learned, is an unpredictable enemy, so our vigilance cannot be relaxed. But for now, we have the upper hand.