Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus is a medical condition where an animal’s pancreas is not producing enough insulin. Insulin is important because it is required for the transport of glucose (the energy source for the body) out of the blood stream and into the various tissues, muscles and organs of the body. When people talk of elevated blood sugar they are referring to glucose. Diabetes, in veterinary medicine, is primarily treated with exogenous insulin in the form of injections to replace the missing insulin.

Mrs. Altschaft was distraught with the news about Nicole. While diabetes is a treatable condition, the idea of injecting your pet at home was a daunting and unthinkable endeavor. Mrs. Altschaft elected to try oral medication to control the diabetes, which is an alternative to injections but which commonly fails because it does not provide enough control of blood glucose levels.

Nicole improved from the end of August through September but her activity level was less than before and she was losing weight. Some monitoring tests revealed Nicole was still profoundly diabetic, yet we decided to continue the oral treatment. By the middle of November, after more monitoring, it was clear that Nicole was not going to get better without giving insulin injections.

Mrs. Altschaft was willing to try insulin injections if it meant saving Nicole’s life. She made an appointment at our hospital where a veterinary assistant instructed her on how to give the insulin injections. By the end of December 2000, Nicole weighed nearly 8 lbs. and in March 2001 (1 year after Mrs. Altschaft found Nicole) Nicole weighed nearly 9 lbs. with her energy level back to normal.

Today, Nicole still requires regular monitoring but she is a great companion. Mrs. Altschaft deserves much of the credit for Nicole’s health; her love for her pet has given her the strength to overcome her fear of giving twice-daily insulin injections. In return, Nicole gives unconditional love and affection.