Four and three quarter Year Update (big grin)

Four and three quarter years ago on April 23,1995 Queenie was diagnosed
a diabetic.  I remember this day as if it was yesterday.  It was
the most devastating news and I thought why my Queenie.  How will
I ever give her needles in order to keep her. I remember putting a
mattress on my living room floor and literally sleeping there with
my pet because she was too weak to climb on the bed.  I remember
thinking what is this going to cost because I had no idea what
insulin, syringes and anything else I needed would cost. 

Of course this happened on Saturday, always on a weekend.
The vet gave her a shot of insulin and said I'll meet you here
tomorrow at noon to give her another shot.  He did the same thing
on Monday and then said go to the pharmacy, get a bottle of nph
insulin, needles and diastix to check the urine.  Give her a shot 
once a day and call me tomorrow with the results of the urine
test.I think he thought I would give up within a week.  Little
did he know of my dedication and determination to save this 
furball of mine. 

I have to tell you the first two months in my house were crazy.
Everything revolved around needles, etc.  I realized I had to take control 
and I did and have not looked back.

It hasn't been an easy five years, she has developed asthma,
but we have learned to manage this.  A severe skin infection, 
thrush included when she had a severe reaction to creams applied
all over her belly and in the cracks of her back legs.These creams
literally removed the top layers of skin leaving an oozing 
bleeding belly.  This was the worst problem we have encountered
since diagnosis.  We even brought in a human doctor from our local 
hospital for consultation.  With nystatin and daily cleanings 
we made it though this.  YEAH!

Then when she walked through poison a farmer dumped on the ground
...but again she got through that with all the prayers from the 
muffin group.  This last year she fell down a set of stairs 
but the vet said her fat saved her life.....queenie says
told you Mom all that roast beef and rice would pay off. 

Queenie has been very lucky. She has not yet developed cataracts.
She still has full vision. Touch wood. 

The best thing that ever happened to me in all of this is that
I found the Rainbow e-mail list I then found out there were people
like you guys out there with the same problem and all this 
wonderful information became available to me. 

In the years that I have been on the email list there has been
ups and downs.  Losses of so many of our beloved pets.  Heated 
debates from  which we have to remember this is how we learn by 
discussing and disagreeing and not becoming offended because 
we don't like what someone says. 

Join an email list for support and knowledge it is such a valuable learning tool.
I have made a lot of wonderful friends that I would not know if
I passed them on the street but I can tell you their pet's name
and problems they have encountered and what has been done to help
them overcome them.

And I want everyone to know Queenie is going to beat that silly
2 to 5 year life expectancy after diagnosis. 

GO QUEENIE! 
Everyone give your pet an extra hug from me today. 
Judy and Queenie