[Gpdd] Health/Diabetes Help/Glipizide?

[New Dominant II]

I had a diabetic guinea pig several years ago.  Viola was diagnosed by her
vet at a year of age.  About six months after she was diagnosed, she showed
signs of cataracts in both eyes.  They grew larger and thicker during the
rest of her life (passed away at age 5.5 years).

Viola was on glipizide for about 3.5 years.  For some reason, during her
last year of life, suddenly her BG level was normal.  I continued to test
her, but she never went above 150!  During most of her life, I was happy if
I could get it below 200.  Her doses were twice a day every day.  At one
point I tried dividing the dose into three times a day, but it didn't work
as well as twice a day.

on 5/24/08 6:30 AM, blaaco at yahoo.com at blaaco at yahoo.com wrote:

> HI All,
> I was wondering if anyone here here has experience
> with a Diabetic Guinea Pig and/or the use of
> Glipizide?
> I recently had to take 3 of my female Guinea Pigs back
> into rescue that were placed back in 06.The owner
> although she loved them said something was wrong with
> the eyes of one of my girls and "couldnt afford a vet
> bill".
> I told her if she wasn't going to take her as part of
> my contract and the proper care of them I was coming
> to get them,which I did last Monday night.I took the
> first girl"Ebony" to my vet Tuesday.She has
> cataracts,is almost fully blind,and is Diabetic.We put
> her on Glipizide.All 3 of the girls were obese.
> I took the other 2 girls in on Thursday and Ebony back
> in to retest her.The other 2 girls had normal Glucose
> levels at 107 and 111.Ebony is responding to the oral
> meds and hers was down from 285 to 167,which is great.
> Can anyone here offer any info or experience with this
> and this medication.I have read some cases like the
> one on guinealynx but would love any more info or
> experience I can find.I know very little about this
> and this medication,how it works,how long it
> lasts,etc.
> Thanks,Beth