[Gpdd] [HEALTH] Velvet's eyes

[warmbreath at comcast.net]

Hi Glynis

I can share with you what I have heard about diabetic guinea pigs. Mind it 
you it has been quite along time since these discussions took place, but 
unless Ann or another professional or more experienced person has newer info 
this may be of some help to you.

1. The main thing one slave found out is that gp blood sugar levels bounce 
around quite allot so it is very difficult to treat. She found this from her 
vet. He could not get 2 results taken one after the other that were 
relatable to one another, apparently the blood sugar bounced around allot 
and made treatment difficult if not impossible with medications.
2. This would be especially problematic for the types of medications that 
can cause hypoglycemia because if this med were given based on erroneous a 
blood test, the result could cause such low blood sugar as to be life 
threatening
3. This means that treatment would be most effective through diet. This 
further means you must be careful, strict, and not sneak any bits of fruit 
since her blood test showed to be twice as high as this vet thought normal. 
You must not give hi sugar or any simple carb foods, period.

If you have no friends or relatives with diabetes I implore you to join a 
support or info group where you can find out what are the consequences of 
lack of blood sugar control.  Horrible pain from neuropathy, lack of feeling 
in limbs, gradual loss of some functions, heart and circulatory disease, 
kidney disease, amputation from inability to control infections. Early death 
The list is endless and ugly.

I am being so graphic because I know how much you love her, and I know once 
you truly understand the consequences of uncontrolled or poorly controlled 
blood sugar that you will move heaven and earth to help Velvet avoid these 
consequences, she already has double blood sugar and 2 early cataracts so 
she is having consequences right now!  Onyx is a sister, yes?  So she must 
be protected also, so give her the same optimal diet. Unless piggy science 
has develop much since then I think you will have most success with dietary 
control rather than meds, esp with a vet who is inexperienced.

I have type 2 diabetes and had it for quite a while before it was diagnosed, 
and for quite a while more before I learned enough to understand it well 
enough to successfully treat my own case, and my own case is the only one I 
have knowledge about. For instance I was seated with an older couple where I 
live at a social dinner, and the gentleman got too much food for his case of 
diabetes. He became incoherent and wanted more and more food, he was driven 
to take food from my plate, I hope I never reach this level.  In this 
discussion remember guinea pigs are use as guinea pigs, meaning medical 
experiments concerning humans, because in many ways they are very similar to 
humans, although I have no idea if diabetes is one of them.So I took active 
control of my own case once I  learned that my blood test levels on a 3 
month average were high enough to cause complications over time.  The 
published menus and diets made no sense to me as they were full of foods on 
the no-no list but apparently these list were made by an industry that 
assumed we would not stick to diets that prohibited white rice and white 
potatoes. So I invented my own diet, it took a couple years or more to get 
rid of all the bad stuff including preservatives, chemicals, bad fats, 
refined carbs and veggies with pesticides, along with most meats.

The result of this diet is that over these 5 years I have dropped 70 lbs, 
have dropped my cholesterol levels and ratio's to the most medically optimal 
levels, and my diabetes has been undetectable with tests for 3 to 4 years 
now. I have dropped 3/4 of my meds. I have had no new side effects of 
diabetes during these years.  So my advise to you is learn the best diet and 
ingredients for guinea pigs and stick to it like glue.

Lastly you said the girls lost a bit of weight from their trip to the doc, 
maybe they need to be thinner, a plump pig is much more likely to have high 
blood sugar than a thin one. Maybe a thinner weight is better for them. 
Since I dont know how heavy they were I cant say they were too heavy, I just 
ask you to evaluate this thought. Also I would clip their Peruvian hair 
around their butts, I always did with my long hairs and they were much 
cleaner on a daily basis. Hopefully others will have good advice for you 
too.
good luck    Sandy and Sammy