Canine pal dislikes insulin injections

DEAR DR. GOTT: My dog has recently been diagnosed with diabetes and is requiring insulin injections twice a day. She hates these injections, pulls away when the needle is inserted and yelps when the medication is injected. I’m a wreck. She is 10 years old and has had a good life. I don’t want her last years on this earth to be so miserable. Please tell me I have alternative!

DEAR READER: Well, I have an MD after my name, not a DVM, but I’ll try. Dietary control, along with daily injections, can help most dogs with diabetes, allowing them to lead healthy lives. Speak with your veterinarian regarding your technique to be assured you are injecting the insulin as painlessly as possible. While oral medications are used for people, they aren’t effective in dogs.

Having said that, I note that glipizide in tablet form taken orally has been known to stimulate the pancreas and initiate the production of insulin. If things are presently unbearable, you might wish to speak with your veterinarian about this possibility. Then there’s cinnamon sprinkled on food and apple cider vinegar added to the drinking water, but this may be way out there in terms of effective therapy.

Feed your dog canned and dry foods containing higher concentrations of fiber and complex carbohydrates. Both help slow absorption and minimize fluctuations in sugar levels. If your dog is overweight, attempt to exercise her more.