Managing diabetes
Diabetes is where the pancreas is unable to produce enough insulin, which keeps your blood sugar levels under control. Without sugar regulation pets, like humans, can quickly become incredibly ill – lifelong medication is needed to keep diabetic pets alive and well.
The cost of this regular medication is out of reach for some pet owners - owners who, without PDSA, would be faced with the difficult choice of having to euthanase their beloved pet if they cannot afford treatment.
With generous support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery in 2021, we’ve been able to provide vital, life-saving insulin and the needles to administer it to treat all diabetic patients - that's 2,225 of PDSA's pet patients.
In addition to providing the medicines their pets desperately need, the vets and vet nurses in our hospitals have supported owners with reassuring advice and guidance on how to administer insulin and care for their diabetic pets.
The advice, along with videos and diagrams, is also available to support owners at home on the diabetes cat and dog pages on our player-funded Pet Health Hub.
Guinness
Little Yorkshire Terrier Guinness was diagnosed with diabetes at our Croydon Pet Hospital after his owner noticed a change in his behaviour and that he was drinking a lot. He regularly visits the charity’s vet team to have blood tests to check his sugar levels and to collect the medication he needs. His condition is now stabilised and he’s doing well, thanks to our dedicated veterinary team and support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery.
His owner, Bernard Wanless, who is 77, said: “I’ve had Guinness since he was two. He helps to keep me sane – I chat to him all the time! PDSA is right up there with the best unsung heroes in my opinion; through all the challenges of recent weeks they’ve been fabulous.”
