How long has your dog had diabetes so far?

[k9diabetes]

We are approaching the year's midpoint, so it seems like a good time to update our poll on how long our dogs have lived with diabetes so far.

If your dog has passed on, please respond to the poll with how many years your dog lived with diabetes. It's really important for new members to see what's possible!

And for those of you with more than one diabetic, now or earlier, you can post to multiple categories.

For new members, as you view the results (click on one of the numbers to see which dogs are in each category), keep in mind that activity at the forum is always greatest by people whose dogs have been diagnosed recently. So it may take a while for some senior members and for members who dogs have since passed away, to come by the forum and respond. I may bring up an older poll so you can see some prior results.

Natalie

[Grayson]

Re: How long has your dog had diabetes?

Grayson was just two months yesterday...and seems to be doing pretty well on getting down from BGs high in the 400's, to ranging from 100's to the high 200's when I poke at him. Poor boy, always has momma poking him...

[k9diabetes]

Re: How long has your dog had diabetes?

Chris missed five years by only 35 days.

[Charlie's mom]

Re: How long has your dog had diabetes?

7 months for Charlie, who turns 13 tomorrow

[diggydog]

Re: How long has your dog had diabetes?

6 years for the wee dude Alfie next week.

[Bobby]

Re: How long has your dog had diabetes?

1 month! seeing the polls with 6 years+ gives me so much hope

[Soaphie & Sydney's Mom]

Re: How long has your dog had diabetes?

6 years for Soaphie end of July....3.5 years for Sydsta

[giz'smom]

Re: How long has your dog had diabetes?

Wow! Love to see all the 6+ year votes! gives me hope too.

[xpaeanx]

Re: How long has your dog had diabetes?

You know I wonder how misleading this poll is terms of age at diagnosis. For instance Keeda is ~14, she will most likely live another few years at most and I believe most dogs that are newly diagnosised are "older." So let's say Keeda develops cancer next year and dies from that... Then she will only ever make 1-2 years even though it wasn't the diabetes that she died from. If a young dog is diagnosed I believe they usually still live the full life expectancy.

[amydunn19]

Re: How long has your dog had diabetes?

That is a factor to consider. I think Natalie posts it for the purpose of those newly diagnosed dog parents to see that it is probable their dog can live for a good length of time, very close to their normal life expectancy. Considering some people actually think they need to put their dog down when they are diagnosed or their friends and family who tell them that.

Maggie was 7 at diagnosis, still relatively young, and she has done really great for over six years, considering how challenging she has been. I am personally hoping that she will make it through the summer. I say that every year, though.

[k9diabetes]

Re: How long has your dog had diabetes?

You know I wonder how misleading this poll is terms of age at diagnosis. For instance Keeda is ~14, she will most likely live another few years at most and I believe most dogs that are newly diagnosised are "older." So let's say Keeda develops cancer next year and dies from that... Then she will only ever make 1-2 years even though it wasn't the diabetes that she died from. If a young dog is diagnosed I believe they usually still live the full life expectancy.

Dogs almost never die of diabetes. I can count the number of dogs in 10 years who have died from ketoacidosis or an insulin overdose on two hands.

Really the only points of this poll are to:

- squash the statement that tends to go around that diabetic dogs live an average of two years after diagnosis.

May be true on average, precisely because, as you mentioned, mostly diagnosed when older.

Reasonably managed, diabetic dogs live a "normal" lifespan - a few years if they are older and many more years if they are younger. Sadly, there are still people and vets who view diabetes as a death sentence. So people need to know that's not true.

- to celebrate milestones of living with and successfully managing diabetes!

A few years ago, I attended a seminar on diabetes. One of the first things he did was ask the group of vets what kills most diabetic dogs... The answer is their people... Because they refuse to treat and euthanize.

[xpaeanx]

Re: How long has your dog had diabetes?

A few years ago, I attended a seminar on diabetes. One of the first things he did was ask the group of vets what kills most diabetic dogs... The answer is their people... Because they refuse to treat and euthanize.

This makes me sad. I can understand that in some cases the owner may not be able to treat the dog for some reason (finances being the biggest one), but just to refuse simply bc you just don't want to give insulin.

[k9diabetes]

Re: How long has your dog had diabetes?

Sadder still is the vets who think it's okay to do that strictly because the dog has diabetes. We still see a few people who live in very rural areas where the vets are mainly livestock oriented who still think you should put down an animal with diabetes...

[buddy]

Re: How long has your dog had diabetes?

Almost 2 years for Buddy -- and doing fantastic -- largely due to this forum.

[jen0m]

Honey is approaching her one year anniversary - started showing symptoms in July & diagnosed in August. All is going well now thank God 🙏