Hank has an announcement.

Hank appears to be in remission from his diabetes! We had a house full of people on New Year's Eve when I found Hank unable to stand or walk, drooling, glassy-eyed and overall pretty lifeless in the hallway--the classic signs of insulin shock we've read about over the past 4 months. Dan immediately grabbed the Karo Syrup and started rubbing it on his gums trying to boost his blood sugar. Insulin shock is very serious and can result in death within minutes. (Dan is great under pressure like this. I tend to flail around in a panic, but Dan is ever-calm. I love that about him.) After a few minutes Hank's eyes improved (meaning they seemed to be focusing), though he still had no use of his legs. Dan held him while I put a plate of wet cat food under his nose. He doesn't get wet food regularly--but loves that stinky stuff--so he started licking it and within a minute or so was taking bites. He ate for 15 minutes straight (that's a lot for him--he's more of a grazer type) and was then able to use his legs again. What a way to ring in the new year, eh?!

Anyway, he had our regular (every 2 weeks) vet appointment scheduled for Friday, 1/2, already, so we decided to withhold insulin shots (he's been getting them twice a day since September) until then. (High blood sugar is much less immediately dangerous than low blood sugar.) I fully expected to see the symptoms of high blood sugar reappear pretty quickly without the insulin, but they didn't. And when the vet tested his sugar yesterday, it was in the fully normal range (94) with no insulin in his system. The vet thinks Hank is in remission! He is testing another blood sugar called fructosamine for more information about his levels over the past 2 weeks. He'll call me with those results on Monday. But for now, we're off insulin! HOORAY!!! (Some cats are on- again, off-again diabetics, so there is no telling if his remission is permament or temporary or how long it will last. But for now, we'll take it--with the hope it lasts at least until we return from China!)

YAY FOR HANK!