From:
sukiec@optonline.net
Date: 2004-03-27 00:41:56 UTC
Subject: Re: carbohydrates
To: ferrethealth@smartgroups.com
Message-ID: <2327855.1080348116399.JavaMail.root@thallium.smartgroups.com>
> The tumors pump out insulin.. but we don't know to what degree. I imagine that >it depends on the severity of the tumors (to what degree they have advanced) - the >more advanced the tumors are, the more insulin they pump on a *constant*? >basis? Though if they are not that far advanced, and thus not pump out a large >amount of insulin, still I think that once you introduce a carbohydrate into the >system (especially starch), more insulin will be produced. Therefore, I think you >are taking a risk when you continue feeding insulinomic ferrets carbohydrates >because you do not know to what degree the tumors are releasing insulin. :(
You bring up, among other good points, one of the important things about insulinoma that too many people don't understand: it is not static.
You are absolutely right that it is essential to suit the approach to the degree of illness and to the individual nuances the ferret has.
Insulinoma is an excellent illness to help point out that due to changes over time the treatment, doses, meds used, foods given, etc. will wind up being revised with progression as well as with treatment. I think that failure to do so, failure to have enough vet appointments, has too often taken ferrets before their time due to adjustments not being made. Like with cardiomyopathy and certain other conditions, careful follow-up is as essential in insulinoma as love, I think. (Actually, it is one way to show love when possible, I guess.)
BTW, I do recall an FML member in the past whose ferret (who was thought to not have advanced insulinoma if my memory serves) was failing on a strongly restricted diet in terms of reduced carbohydrates, so the treating vet had a bit more added to the diet with fine results. So, while Rules of Thumb, such as being careful to not give carbohydrates to ferrets with early insulinoma, can make perfect sense for most a person does have remember that there can be exceptions to any rule. In that medicine has its artistic side.