Hi Birdboy, "Also we learned about milk thistle and its protective properties on the liver during amanita mushroom poisonings, but the professor never said what part of the plant was used. I am looking for the plant on the trade page, but I would like to know what part to use. I'm assuming small amounts taken as a tea would just have good general liver benefits." I buy Milk Thistle in capsules at the grocery store. Using it in capsule form is said to be the most effective use of this product. "The active ingredient, or liver-protecting compound in milk thistle is known as silymarin. This substance, which actually consists of a group of compounds called flavonolignands, helps repair liver cells damaged by alcohol and other toxic substances. Silymarin also keeps new liver cells from being destroyed by these same substances, reduces inflammation (important for people with liver inflammation or hepatitis), and has potent antioxidant effects. Most milk thistle products are standardized preparations extracted from the fruits (seeds) of the plant. Most preparations are standardized to contain 70% to 80% of flavonolignans (silibinin, silychristin, and silydianin), collectively known as silymarin. " Here's a link about Milk Thistle: http://www.umm.edu/altmed/articles/milk-thistle-000266.htm As an aside to naysayers who claim only an MD can treat diabetes, my stepmother had a severe case of diabetes and was able to modify her diet and exercise (over two years) to the point that she now is back to the "pre diabetes" stage of health. Her MD, previously against using anything "unverified" is amazed and constantly asking what she did. Will it work/is it for everyone? No. Is it possible to alter one's habits to the point of reversing "un-curable" disease? YES!!! Regarding beans: I don't know what secondary compounds are found in beans, but it's the soluble fiber in the beans that make them effective. It does depend on the type of bean you are ingesting, not all beans are equal. You can achieve the same benefits by drinking psyllium husk or eating other foods high in soluble fiber. Here are a couple of links that may be interesting: http://howtoprevent-heartdisease.com/fiber.php http://www.aaccnet.org/cerealfoodsworld/samplepdfs/CFW-51-0016.pdf http://www.medicinenet.com/fiber/page3.htm http://www.ars.usda.gov/research/projects/projects.htm?ACCN_NO=408538&showpars=true&fy=2004

I too have dawn effect, it is a real difficult thing to try to deal with, I do the snack before bed but that does not help the only way I can avoid dawn effect is to get up at like 2 or 3 am and have a snack! Then my morning fasting number will be in the normal range. That is not going to happen though. But luckily my number even though out of norm range is not crazy high. Insurance will usually pay for as many test strips and lancets you need to do your testing as long as the doctor writes the script to cover testing that often. Mine does. And I also always use what ever brand meter and supplies my insurance tells me is their preferred brand so that it will be cheaper, and every one of the major meter companies have a program you can sign up for where they send you a prescription card to use when getting your supplies that will knock the co-pay cost down even more. I do at times have to remind the pharmacy I have that card on file so they give me my extra discount. We recently changed insurance again through my husbands work and they had a different preferred brand so they sent me a letter with the info to get the new free meter and supplies for their preferred brand. I have never paid for a meter and have quite a few now. I really do like the one I have now, it has all the test strips in a barrel container that is inside the meter so no more handling test strips at all just push the button and it sticks out the bottom of the meter and the lancet is also attached to the meter, makes it very very easy to use for me with my arthritis hands. ACCU-CHEK Compact Plus meter

Thanks everyone for all the encouragement. Last night I stopped to talk to the vet and he was not in. He is supposed to call me today to answer some of my questions. I decided to get the dry food just to get moving in the right direction and not delay his diet change. I fed all 3 last night and this morning the dry kibble. They are not happy with me and I could tell the were confused because we always have cans in the morning...and we have a little ritual. Today I spent a good bit if time time researching foods and I want to propose to him using EVO. The have no grains. I would like to do partial wet and partial dry. ( the dry is very high in protein and half the carbs of Purina "prescription"- which is what he had - not Hills like I was expecting) I really don't see how the food he gave me will significantly alter his sugars in 2 weeks. Purina DM first 5 ingredients: Poultry by-product meal, soy protein isolate, corn gluten meal, soy flour, animal fat preserved with mixed-tocopherols (form of Vitamin E), guaranteed analysis Crude Protein (Min) 51.00% Crude Fat (Min) 15.00% Crude Fiber (Max) 3.00% Moisture (Max) 12.00% Vitamin A (Min) 18,000 IU/kg Vitamin E (Min) 100 IU/kg Carbohydrate* (Max) 18.00% EVO first 5: Turkey, Chicken Meal, Chicken, Herring Meal, Chicken Fat (Preserved with Mixed Tocopherols, a Natural Source of Vitamin E) Crude Protein (Min) 50.00% Crude Fat (Min) 22.00% Crude Fiber (Max) 2.00% Moisture (Max) 10.00% Carbohydrates NFE (Max) 7.00% Linoleic Acid (an Omega-6 Fatty Acid) (Min) 4.00% Magnesium (Max) 0.10% Vitamin E (Min) 300.0 IU/kg Taurine (Min) 0.20% Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C) (Min) 500.0 mg/kg Omega-3 Fatty Acids (Min) 0.40% DHA + EPA (Min) 0.10% Total Microorganisms (Min) 90.0 CFU/lb Wellness brand is very close to the same as EVO I am very confused about exactly what I should do....King is really not himself. I wish I could snap my fingers and make it all go away! All of my cats are litter mates, 9 years old...so i guess I am setting myself up for multiple problems. I just had Lucky in about 8 weeks ago for urinary infection. Suzieque...I do not want to stay on a dry food diet...I cant see anyway for that to be good long term Goldedger thanks for the links...I am learning a lot! I think I am going to get some fresh meat tonight at the store...I wish the vet woudl call already!

My Dh has was dx'd with diabetes almost 20 years ago. He managed it well with pills. His A1c was never more than 6.4. or less than 5.8, showing good control. But about 12 years ago he began loosing weight. Since he has never been overweight the loss of 30 pounds over about 8 months even though he was eating well and properly had his Endocrinologist concerned. At 5'10" and 130 pounds DH was looking and feeling bad. The Doc reccommended that he try insulin to control his diabetes. Having raised a daughter with type 1 diabetes (and of course on insulin), plus 2 dogs over the years with diabetes that we treated with insulin, well...we already knew all the ins and outs of insulin use. Within 4 months DH had gained back the lost weight and was feeling great. He continues to do well on 4 shots a day using 2 types of insulin. He tests his blood anywhere from 4 to 8 times a day depending on what and when he eats or what he is doing. Inability to control your blood sugars isn't always the reason to move from pills to insulin injections. Diabetes is a progressive disease even if you are doing everything right. In time insulin may be the right answer for any diabetic. You will be better off if you are being cared for by a doctor whose specialty is diabetes and who knows you well. My diabetic daughter is a nurse in supervision at a hospital. She is constantly amazed at how little the average doctor knows about diabetes and how to treat their diabetes patients. I think your friend needs to find an Endrocrinologist and get a second opinion. Her doctor's diet recommendation is against what I would think would be right for a diabetic starting insulin. Protien is a key to keeping blood sugars from swinging wildly as use of insulin can cause with a new inexperienced user. She needs the right doctor and a diabetes dietitian to help her with the right way to eat.