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

Get yourself to felinediabetes.com asap - one of the best internet communities EVER.!!! I dont know what I would have done without them when my boy was diagnosed. I cant begin to tell you all the emotional support and info youll find - has carb info for all catfood brands (low carb would actually help all your cats) Also how to test bg, give shots, diet, etc. (btw re low carb diet - about 20% of cats can go off insulin thru diet change alone *(like type 2 diabetes in humans) which is why its worth at least trying, esp if the bg is more on the low end.. Sadly, a lot of vets are just not up on the latest thinking on pet diabetes or may be not on board with you doing your own bg testing or adjusting dose (BTW - , if youve already started insulin and think you do want to change diet and go low carb, you shouldnt do that without testing bg and possibly reducing dose. Or go off insulin, reduce carbs, and run another curve. What may be a good dose for a cat on high carb diet may be fatal to one whose blood sugar is dropping).. I ended up finding another vet who was interested in what I had learned and supportive of what I was doing, said he wished all pet owners were as involved. On the other hand, sadly, a lot of people can't be bothered to even give the shots let alone do the bg testing.- so to be fair, a vet may not have ever come across someone who wanted to be more involved so has not developed a protocol for that. This post was edited by kashka_kat on Thu, Jul 18, 13 at 8:55

I have been on Metformin for several years there are several things that you can do to prevent the side effects. Only take it with a meal and always supplement your B vitamins especially the B-12. This will prevent most of the stomach issues. Metformin strips the body of B-12. I don't know why some doctors do not inform the patients of this and put them on a supplement from day one. Any time I hear someone say they are on Metformin and suffering the stomach issues I suggest going immediately and getting B-12 supplements preferably the liquid B-12. I take it daily, I find it at CVS and Walgreens. My doctor checks my vitamin levels every 3 months when he does my blood work. It should really be required wish it was so many would then know what is happening. My doc will also on occasion give me the B-12 shots. The liquid B-12 I take is not the under the tongue type it is in a bottle that has a little cup on top (like pepto bismol has) you take one little cup full daily. It tastes good actually. CVS Liquid B-12 1000 mcg CVS Liquid B-12 1000 mcg the one at walgreens looks pretty much the same but has the walgreens name. I think one of the most important things for anyone that is newly diagnosed with any type of diabetes is to go to a diabetes education facility and go through the classes. The doctor can write a prescription for the education and insurance will pay for it. The knowledge you get is so valuable and you get to keep all the notebooks and literature for reference. Most will also call and follow up with you for some time after the education to make sure you are doing ok and answer any questions plus you can also call them should you need to. Extremely valuable!

I have brought this up at least once before, but here it is again. I'm sure that all of the advise or recipes will be useful particularly if this relative is a Type A personality. But most of us would prefer to be a little more relaxed and not over-react and then burn out from minor or major failure to maintain a stiff diet. I am certainly not an expert, but I spent many years with the group that is currently known for study and naming of Syndrome X, a set of conditions that often lead to type 2 diabetes. In addition, my supervisor was a type 1 diabetic. I am sure that current ideas for good diets for diabetics, most specifically low glycemic index foods, is the best approach. But that doesn't mean that one is required to eat those foods all the time. Moderation In All Things! Low glycemic foods are those that are low in sugar and slower to turn any starch into its sugars. The point is to keep blood sugars from rocketing up from a quick sugar dose. Therefore, cake and ice cream are mostly Out. Even there, moderation is the point. My supervisor's wife was the best baker of cakes. I guess he would have a very small slice and leave the rest for some family and bring it to the lab the next day for the rest of us to finish off. Occasionally, he would forget to bring lunch. He would then put a regular Coke in an ice bath to keep it cold for hours as he consumed it over several hours. I note pillogs mention of chili without beans. I doubt that the beans would be a serious problem. A slightly greater issue might be the brown sugar. Even there, the real issue is not over eating of that chili. One can eat cake too, if it were consumed like the slow Coke. Everything in moderation; a little more activity; a little less food (unless underweight); snacking ok if total is the same.