Eddie

[Maz]

The sweet smell is a bit of a giveaway for testing. I’m sorry he nipped you and yes maybe he is feeling a bit off. I know with humans they can develop uncomfortable things like blurred vision or feeling irritable so I would think it’s similar for hamsters. Which might explain the nipping, rather than him actually being in pain.

 

[elusive]

He is showing all the symptoms so it’s clear why you suspected diabetes, they can live quite normal lives for quite some time with a bit of dieatary control although I know each case is different but I hope that’s true for Eddie.
Sorry to hear he nipped you but I hope it isn’t a change related to the diabetes & as Maz said maybe he was feeling a bit off or there was another reason for that, it is hard to tell.
Did you try fenugreek seeds before I can’t remember, some hams don’t like them much as they are a bit bitter but they seem to eat them sprouted quite readily so that could help a little at least with his blood suger along with any other diatary changes you make.

 

[Maz]

Asparagus is supposed to help lower blood sugar.

Asparagus Is Good for Diabetes: Find Out Why - Advanced Diabetes Supply®

It’s a good idea for people with diabetes to eat lots of vegetables, and asparagus is one of the best! Learn why asparagus is a diabetes superfood.

www.northcoastmed.com

Rodipet hybrid food contains artichoke which they say is in collaboration with vets and the artichoke balances blood sugar apparently.

I assume the Rodipet hybrid mix has the right types and balance of carbohydrates as well.

 

[Member ID2]

I haven't tried fenugreek seeds but will get some. Thank you.
The only dietry changes i need to make are cutting out peas and sweetcorn, carrots he won't eat anyway. I gave him a tiny bit of watermelon in the heat but he showed symptoms before that. I'm pretty sure it's down to bad breeding which adds up with the little background information i have on him.
It's always the same sadly, unless i have a knack for rescuing or adopting the dwarfs with health issues, many dwarf hybrids seem to be poorly bred and genetically disadvantaged.

 

[Member ID2]

Asparagus is supposed to help lower blood sugar.

Asparagus Is Good for Diabetes: Find Out Why - Advanced Diabetes Supply®

It’s a good idea for people with diabetes to eat lots of vegetables, and asparagus is one of the best! Learn why asparagus is a diabetes superfood.

www.northcoastmed.com

Rodipet hybrid food contains artichoke which they say is in collaboration with vets and the artichoke balances blood sugar apparently.

I assume the Rodipet hybrid mix has the right types and balance of carbohydrates as well.

I used to feed the Rodipet hybrid food for that reason but i'm a bit sceptical about Rodipet and their marketing strategies. I can look for dried artichoke and give them steamed asparagus. Eddie isn't the only diabetic in this household.

 

[elusive]

I don’t think you need to make much in the way of dietary changes as you give a good diet anyway but it is probably worth uping his protein a bit & keeping his fibre up, soluble fibre like flax seeds is beneficial so even just adding a little bit more of that could help a little, the little one food has inulin in it anyway so that’s a plus.
I might be wrong but I think the benefit of artichoke may be the inulin content so he’s probably getting enough of that with his current food.

 

[Member ID2]

Yes, they all get a pinch of linseeds daily and Eddie likes them. He also ate the bit of boiled egg, mainly white, they all had tonight with a little romaine lettuce.
I fancy asparagus now.

 

[Maz]

So do I! (Fancy asparagus now) - with lots of butter! Yes just healthy supplements is fine. It's very sad but diabetes has been genetically inbred in hybrid dwarf hamsters for a very long time. I actually wonder if it came from the Campbells species in the first place - when the two Russian dwarf hamsters were interbred. Hybrids have such a varying range of genetics - and I wonder if a hybrid is "more Campbells" if they are more prone to it - but probably not - and just an inherent genetic thing they may or may not develop.

 

[elusive]

Diabetes is common in Campbells & not common in Winter whites so there could be a genetic factor coming from that but hybrids have been bred for so long now the genes are well & truly mixed so I don’t really think it more one or the other it’s just the overall genetics of hybrids now.
It is sad but there is still a lot you can do even with poor genes.

 

[Member ID2]

Until he died of what was probably a stroke, Percy lived a normal live.
I only went looking for him and found him unconscious because his cucumber was still there in the morning and Percy always ate his cucumber.
What i'm saying is that even with a serious illness, hamsters can still live a normal live for quite some time.

 

[elusive]

I couldn’t agree more Beryl.

 

[Frida]

I'm sorry to hear about Eddie's health. I know Eddie is in the best of hands with you Beryl

 

[Member ID2]

I've given Eddie a second water bowl to make sure that he never runs out. He has a bottle as well but has always prefered a bowl.
Good thing is that he's started to pee in his sand a while ago so i don't have to worry so much about a wood-pee-mould-bacteria situation.
I'm glad that i increased the ventilation by opening the set up and making it less crowded.

Eddie this morning after a little out of cage time.

 

[RainbowBrite]

It is lucky he uses his sand to wee. He looks so cute there.

 

[elusive]

He does love that sand jar doesn’t he, good to hear he’s peeing in there too so cleaning will be less stressful for both of you.

 

[Maz]

Yes he does seem to love that sand jar! And he does look cute and fluffy.

 

[Frida]

Cute photo of Eddie

 

[Hamster Haven]

I've given Eddie a second water bowl to make sure that he never runs out. He has a bottle as well but has always prefered a bowl.
Good thing is that he's started to pee in his sand a while ago so i don't have to worry so much about a wood-pee-mould-bacteria situation.
I'm glad that i increased the ventilation by opening the set up and making it less crowded.

Eddie this morning after a little out of cage time.

View attachment 3295

What a sweetheart. I'll look forward to hearing how he responds to the dietary updates.

 

[Member ID2]

What a sweetheart. I'll look forward to hearing how he responds to the dietary updates.

I don't expect a noticable response but it may help to delay the complications caused by diabetes.

 

[Member ID2]

Eddie munching on his broccoli and cucumber.

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