At this time, Taz started going on the carpet. Sash thought this was because he smelt where I had gone or it was for territorial purposes. This went on for quite a while. Eventually, he stopped going on the carpet, or at least that's what Sasha thought.

Sasha noticed urine on the carpet again in May '97. She never caught either of us going so didn't know which of us was the guilty party. I'll just tell you now, Taz was the bad boy. I used the litterbox like I was suppose to. She would keep us locked in the bathroom at night & when she was gone. This way we both went in the litter box. She also tried closing off the living room so we were confined to the bathroom and bedroom. This worked because Taz would only go on the one spot in the living room. Well, I guess I should say it worked until we figured out how to escape and was able to get in the living room.

In late May, it started to get warm out and was very hot in the bathroom, even though she'd leave the exhaust fan on. That helped, but was still warm. We don't have central air, so the air conditional was no help with the door closed.

On June 16, 1997, she called Dr. K about one of us urinating on the carpet - she still wasn't sure who was doing it, but assumed it was Taz because she saw him do it before. When she was home and watching, both of us would go in the bathroom. Dr. K prescribed Megace. She was told this would give Taz "an attitude adjustment." That was vet's assistance actual words, not ours. When she asked specifically what the side-effects were, she was told he may sleep more. That's all, nothing else. It's wouldn't hurt him or have any serious side effects. The Megace was originally prescribed for Taz only because Sasha was pretty sure he was the peeing culprit. She called Dr. K after a couple days to see if it was ok to give to me too, since she wasn't sure exactly. We took 20 mgs every day for nearly 3 weeks. Taz took it for 22 days, me for 18. The urinating did not stop. Before Dr. K prescribed the Megace, she did ask if Sash thought either of us had an infection. Since the urinator would only go in one spot, she didn't think either of us did. She figured if it was an infection than he would go where ever he was at the time he had to go.

Dr. K decided to do a urinalysis to see if one of us had an infection. Taz came back healthy. My test came back with a high glucose level. Dr. K sent the samples off to a lab for a more detailed analysis. The lab confirmed her diagnosis. Taz was fine, I was diabetic. She prescribed a high protein diet for me so I wouldn't get sick and need insulin.

After the diagnosis she caught Taz trying to go on the carpet. Dr. K accused me of going on the carpet. She said I was probably drinking so much that it made me have to go so often that I just went on the carpet cause it was closer than the bathroom. Sash than explained that she caught Taz and he's actually the one who's been doing it. Dr. K explained that my urine probably had a strong odor that Taz didn't want to go in the same place as me. This all made sense since my urine did have an odor.

After she thought about it, Dr. K's didn't make sense about Taz, because he went on the carpet BEFORE my urine smelled. Sash posted a message on the Internet for feline diabetes information. After several suggestions from respondents, she decided to get a second opinion to make sure I did have diabetes. She decided to do this to be safe and to find a closer vet, in case Dr. K was correct. Dr. K's office is about 30 minutes from our home. Sasha didn't want a 30 minute drive in case of emergency.

She took both of us to see Dr. T on July 22, 1997. She took me to get the second opinion. She took Taz to see if he could figure out why Taz was going on the carpet. Dr. T did tests on both of us. Sure enough, Dr. K was correct. I was diabetic. But to Sasha's surprise, so was Taz! Dr. T's reasoning was the Megace prescription was so high, and actually caused the diabetes.  He went on to explain that diabetes is listed as a side effect of Megace.  Dr. T then gave us a high fiber diet - he said diabetics should not be on a high protein diet. He also found out why Taz was going on the carpet, he had crystals in his urine. Dr. T suggested Sash get a regular litterbox for Taz to use. At that time, she was using a kind that didn't take litter so it was very clean. He explained that the carpet probably felt better because it hurt so much to pee. She did get a "normal" litterbox and Taz hasn't gone on the carpet since.

At this point, both Taz and I were very sluggish. All we did was sleep. We use to be so playful, but not anymore. Sash would bring home a new toy and we would just look at it then go back to sleep. I was also peeing up a storm. My bladder was having it's own El Nino.

The good news was that once the Megace was out of our systems, we could become undiabetic! By mid-August, we were both playful and alert again. I was even urinating less. By late August were extremely playful and no signs of being sick.

In October 1997, Sasha thought it looked as if Taz and I had lost weight so she took us in to get weighed. I also had less energy. Taz had lost about a pound since our first visit in July. I had lost 3.5 lbs! I went from 12 lbs to 8.5. I went back a few weeks later and had lost nearly another 1/2 pound. I was down to 8.1 lbs. At this point, Dr. T started me on insulin. I was on 2 units/day. We all hoped this would help me to gain some weight back. Even though back in July I was overweight and needed to lose weight, I didn't need to lose it this fast or because I was sick.

By Mid-November I had lost another 1/2 pound, was down to 7.6 lbs. My insulin was increased to 4 units per day. I did vomit several times during November. Sasha was giving me Petromalt, a laxative, because I had a furball. Dr. T thought this could be causing me to get sick. She stopped giving it to me and I haven't gotten sick since. When she weighed me at the end of November 1997 I had lost another .2 lbs. We were happy considering I had vomited several times during the month. We didn't make any adjustments to my insulin, I stayed at 4 units once a day.

Sash took me to get weighed on December 19, 1997, I finally gained weight!! I was up to 8.1 lbs, that's over 1/2 pound. Dr. T still increased my insulin to 5 units/day because I'm still urinating a lot. However, I have energy again.

By January 8, 1998, I had gained nearly another half pound and was up to 8.5 lbs. I started urinating a bit less. Towards the end of the month my insulin increased to 6 units per day cause I was still urinating more than normal.

In February 1998, we went to the vet's to get our yearly vaccinations, my weight has stabilized, I was still at 8.5 lbs so that was good. Taz weighed 14.5 lbs, which is what he was back in July 1997 when we first visited Dr. T. My urinating had also decreased since I've started on 6 units. My energy was sky high, I was extremely playful at this point.

On June 1, 1998, I weighed 12.1 lbs! Felt great, urinate the same as a healthy cat. Still on 6 units/day.

On October 16, 1998, got weighed - 13.9 lbs! Oh my gosh I was so fat, looked like a ball. Dr. T & Sash decided to cut down the insulin to see if I lose weight.  Cut back to 4 units of insulin/day. Doc didn't think I needed 6 since I obviously had no trouble keeping on the weight. Sash didn't think I knew it, but she actually was going to attempt to limit my food in-take, the nerve of some people. How would she like it if I limited what she eats? First she puts me on this high fiber diet with no (or little) snacks and now no food. Oh the tragedy of it all.

January 19, 1999, After slowly cutting back 1-2 units at a time, I finally stopped taking insulin.  This was my first day insulin free!  Oh Joy!  Still haven't lost any weight, oh well.  Sasha is happy, she can finally sleep in on the weekends and not have to get up at 7:30 to give me a shot.

In February 1999, we went back to get our annual shots.  Both Taz & I weighed 14.1 pounds.  Taz is so long, he actually looks skinny.  I'm so petite, I look like a ball.  Sash gave up on cutting back on the food.  It was a pain.  The food bowl would get low overnight so Taz & I would meow till she got up and filled it.  Now she keeps it full all the time - just as it should be.

During all of this, Sash sued Dr. K in small claims court for malpractice and WON!   Also, the Illinois Department of Professional Regulations put Dr. K on probation for one-year.

In March 2004, I went to the vet's for some blood work (Taz & I were going to have my teeth cleaned and the vet needed to make sure we were healthy first and could handle being put under anesthesia).  Sash asked that I be tested for diabetes.  Over the course of the past year I lost some weight (down to 9 lbs) and have increased my drinking/urination.  Sure enough, my diabetes came back.  Back to two shots a day, woo-hoo!  Taz came back fine & did have his teeth cleaned, I have to wait until the diabetes is under control and am healthy again.

November 6, 2004, been going to the doctor every Saturday for the past month and reducing my dosage after each visit.  Today's test confirmed that I'm no longer diabetic!  I'm back in remission.