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05/12/2005: "Peripheral Neuropathy"

Sounds bad, doesn’t it?

I don’t know much about peripheral neuropathy but it seems to be exactly what it sounds like – nerve damage in the extremities (arms, legs, hands, feet).

I’ve learned that it’s a complication of diabetes. People sometimes get it if their diabetes goes untreated for too long. All that sugar in the bloodstream damages the nervous system.

Cats aren’t supposed to get it. Even the vet said he’d never heard of a cat developing peripheral neuropathy. Of course cats aren’t commonly known to get diabetes either, let alone this particular diabetic complication. Still that seems to be what Charlie has.

The good news is that controlling his blood sugar with twice-daily insulin seems to have significantly improved the motor control in his hind legs. He’s no longer trying to pull himself up the stairs with just his front paws. Still, you always know when it’s Charlie on the stairs. His tap-kerplunk footfall gives him away.