Regarding the possibility of post-surgical diabetes - this is occasionally seen in ferrets with long-standing insulinoma. How does this happen? Well, ferrets with insulinoma have elevated levels of insulin (duh!) This high level of insulin causes the rest of the islet cells in the pancreas (the ones that are responsible for secreting insulin) to atrophy - there's enough insulin around, so they're not needed. Unfortunately, when you remove the tumor, that source of insulin, the rest of the islets are at a disadvantage - they're atrophied, and they may not be able to secrete enough insulin to keep the glucose at a normal level. In most cases, diabetes, if it is seen, is transient. These sleepy islet cells will wake up and get back on the job. Depending on the duration and level of insulin secreted by the tumor, some cases need insulin therapy on a temporary basis until the cells can kick in. Rarely, the cells have atrophied or there is additional disease in the pancreas (usually inflammatory) that there is nothing left to come back, and permanent insulin therapy is needed. There is no way to tell which situation you will run into, but the odds are in your favor - only a small percentage of post-surgical ferrets will become hyperglycemic, and even fewer will become permanently diabetic. This is one reason to do surgery early on insulinoma cases - even a good response to prednisone and proglycem will not forestall the feedback mechanism that is put into place by prolonged insulin secretion. With kindest regards, Bruce H. Williams, DVM, DACVP Join the Ferret Health List at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Ferret-Health-list [Posted in FML issue 3371]