New here - Leko has diabetes and hyperthyroid

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heatherh

Member Since 2012
I'm new here. My cat, Leko, was diagnosed with hyperthyroid and diabetes a few months ago. He's about 18 years old. Our vet is very conservative but I'm trying to be understanding, as she is one of the few holistic vets around here and Leko seems to like her and her people. He *never* likes vets.

So the vet is primarily concerned with getting the thyroid under control. He's on methimazole and due for more blood tests next week. He's also on 1/2unit Lantus 2x per day. His BG is all over the place. I did a curve this week and the vet wants to wait to see if the thyroid is better controlled before considering upping his dose. We've switched him to wet food (he's been on Orijen and recently, Acana, for quite awhile - he's sensitive to grains)... We've got him on Nature's Variety Instinct grain free food now. He was getting little bits of the old dry stuff, but I put the stop to that today. He also gets sub q fluids a few times a week to keep him hydrated and support his kidneys (he's borderline on his kidney tests, but not an urgent problem for now).

Meanwhile, he's symptomatic. Still drinking and peeing a lot. I understand that both of his conditions can contribute to this, but I'd really feel better if we could really try to stabilize his BG. Any of you with experience dealing with both of these conditions at the same time?

I'm wondering how much food he should probably get per day? 1/2 can fed twice a day? We were doing 3/4 twice a day but he's not been eating it all. We're watching closely in case he stops eating, but I'm having a hard time figuring out how much food he *needs* - it's hard to tell, especially since we're used to dry food!

Oh, and thanks for the how to draw Lantus insulin from vial or pen video. It was full of useful tips that are already helping to preserve my sanity!
 
Good work getting the curve and getting your ss up. It would be great if you could get some PM tests too and make a note in the remarks column to say when he has eaten and how much. Great that you've got off the dry food too.

I can't help with dosing advice as I have no experience with hyperthyroidism but as far as food goes ECID (every cat is different) if Leko isn't overweight I would be letting him have as much as he wants. If you can it would be better to give him more smaller meals spread out rather than just feed twice a day. Some people have automatic feeders to assist in this but if Leko isn't overweight and isn't gobbling everything down anyway perhaps you could free feed for now.

I'm going to put a link to your post in the lantus forum to see if we can't find someone experienced with hyperthyroid and dosing issues over her to give you a hand.
 
Just popping on for Poopy and I to say hi and welcome! cat_pet_icon

I'm not familiar with Lantus or hyperthyroidism, so I'm not much help.

And look at you go, getting your spreadsheet up and working! Woohoo! It might help later, and for folks helping you out, if you note any additional feeding times to help explain some of the BG numbers. I know Poopy's BGs run higher when he eats between PSs. :smile:
 
Hello and welcome! Great job on the hometesting and getting your SS set up!! I'm not an expert, but I'd have been interested to see what the BG readings were after that 117 reading yesterday. MOST cats though ECID, nadir,or have their lowest reading, later in the cycle (+4 to +6) I'd say that 380 is definitely a bounce off the lower numbers. I agree also- if Leko isn't overweight, let him eat as much as he wants of LC wet food until you get his BG and HyperT under control. I know some more experienced folks will be along shorty. Welcome aboard!
 
Hi - I have 2 HyperT cats and one (well, now two - fostering) diabetic cats. None have both conditions (*antijinx)

HyperT cats have weight loss, and frequent upset stomachs (puking thin liquid - not food).

In case your kitty is not eating much because of the upset stomach -- ask your vet about an appetite stimulant, and you can also give regular Pepcid (famotidine) -- one quarter up to twice per day.

Good luck!
phoebe
 
Welcome to FDMB.

Great job on getting your spreadsheet (SS) up and running and on home testing! Has Leko been getting insulin for the several months since he was diagnosed and if so, has the dose always been at 0.5u? You're doing a great job of getting tests during the day. You may want to get some tests during the PM part of the cycle. Many cats experience lower blood glucose (BG) levels at night so it's helpful to test then, as well.

With respect to the amount to feed, it's best to base the quantity of food on the number of calories your cat needs per day. On Lisa Pierson, DVM's website on feline nutrition, she provides this "generous" formula for calculating calories:
Required calories per day = [13.6 X optimal lean body weight in pounds] + 70​
You may want to take a look at not just whether a food is grain free, but also what the carbohydrate content of those foods are. We encourage feeding a low carb diet -- less than 10% carb. Most of us feed 5% or less. Janet & Binky's list and this listing of pet food nutritional values all give information on carbs.
 
He's generally gotten 3/4 of a can after the PS and before insulin/while I'm giving his shot. He eats about 1/4 up front and nibbles on the rest throughout the day. Usually finishes by 6-8 hours between shots. I added notes to his spreadsheet.

Leko is underweight.

I do think the day I did the curve was a "good" day based on my limited experience so far.

In general, I think he eats pretty well. He has days where he's less enthused, but I don't feel inclined to add another drug to get him to eat, YK?

Yes, he's been on insulin since early Dec. .5 units the whole time.

Our food is 6% or 1% carbs, depending on flavor. Calorie-wise, about 1 can seems probably OK.
 
heather - just wanted to say good job getting all the testing in and getting your spreadsheet set up. i'm sure others will be coming to help you as well - i don't have hyper T experience but many people do.

re how leko is feeling - one thing many of us have commented on is that cats seem to feel better at the higher numbers they are accustomed to. when they drop down into "normal" non-diabetic cat BG numbers (less than 120) they often seem lethargic at first. i don't know if it compares, but i think of it like i feel when i don't get my usual caffeine. it might be my natural state but i hate it! :lol:

welcome! glad you're here!
 
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