I have just been diagnosed with the early symptoms of diabetic nephropathy. My glucose has been controlled fairly over the years. In other words I usually had AM sugar of about 160 - 190 and A1C of less than 7. Now with my last lab report the creatine was high and the A1C was about a little over 7. Reading on the internet this usually happens in men after about 15 years. (Which is me). The internet Wikipedia article also said "could result in death in 2 or 3 years". Yikes! Anyone have any experience with this? I understand from my doctor there is no treatment other than tight control to slow down the kidney failure. Can anyone fill me in on what to do, what to expect, time frame from start to dialysis, etc?
Just diagnosed with early stage kidney complications
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Welcome to our forum, jagledoux. Did your doctor calculate your GFR from your lab results? This is the number most indicative of your remaining kidney function, and since he has your creatinine, he can make this determination.
Tight control will mean bringing your sugar down under 140 and preferably even lower. It can be done and I hope your doctor is willing to work with you on this.
Are you presently using insulin or other meds to manage your diabetes? Let us know how this is going - we're here to help all we can.
Thank you for joining us!
Tight control will mean bringing your sugar down under 140 and preferably even lower. It can be done and I hope your doctor is willing to work with you on this.
Are you presently using insulin or other meds to manage your diabetes? Let us know how this is going - we're here to help all we can.
Thank you for joining us!
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Kidneys
Were you told that you had hyper filtration in your kidneys? I was told that I was getting close to having that problem, about 10 years ago. Altace was prescribed. It is actually a blood pressure medication but one of its side effects is in slowing down the hyper filtration in the kidneys. I have not had any problems with my kidneys because this medicaton was prescribed so early. If hyper filtration starts and nothing is done, then dialysis becomes necessary.
Good luck with your situation. I hope you are given appropriate medication and dietary advice.
Richard
Were you told that you had hyper filtration in your kidneys? I was told that I was getting close to having that problem, about 10 years ago. Altace was prescribed. It is actually a blood pressure medication but one of its side effects is in slowing down the hyper filtration in the kidneys. I have not had any problems with my kidneys because this medicaton was prescribed so early. If hyper filtration starts and nothing is done, then dialysis becomes necessary.
Good luck with your situation. I hope you are given appropriate medication and dietary advice.
Richard
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Early Diagnosis
ray2:
I am sorry to hear about your diagnosis. Try and not think about the Wikipedia article. You said that you have "early symptoms". It is good that you found out about the nephropathy now. I do not know what kind of medications you take for your diabetes, but I do know that you can achieve tight control. I am on insulin and pills. It took about 3 months to get my blood sugar readings under control. You must be loyal to your treatment plan. I will say a prayer for you. Take care of yourself!
ray2:Thanks to all of you for your kind words. I went to my doctor here yesterday and am waiting for the results of the 24 hour urine collectiona and he is also a new blood work. Perhaps today or tomorrow I'll have more information and will post. Thanks!
Well now I am confused......just got my lab results and now the kidney functions are okay......in January the kidney was really high (Creatine). November and December were very stressful months, could the stress have caused the higher readings in January? Although this was good as it was a "wake up call" that I do need to keep the sugar and blood pressure under tighter control.
Beats me, jagledoux! I do think when caught early, these things can be slowed down and/or reversed - sometimes to quite a remarkable degree. If you're in the early stages & took immediate measures to correct your habits, you sure got quick results! Whether stress is a factor - I don't have a clue!
I'm just very happy that your new labs look better, and that you want to maintain better control from now on. We can help with that by just being here for each other & doing a little sideline coaching! heheh.
Keep us posted on your progress!
Whether stress is a factor - I don't have a clue! I'm just very happy that your new labs look better, and that you want to maintain better control from now on. We can help with that by just being here for each other & doing a little sideline coaching! heheh.
Keep us posted on your progress!
I did not understand this complication. I looked it up in the American Diabetes Association-Living with Diabetes-Kidney Disease (Nephropathy).
(Quote) High blood sugar can overwork the kidneys, causing them to stop working properly.
When diagnosed early, kidney disease can be slowed with treatment.
Not everyone with diabetes develops kidney disease. Factors that can influence kidney disease development includes genetics, blood sugar control and blood pressure.
Four ways to lower your blood pressure are losing weight, eating less salt, avoiding alcohol and tobacco and getting regular exercise. Your doctor can prescribe blood pressure drugs called ACE Inhibors.
A low-protein diet can decrease protein loss in the urine and increase protein levels in the blood. Ask your doctor before you go on a diet.
There are several kinds of blood pressure drugs, however, not all are equally good for people with diabetes. Some raise blood sugar levels or mask some of the symptoms of low blood sugar.(Quote)
I am glad you are feeling better.
Ruth
(Quote) High blood sugar can overwork the kidneys, causing them to stop working properly.
When diagnosed early, kidney disease can be slowed with treatment.
Not everyone with diabetes develops kidney disease. Factors that can influence kidney disease development includes genetics, blood sugar control and blood pressure.
Four ways to lower your blood pressure are losing weight, eating less salt, avoiding alcohol and tobacco and getting regular exercise. Your doctor can prescribe blood pressure drugs called ACE Inhibors.
A low-protein diet can decrease protein loss in the urine and increase protein levels in the blood. Ask your doctor before you go on a diet.
There are several kinds of blood pressure drugs, however, not all are equally good for people with diabetes. Some raise blood sugar levels or mask some of the symptoms of low blood sugar.(Quote)
I am glad you are feeling better.
Ruth
I looked up the one in the ADA about stress:
Quote: Stress can be physical or mental. It can complicate diabetes by distracting you from proper care or affecting blood glucose levels directly.
Mental stress can be short term from taking a test to getting stuck in a traffic jam. In people with diabetes, stress can alter blood glucose levels in two ways:
People under stress may not take good care of themselves. They may drink more alcohol or exercise less. They may forget, or not have time, to check their glucose levels or plan good meals.Stress hormones may also alter blood glucose levels directly.
While most people's glucose levels go up with mental stress, other's glucose levels can go down. In people with Type 2 diabetes, mental stress often raises blood glucose levels. Physical stress, such as illness or injury, causes higher blood glucose levels in people with either type of diabetes. Quote
The links to both of my replies are:
Kidney Disease (Nephropathy) - American Diabetes Association
Stress - American Diabetes Association
Quote: Stress can be physical or mental. It can complicate diabetes by distracting you from proper care or affecting blood glucose levels directly.
Mental stress can be short term from taking a test to getting stuck in a traffic jam. In people with diabetes, stress can alter blood glucose levels in two ways:
People under stress may not take good care of themselves. They may drink more alcohol or exercise less. They may forget, or not have time, to check their glucose levels or plan good meals.Stress hormones may also alter blood glucose levels directly.
While most people's glucose levels go up with mental stress, other's glucose levels can go down. In people with Type 2 diabetes, mental stress often raises blood glucose levels. Physical stress, such as illness or injury, causes higher blood glucose levels in people with either type of diabetes. Quote
The links to both of my replies are:
Kidney Disease (Nephropathy) - American Diabetes Association
Stress - American Diabetes Association
Then it probably was stress. All is back to normal now. Nov & Dec were very stressful and busy. That is the only thing that I can see that would have my lab works out of whack on Jan 6 and then back in line with what they used to be on Feb 10. I never had "tight' control, but my doctor was always satisfied with my results.
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Thanks for your research Ruth!!!
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