Well, I went to the doctors yesterday..

[camero]

Some of you know that I have had diabetes for awhile and have been on insulin for awhile. My appointment yesterday was because they finally (after 4 years of this illness) checked my kidneys.

The results were some good news and bad news.

The good news was that all of my numbers were down. Cholesteral went down to 142. HDL was 105 LDL was 37. Blood sugar average went down to 140, almost normal. Triglycerides were only 49.

The bad news is that my kidneys are now leaking protein and I've been started on ramipril, an ACE inhibitor. The doc says that at this point it is reversable. I hope so because kidney dialysis sure stinks I am told.

I haven't been feeling too well lately that's why I haven't been posting as much but I will as conditions allow.

There are some great people here. The greatest I think. Here's to getting rid of Bush in 2004.

[blondeatlast]

1. OOOH, guy--so sorry. No kidney problems in Blondie yet,

but I've had the dreaded eye thing, and the kidneys ususlly precede or follow the eyes in short order.

Is your BP good? Even though I have excellent BP, my docs have me on a miniscule dose of Accupril to help prevent kidney problems. After 37 years of being on insulin, no kidney problems yet (beseeching my Divinity here). It's becoming quite common; you might ask the docs.

Great numbers, though, aside from the protein.

[camero]

4. It's usually 100/70

That's why I'm just a little leery of this new med. It lowers the BP.
The eyes are still good. I'm hoping it doesn't kick my tail too much.

Do you have a pump? They just switched me to the NPH-Regular mix from 70/30.

[blondeatlast]

7. I'm a pumper since after nearly haveing a heart attack.

Strictly Lispro.

[camero]

8. I heard that was the best way

But when you got no insurance the needles have to do. It's been strictly charity care for me. Diabetes sucks doesn't it.

You've had it since before I was born. I'll be 37 in May.

[Lefta Dissenter]

2. Well, I wish you the very best

and you know you can always get a hug around here :pals: That can be very therapeutic!

...or you can get your blood pressure to shoot through the roof, but we don't normally recommend that! :D

Congratulations on the improved numbers, and I hope that the other issue is resolved quickly.

[camero]

5. I hope so too, thanks

Only freepers make my BP go up. :)

[DODI]

3. Good job with the glucose numbers!

Sounds like you are doing all the right things and the meds for the kidney should help. Keep the faith and keep doing what you have been doing. I imagine it must be very hard, but it is worth all the trouble, I am going thru all this with my Mom and it is quite a battle. Hope the spring finds you feeling much better.

[camero]

6. It is a battle

It's actually easier to maintain when you're on insulin(for me anyway) because I can eat more and adjust the dose. My big fear was the kidneys but she said it was very low at this point and I hope the meds do work. Better living through chemistry. What a concept. Thanks.

:pals:

[supernova]

9. Sounds like you're coping well

camero.

Please keep us updated. :pals:

[camero]

10. I will, thanks

It was a shock initially but I've pretty much come to accept it and keep battling. Plus the humor here is always a help. Laughter is the best medicine ya know. :)

:pals:

[Droopy]

11. I can empathize.

I have to get blood work done every so often to monitor Lithium levels and they also test blood sugar. A few months back I tested at 109 and my psychiatrist told me that was borderline diabetic. I've dealt with a lot of problems in my life, but this had me really frightened. I had to go and get tested again and those results came back at 86. My doctor also told me that 109 wasn't too bad and that 126 or above was considered diabetic. I guess that's still pretty close, though. I think what I did was that I had a big meal before I got tested the time I tested high. I'll always fast before blood work from now on.

[camero]

14. 109 is good

140 is pretty much the top end of normal though they have recently changed the guidlines. Thanks.

[blondeatlast]

17. Doc's rright, shrink's wrong.

If you tested at 109 after a meal you have little with which to concern yourself.

There are several of us DBers here--feel free to ask anytime you have a concern!

[qanda]

12. Rejoicing with you on the good news

I hope that you will be feeling better soon. You will be in my prayers.

[camero]

15. Thanks pbl

I was delighted at the good news. Thanks for your prayers.

[SarahB]

13. I'll glad for the good news

Sorry about the bad part though. :hug:

[camero]

16. Thanks, Sarahbelle

I like the new name. :) I've been trying to bring a new me too. Have to get on the bike more though. :hug:

[BiggJawn]

18. "Reversable" is the important word...

Sounds like they caught it in time. Good luck, and congrats on the good numbers, mine are FINALLY coming down.
I saw a glucose number of 160 this AM. It's NEVER been that low in the morning!

If you start coughing from the ACE inhibitor, tell your doctor. They can find something that doesn't make you cough.

[DeposeTheBoyKing]

19. Sounds like you're keeping on top of things

Keep it up. Also keep us posted on your condition. We care!

[camero]

22. Thanks I will

The people here are just great. :)

[camero]

21. Thanks BiggJawn

my only concern about the med is whether it will make my sugar go up. From what I've been reading it's rare but happens. I also read that coughing is one of the side effects but I haven't seen it yet. Just started taking it today.

Are you taking pills for diabetes or using diet and exercise?

[BiggJawn]

30. All three.

Pills, Diet AND Exercise. OK, so not that much exercise in the winter....I'm on generic Metformin and Amyrl.
I WAS on Glucotrol XL, Glucophage XR AND Actos. Glad I'm off those. I gained weight something terrible on 'em...

The coughing, if it's gonna be a problem will manifest itself in a week or less. and you WILL know if you have it. The doctor says "A mild tickle" I called it "Kennel Cough". did not notice any BG "lift" when I was on it. Had trouble with a Thyazide diuretic (gawd, did I EVER have "troubles"...)raising the numbers a bit, including the Cholesterol.

Doctor hasn't mentioned any concerns about my kidneys (knock wood)

You try pills and diet, or did you go right to the needle?

[camero]

33. I tried pills and diet first, then insulin

I was just wasting away when I was on the pills. The insulin helped much more and I gained back most of the weight I lost. I suspect I was type I all along. The thing with me was fat absorbs the insulin and I didn't have any fat so I needed help.

My sugar just seemed to be rising faster today. Maybe it's just getting used to the meds.

The glucophage always had me running to the bathroom. Ok, you didn't need to know that. :)

[Cleita]

20. Hey Camero. I hate to hear this.

I wish the best for you. My husband is on dialysis and I hope you cut back on your protein intake right now to balance things. Mostly with kidney problems you really have to listen to the health care professionals and follow their instructions. They really do know what they are doing. My best wishes are there for you. If you want to ask me about things, please PM me.

[camero]

23. Thanks Cleita

Actually I do have a couple of questions. Check your inbox in a few minutes. Hopefully we'll have universal system soon.

[jus_the_facts]

24. Sure hope you'll have it reversed in NO time flat.....

.....all the best to you man!!! :hug: :* :loveya:

[camero]

26. Thanks,

It's real nice being here. I can just feel the love. :) I'll kick this in the bud too. :hug:

[question everything]

25. Can you be a candidate for kidney transplant

Hope you will improve. And thanks for the good news, too.

[camero]

29. If it gets that bad, they usually do

The kidney and pancreas are usually transplanted at the same time. The only problem I would have beside having no insurance is that most of the deceased in my family have been cremated. There are few candidates in my family for transplantation. I only have 1 full blood brother.

I'm actually quite surprised my numbers dropped so fast. Thanks. :)

[Cleita]

37. The good news is that kidney dialysis is covered by Medicare,

no matter what your age is. I just hope BuschCo doesn't meddle in this before he gets the boot.

[camero]

38. I'm in the procees of applying for disability

I started filling out the form online before my visit. One of the questions on the form was if you had end-stage renal failure but wasn't sure how to answer at this point since it's just beginnning.

I hear they put you on the fast track when it happens.

Edit: I hope the shrub doesn't muck that up either. This election can't get here fast enough.

[Cleita]

34. Everybody who has kidney failure is a candidate.

They are put on a list for compatible donors. Sometimes family will help.

[REP]

42. Not Really

Some patients are not suitable candidates for transplantation. Age and other co-morbid factors are considered, as well as the type of kidney disease. I'm a kidney patient myself, so I know more about this than I want to.

[Cleita]

43. I used to think so myself, but you can put yourself on the list

and factors will be considered for you. Most candidates for transplants are younger people so they will get first choices. All who can be transplanted, and more importantly who want it, will get chance.

I recently learned about older patients who could get an old person's kidney will be considered. Many elderly like my husband don't wish to anyway, but if an elderly person with a good kidney dies and donates their kidney, it won't be used for a younger person but it is available for an old person.

I have put myself on the donor list for old people. Some older recepients have had several transplants and this is something they can have if they want it and it's available. They, of course, would not get a young person's kidney, which would go to a younger person.

[LastKnight]

27. im sorry to hear this.

may you recover as quickly and fully as possible, it wouldnt be the same without you here. ive noticed your one of the first to offer up support if somone is down, your a real good person and you have friends here. good luck with this.

-LK

[camero]

31. Thanks LK

If we don't have each other what do we have really? I enjoy it here. I just wish I could make funnier jokes..lol :)

[Pithlet]

28. I'm sorry to hear that.

At least they caught it at a point where it is reversible. Hopefully they'll be able to turn it around.

I hope you feel better soon. :hug:

[camero]

32. I'm glad they did catch it

I have been asking for that test for awhile now. I think. I'll be ok.
I hope anyway.

Thanks and I think you're one of the most kindhearted people I've seen. :hug:

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

35. Well I for one will pray for it being a good healthy outcome for you

Let's have the drugs work and the condition be reversible.

[camero]

36. Thanks NSMA

Thanks for your prayers. My doc says the drug is highly recommended and works better though I need to get up to speed on the info on it.

I know alot of it is up to me.

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

39. All you can do is follow the instructions

modify your diet (which I KNOW is a hassle) and hope for the best possible outcome.

[camero]

40. That is very true

From what I was reading I have to avoid bananas because the drug can raise potassium levels, which sucks cause I like bananas. Oh well, Florida has oranges anyway. :)

It's true, you also have to keep your fingers crossed and have faith that things will be better too.

[REP]

41. Have a Biopsy

I'm a diabetic and I'm in early kidney failure. Diabetes isn't causing my kidney failure, though; a disease called FSGS is. If you've been diabetic for less than 10 years, chances are another disease is at work.

You are probably just having microalbumenuria, which is reversible; proteinuria almost always isn't.

You should stop taking ALL NSAIDS as well (Aleve, Motrin, etc) especially Toradol. They are highly nephrotoxic and can cause overt proteinuria.

I've been in early failure for a few years now. It's a gradual process. It is true that diabetics are more likely to survive only two years on dialysis, but they also tend to make excellent candidates for transplantation.

[camero]

44. It was a microalbumen test.

She said it was at 3 and that she had seen patients register near 100.
Thanks for the advice on the NSAIDS. I didn't know that. What do you take for a headache? I've been taking ibuprofen.

What's FSGS? I haven't heard of that. I probably could ask for a biopsy if there was a program for it.

[REP]

45. Relax!

Trust me, I know how frightening it is to hear that there's something wrong with your kidneys, and you should absolutely do everything you can to keep them healthy (your BG should be a lot lower, nag nag) BUT a 3 microablumen is really not very bad at all. My proteinuria is 15 grams+ a day, and I'm still not hooked up to a machine! Worry is perfectly understandable, but you're doing pretty well, kidney-wise.

FSGS is focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, a non-diabetic kidney disease. I am the last person anyone would expect to have it, because it usually strikes black men with high blood pressure, and I'm a white woman with very low blood pressure. It's believed to be a genetic disease, though some suspect it's related to childhood strep infections, and boy did I have those. I became diabetic later on, and my biopsy showed that the FSGS was the primary disease - the one that's doing the most damage. I also do have very early diabetic nephropathy, which is obviously a complication of diabetes, though I've only been diabetic four years (and maintained an average blood sugar of about 100). My nephrologist says that there is so much damage from the FSGS that it allowed the cellular changes from the diabetic nephropathy to start much earlier than they would have normally.

If you are taking an ACE inhibitor and find that it makes you cough a lot (a common side effect), there are other drugs that can help protect your kidneys called ARBs. I take one called Cozaar. It's expensive, though, if you don't have health insurance.

As for pain relief, I can take Tylenol, Vicodin and Fiorinal for headaches, along with other migraine meds when I get a migraine. I can also take good ol' aspirin. There is one NSAID that might be safe for you to take, called Clinoril. It's prescription, and it's much less hard on the kidneys. Ask your doctor, of course! Avoiding the others I mentioned, though, is an easy way to help protect your kidneys in the long run.

[camero]

46. Thanks for the advice

I was under the impression that it is nephropathy that was causing the kidney thing. With the change in insulin I should be better for the long haul. My A1c was 7% and my doc gave me the formula to come up with the average by multiplying by 20. It was almost 14% before I started the insulin.

Thanks, I'll check on Cozaar. Though the only side effect I saw today was some weakness which caused me to oversleep a bit on an afternoon nap and a lift in my BG count.

I am a worrywart. It runs in the family. :)

[REP]

47. Diabetes is the Disease from Hell

The diabetic nephropathy is thought to be made worse by high blood sugar. I've heard it said that it's like putting maple syrup through the kidneys. Diabetes does so much damage, though, even when BG is under good control, especially to the immune system, and that is what is thought to cause your body to attack itself in the kidneys, nerves, etc. Diabetes just plain sucks.

When I first started taking the Cozaar, it gave me really bad headaches, which took a couple of weeks to stop. Your new prescription may take a week or so to get used to as well.

And hey, go ahead and worry! Just don't take it too seriously, since it really does look as though your kidney problems have been caught very early, while they are relatively minor and can be treated. Or worry just enough to get you to reach for a Tylenol* instead of a Motrin, get your BG down just a little more and realize that you've got a whole lot of healthy years in front of you.

*or aspirin, if you can take it - diabetics are being advised to add aspirin to their daily routines anyway, for the heart benefits (even in young folks).

PS - microalbumenuria isn't end-stage renal disease (ESRD) - that's when you're on dialysis. Your kidney function isn't even compromised yet - yay, you!

[camero]

48. lol

I try not to worry. Does wonders for the BG count. :) Thanks, You really have calmed my fears about it and gave me alot of good info as the others here have also. I was gonna ask about aspirin therapy.

I agree diabetes is the disease from hell. It just destroys everything though a good BG count slows the process. Even if you do everything right sometimes you still feel like hell. My goal on the BG is to get as close to 6% as possible on the A1c.

Hopefully they will find a cure soon.

[REP]

49. Feel Free to PM or email Questions

I'm full of good news, such as low-protein diets no longer being recommended as they haven't been shown to do any good (well, that good news came from my nephrologist and a bunch of studies). Even better, you can probably eat whatever you like since your kidneys are still working just fine.

Oh, and I'll take this moment to brag - last HbA1c was 5.5% and that was after a two-and-a-half month kidney infection! Oral meds and my naturally carnivorous leanings.

What I hate most about diabetes: cellulitis. Ick. Oh yeah, that and being prone to every bacteria and virus on the planet, and increased recovery time. And nightblindness sucks. Well, everything about diabetes blows when you get down to it.

Worry is natural, especially when you hear anything is wrong. Just don't worry too much - and don't worry about worrying!

[camero]

50. That is a great A1c

Congrats. :toast:

About being prone to every virus on the planet, tell me about it. I just got over a cold that lasted for 3 weeks. Yick.

About time to hit the sack. Good night and thanks.

[area51]

51. camero

I hope the ramipril helps you with your kidney problem, and you never have to go on dialysis.

[camero]

52. Thanks

Me neither and I got alot of good advice here. I'm glad they caught it when they did.

[Lostmessage]

53. Sorry to hear about your condition Camero

You are one of the great people and I will pray for you.

[camero]

55. Hey, good to see ya.

Thanks for your prayers. Good to see ya back online. :)

[playahata1]

54. Hang in there, guy.

My grandfather was diagnosed with diabetes three years ago. We have had to constantly stay on him to monitor his blood sugar levels, his overall health, etc.

You say that the protein leak is reversible at this point. How old are you? You can reply via PM. Stay strong.

[camero]

56. I'll be 37 in May

I'm just getting used to the new med. I'm starting to feel better today though I have to get the timing down on the new insulin regimen.

My doc said it was reversible at this point. I think they caught it just in time.

Hope your grandfather is alright. Diabetes is a pain in the ass.