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As a diabetic, blood sugars aren't the only numbers that I have to deal with on a regular basis. There are cholesterol levels, triglyceride levels, protein and potassium levels, and all sorts of other issues that pertain to the "hardest hit" organs in my body. So every doctor that I go to makes sure to keep track of this multitude of lab tests.
My most recent doctor's appointment (not with an endo but with the hormonal specialist that I see for my other conditions) included this plethora of lab tests. So when the results came in last week, I made sure to compare last year's tests with this year's. I wanted to see how my body was reacting to the supplements I take, prescriptions I'm on, and routines that I do.
The first thing I usually look at is kidney function because it's the most common test checked (and the complication that I'm most afraid of for some reason). So I looked at my BUN, creatinine, their ratio, sodium, potassium, and protein levels. From last year's tests (done in late July), almost every level is a little increased. Despite the slight increase, I'm still well within range on every level. So my kidneys seem to be doing well.
My next concern is my cardiovascular health. I've had an issue with my cholesterol/triglyceride levels since I was in my teens. High cholesterol runs in my family, although heart attack and stroke do not. My total cholesterol is up from 164 to 183 and I'm not sure why. My HDL is up a little (the good one), but the LDL has the major increase (and I'm totally bummed). The great part is that my triglycerides dropped from a whopping 211 to a lovely 59.
I'm extremely happy that my triglycerides have dropped, but I'm frustrated that my cholesterol is up. I haven't changed my diet (if anything, it's gotten much better in cutting out cholesterol and fats). I've been exercising on a fairly regular basis, although not doing as much strength training as last summer. And I've increased my thyroid medication (which can be a major cause of high cholesterol and triglycerides). So I'm not sure why it's up, but I'm going to continue watching it and see what else I can do. I don't believe in taking statins, so I'll probably look into more supplements that promote heart health.
All these numbers and levels are just another facet to my diabetes life. I'm sure that I'd be concerned if I wasn't diabetic. But diabetes does put another spin on kidney and heart health. It's frustrating to be 20 and concerned with how well my kidneys work and if I'm at risk for early heart disease.
Yet 16 years of diabetes beating my body leaves me knowing that those are important factors to watch and track. If I lose sight of the bigger picture with this disease (as in, outside the A1c), none of the effort really matters. So I'll keep working to lower my A1c, keep my kidneys healthy, and maintain my cholesterol/triglyceride levels.
