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08/15/09
06:49 PM
" I was so shocked when my doctor told me I had "decreased kidney function" that I didn't know what to ask. Please tell me what I should be asking?"
Asked By:
mamared
Category:
Kidney Disease
Background Info Hide
He stopped one of my meds thinking it may be the culprit, but I still seem to have problems. I drink a lot of water and don't really go to the bathroom all that much. My blood sugars are under control with insulin only.
Expert Answers (1)
08/17/09
07:06 PM
Dear mamared, Thanks for writing into dLife for advice regarding your kidney function. Here are my suggestions for you. First of all, kidney functions are fairly difficult for someone who does not work in the medical field to understand. There are many things that can impair kidney function. Diabetes can affect kidney function. But so can many other diseases not related to diabetes. So, you need to sit down with your doctor and have him/her explain what your last labs showed that made him make that statement. Common labs that are out of the normal range would include creatinine, potassium, and glomerular filtration rate. Some blood pressure medications can affect potassium levels and elevate them. Creatinine and glomerular filtration rate tell the doctor how well your kidneys are filtering waste products. When the creatinine is higher than normal, metformin is stopped. Metformin is broken down and excreted through the kidneys. If the kidney function is less than normal, that medication is stopped. You might also have protein leaking through your kidneys. The doctor can look for microscopic protein or larger amounts of protein. This is commonly checked in people who have kidney disease. The dLife website can be searched for articles regarding kidney disease and diabetes. The National Kidney Foundation also has articles written for patients that you could read. However, until you know what lab(s) were abnormal, you will continue to worry. So, make an appointment to see your doctor or have him/her call you and explain your labs and what they indicate.
Answered By:
Janice Fisher
Accreditations: RD, LD, PHD, CDE, BC-ADM
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