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Need advice about kidneys

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Posted 9/18/2005 1:55 AM (GMT 0)
I only found out that I have Type 2 diabetes on August 4th. I'm taking Metformin 850mg twice a day. I have pretty good control of my blood sugar. I'd say 95% of the time it's lower than 150 and of that, about 50% of the time it's lower than 115. I still don't understand why my fasting blood sugar is higher than my pre-dinner blood sugar. My doctor doesn't know either. I think I might need a doctor who knows more about diabetes. What kind of doctor should I look for?

My biggest concern, though is about my kidneys. My doctor ordered lots of lab work when I saw him a couple of weeks ago. In today's mail, I got a note on a prescription form from his office that has me very worried. It's a referral to a medical office "Nephrology Associates" That's a kidney doctor, isn't it? How could I have kidney trouble so soon? I've been with this same doctor for about 8 years. He does labs on me every year. Wouldn't he have known before if I had high blood sugar, or kidney problems?

Besides going to this new doctor, is there anything I should know or do? I'm just really worried right now. I'm 52.

~~Pegasis (AKA Peggy)

Posted 9/19/2005 12:29 AM (GMT 0)
Peggy,
I'm 53 and have been seeing a nephrologist for over 25 years.(kidney stones & hypertension) They are mostly brilliant doctors with a great deal of compassion. If you are having kidney damage from your diabetes the doctor will help you handle it and probably help you find ways to slow down the damage. He will also be able to direct you to an excellent endocrinologist who can get a handle on those sugars and help you get your health back in line.

Things you can do to help yourself include drinking more water and less soda or coffee. Keep exercising, use lots of no-sodium herbs & spicies, and add no salt to your food. Keep a list of all of the over the counter meds, herbs, vitamins and supplements that you take as well as your regular meds and keep the list current on your computer. Take a new printout with you to each doctor visit.

If you are told that you have kidney damage be sure that you understand it as well as the doctor can explain it and relay this information to any of your other doctors that you see. Remind them each time you receive a new prescription so they can review if that med is rough on kidneys and maybe order a different one. Get as educated as you can about your tests and results and ask the doctor what you can do to help yourself. Also... this may sound dumb... do what the doctor says to do. If he/she says you need to get ten hours of sleep a night, do it. If you're told to not eat commercial snacks or processed meats or canned soups then do it. Too many times patients don't follow the doctor's advice until after lots of damage has been done.

Your doctor appears to be proactive in your health concerns and you should be glad of that. He wants you to receive the best care possible and the only way to do that is by seeing the best doctors. It's always a shock to find out our bodies aren't doing what we think they should, but your doc seems to be on the right track. Hang in there girlfriend... a lot of us boomers are doing the same thing you are. We'll get thru it.
Posted 9/19/2005 6:03 PM (GMT 0)

Thank you so much, Jeannie. You've helped set my mind at ease. I feel better knowing that my doctor is probably getting me to a specialist early enough to get me well educated!

~~Peggy

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