GFR Nosedive --- help, please

I'm a Type II Diabetic, and up until 6 months ago have had only mild impairment of kidney function for over 6 years, was just being monitored with other blood work. Then recently my labs came back with a GFR of 31, and we retested, same result. PCP explained where I was in staging, and that I could stay at this level for a long while, or it might change; when it dropped into the 20's I'd get a nephrologist referral.

I was most surprised at the suddenness of the drop. I had switched last January to an anti-inflammatory diet, similar to Mediterranean, to lose weight and improve overall function (I have arthritis), exercise, feel better --- and it worked beautifully. But I since learned it has lots of high-phosphorus foods (beans, seeds, nuts, whole grains, fat free dairy), even though it was very low in saturated fat. Now I'm learning that a renal diet usually limits phosphorus....and I am wondering if I may actually have triggered some of the renal failure inadvertently. I'm not feeling guilty here, just confused, and wanting input from others who have negotiated these things --- too much happening, too many variables, too many questions for my doc, and mostly, not even knowing what to ask. I'd really like to talk to the nephrologist now, but I don't know if I'm just being too reactive.

I see my PCP next week. Am considering asking for a phosphorus level, maybe other dietary consult now? Sitting on a GFR of 31 feels like hanging off the edge of a diving board but not jumping in....

I'd just love some general feedback from people who have gone through the transitions of CDK stages to ESRD, and how you handled the decline, keep some sense of --- well, I'm not sure control is the right word, but at least a center.

Thank you!

Thanks so much for your response --- I thought kidney damage due to diabetes was irreversible, so your post surprises me. I don't know my creatinine, but I was in the ER the other night for other reasons, and they confirmed that I had kidney impairment --- I told them what my PCP said my numbers were. They didn't correct them, so I'm assuming they were either the same, or possibly lower, told me to follow up with him. I've got an appointment coming up on Thursday. If it is worse, I'm definitely going to ask for the referral; if it's better, to add at least a phosphate to the SMA-6 he's already ordered.

I'm 56, 12 years since diagnosis though I think I may have had it for a year before that. I did have a complete physical annually, so it shouldn't have been earlier than 13 years. What's weird is that after a year of diabetes when it was 8%, I got it down to below 6.5, and in recent years it's been between 5.4 and 5.7 --- excellent numbers, high end of normal, non-diabetics. I have high blood pressure, but that's well controlled too. I expected I'd still get this, but it should be slower, not much faster than normal, given that work. Really frustrating.

Are you diabetic? That seems to be more important, based on my reading, for whether or not GFR can improve, and that diabetes is the worst case scenario.

I'm having a lot of difficulty dealing with this emotionally --- more than I expected. This isn't my only health problem, and I knew this day would come, but I thought I had another 5 years in me --- was improving significantly, or so it appeared, and had made some wonderful plans....I don't want to jump the gun, but this is tough. I'm looking for a support group.

I would like to hear, if you are open to it, more about the experience itself --- what's the kidney biopsy like (never had a biopsy of any kind?) What else does the nephrologist do --- just draw blood and urine? Scans? I'm used to testing, but some kinds are harder for me than others --- like I've never been able to handle MRI's. I'm just spinning here, looking for answers and control, and there really won't be any....just wanting to go with the flow, but I'm still trying to swim upstream against what appears to be a pretty strong current. I have great friends, though, and excellent docs, and a wonderful church community --- where I live has an outstanding health care system. I just want some help making this transition, adjusting.

Thank you so much. Sorry I am venting. Gotta find something to get my mind off this, but I feel like I need to take my head off to do it :)) You're a peach.

Hi Simplegift,
I don't have diabetes so I won't be much help there. But I do know what it is lke to think things are going well and then the docs throw bad news your way. It is very hard to deal with. It took me awhile to wrap my head around it and move on to a "new normal". Don't ever worry about venting here.... it is what these boards are all about. Wishing you luck on Thursday.
Elizabeth