Back to the wall
I had some troubling news last week but it was nothing unexpected, especially since I’ve felt more tired lately.
My creatinine levels worsened to 7.0, which calculates to only 8 percent kidney function. I also have higher than normal phosphorous levels, which requires a prescription to reduce the amount. My parathyroid and potassium numbers — numbers typically of concern to us people with kidney disease — remain in the normal range.
My nephrologist, Dr. James McCann, said my creatinine results are beginning to make him nervous, and he said I’ll need to begin dialysis if my percentage of kidney function drops any lower.
I’m concerned because no one ever wants to begin dialysis.
But I only have myself to blame.
With kidney function declining I’ve had to deal with more volatile blood-sugar levels in recent months. To control dramatic lows I resorted to eating sugar more often, with a preference for candies and pudding. True confessions.
Sugar, as I already know, is the worst philosophy for controlling sugar while maintaining healthy kidney function.
Sugar is poison. Every time I’ve resorted to routinely using sugar to offset hypoglycemia it has produced dramatically worseneed creatinine levels. I should know better, but the idea that I didn’t want to meet an untimely end from low blood sugar while awaiting the transplants, I took the easy route, thinking the transplants were just around the corner.
As it turns out, the transplants have remained miles away.
The kidney-pancreas transplants I’m awaiting are taking longer than anticipated. After being called in eight times for the transplants — seven times from late November until late February, including three times in one week in February — I haven’t heard a word for four months, save for one call to ask if I was interested in the organs from a donor found dead with a needle in her arm.
No, I said, fearing the risk of undetected HIV or hepatitis C, which can be common among drug addicts.
The reasons for not getting transplants the first eight times include the fact that pancreas quality wasn’t sufficient. Several times I was a backup for the person who ultimately did get the available kidney and pancreas.
As my numbers declined from 5.9 to 7.0 in two months, I feel like I’m in a black hole of the waiting list — a seemingly endless period of dark silence requiring a patient’s full patience.
A word to the wise, if you have diabetes and kidney disease. If you need a quick boost of calories to avoid hypoglycemia or low blood sugar from too much insulin, the best bet is grape or apple juice, with my preference of grape juice. It is healthy and never adversely affected my kidney numbers or any health numbers.
In dramatic response to my creatinine levels, I’ve adopted a no-sugar diet once again, which is the diet I’ve historically followed. It isn’t difficult. I’ve cut back on my insulin a bit. I’m exercising again, this time by waking and spending a half hour each day on an exercise bike. I’m also thinking positively about keeping my numbers where they are. I’m going to fight this battle with a strong attitude and the best science available and willpower I known I can employ when back is to the wall.
I’m close to dialysis. I won’t hesitate to go on dialysis once my doctor(s) deem it necessary. Until then, I’m going all out to prevent it.
My creatinine levels worsened to 7.0, which calculates to only 8 percent kidney function. I also have higher than normal phosphorous levels, which requires a prescription to reduce the amount. My parathyroid and potassium numbers — numbers typically of concern to us people with kidney disease — remain in the normal range.
My nephrologist, Dr. James McCann, said my creatinine results are beginning to make him nervous, and he said I’ll need to begin dialysis if my percentage of kidney function drops any lower.
I’m concerned because no one ever wants to begin dialysis.
But I only have myself to blame.
With kidney function declining I’ve had to deal with more volatile blood-sugar levels in recent months. To control dramatic lows I resorted to eating sugar more often, with a preference for candies and pudding. True confessions.
Sugar, as I already know, is the worst philosophy for controlling sugar while maintaining healthy kidney function.
Sugar is poison. Every time I’ve resorted to routinely using sugar to offset hypoglycemia it has produced dramatically worseneed creatinine levels. I should know better, but the idea that I didn’t want to meet an untimely end from low blood sugar while awaiting the transplants, I took the easy route, thinking the transplants were just around the corner.
As it turns out, the transplants have remained miles away.
The kidney-pancreas transplants I’m awaiting are taking longer than anticipated. After being called in eight times for the transplants — seven times from late November until late February, including three times in one week in February — I haven’t heard a word for four months, save for one call to ask if I was interested in the organs from a donor found dead with a needle in her arm.
No, I said, fearing the risk of undetected HIV or hepatitis C, which can be common among drug addicts.
The reasons for not getting transplants the first eight times include the fact that pancreas quality wasn’t sufficient. Several times I was a backup for the person who ultimately did get the available kidney and pancreas.
As my numbers declined from 5.9 to 7.0 in two months, I feel like I’m in a black hole of the waiting list — a seemingly endless period of dark silence requiring a patient’s full patience.
A word to the wise, if you have diabetes and kidney disease. If you need a quick boost of calories to avoid hypoglycemia or low blood sugar from too much insulin, the best bet is grape or apple juice, with my preference of grape juice. It is healthy and never adversely affected my kidney numbers or any health numbers.
In dramatic response to my creatinine levels, I’ve adopted a no-sugar diet once again, which is the diet I’ve historically followed. It isn’t difficult. I’ve cut back on my insulin a bit. I’m exercising again, this time by waking and spending a half hour each day on an exercise bike. I’m also thinking positively about keeping my numbers where they are. I’m going to fight this battle with a strong attitude and the best science available and willpower I known I can employ when back is to the wall.
I’m close to dialysis. I won’t hesitate to go on dialysis once my doctor(s) deem it necessary. Until then, I’m going all out to prevent it.