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Little bit of a scare - am I over reacting?

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This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
AJLang

AJLang

Well-Known Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
Just had a range of blood tests done for next diabetes review. All are normal BUT potassium was higher level of normal (4.7 when range goes up to 5.0) and protein was low level of normal. Should I be worrying about if they change much that it means potential kidney problems especially after nearly 47 years of diabetes? Apart from when I'm stressed blood pressure is normal. Desperately going to try to cut down my alcohol intake in the new year (I do say try). Would this help? Should I be worrying if results are still within normal range?

PS with regard to alcohol it is my only "vice". I can't eat much (becuae of the gastroparesis), don't smoke, it's a rare occasion that I eat something sweet and I've never done drugs.
 
Sorry to hear this, hopefully someone more knowledgeable will be along soon, however, could it be related to your gastroparesis? How much do you drink, is another obvious question.
No judging by the way 🙂
 
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Thank you Lucy. I don't think it is related to the gastroparesis but I guess that's a possibility. Hhhm alcohol well according to the Daily Fail I'm typical of the middle class middle aged....or possibly an hormonal teenager. Yes definitely more than I should but not until the evening unless I go out to lunch or to the hairdresser...oops
 
Lucy you have made me laugh. Cheers :D
 
I’ve had raised potassium mentioned to me a couple of times, but they have always told me ‘upper end’ or ‘just above’ the reference range, and not to worry - just that they will keep an eye on it.

Hope they put your mind at rest at the appointment, and you can avoid worry in the meantime.
 
everydayupsanddowns said:
I’ve had raised potassium mentioned to me a couple of times, but they have always told me ‘upper end’ or ‘just above’ the reference range, and not to worry - just that they will keep an eye on it.

Hope they put your mind at rest at the appointment, and you can avoid worry in the meantime.
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I have that too. Last time the consultant said that the sample might have been affected (can’t remember the term used) by being transported as I go to the hospital nearer work to have my blood drawn and it has to be taken to another hospital. However looking back through the results I have in my folder, it appears my potassium is always on the high side. I have no idea what this signifies though and nobody seems worried by it, so I’m not either!
 
Thanks very much Mike and Radders for reassuring me 🙂
 
AJLang said:
Just had a range of blood tests done for next diabetes review. All are normal BUT potassium was higher level of normal (4.7 when range goes up to 5.0) and protein was low level of normal. Should I be worrying about if they change much that it means potential kidney problems especially after nearly 47 years of diabetes? Apart from when I'm stressed blood pressure is normal. Desperately going to try to cut down my alcohol intake in the new year (I do say try). Would this help? Should I be worrying if results are still within normal range?

PS with regard to alcohol it is my only "vice". I can't eat much (becuae of the gastroparesis), don't smoke, it's a rare occasion that I eat something sweet and I've never done drugs.
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You only need to be .2 above the level. I was last summer & there's me eating the two things high on the list for potassium ? Tomatoes & Spinach which I was growing myself. BUT one of the tablets I was given was the cause, so halved the dose & potassium level fine. Everyone thinks Bananas are high(I eat 1-2 a year) Good luck 🙂
 
Thanks Hobie. I've found a detailed list of different potassium levels.
Unfortunately I looked at the results again last night and my sodium level is only one away from the top of the range so that's bothe sodium and potassium and low protein (which is not good in blood).
Potassium levels for past 11 months have been 4.1, 4.6 and now 4.7.
So worried about what this says short to medium term for my kidneys. Also worried that if these results worsen that they will stop my domperidone which is the only medication that makes my life with gastroparesis bearabl
 
I had a high reading for potassium at one time, but we worked out that I had been drinking a lot of water to counteract high BG and urine infection. Could that have a link? Perhaps alcohol has the same effect.
 
Thank you SB2015. That's definitely worth thinking about.
 
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This thread is now closed. Please contact Anna DUK, Ieva DUK or everydayupsanddowns if you would like it re-opened.
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