Protein found....

[grainger]

So, had my 6 monthly consultant appointment today...

I have protein in my urine (evidently this has been a theme for me that I didn't know)... So they want to do further tests to see if I have kidney disease?!?!? Needless to say I burst into tears when I left . I don't know much about this so any positive comments would be appreciated...

Turns out I also had ketones this morning.... With a blood sugar of 6 - I'm clearly just weird. They started talking about these being "starvation ketones" because I'd only eaten meat and celery for breakfast... Don't really get this either but think I still had the words "kidney disease" ringing in my ears and didn't ask questions

All in all - really sucky c**p awful consultant appointment and I'm back to hating diabetes today . Apologies for the lack of positivity but when will this get easier? Depressingly my blood sugars for last three days have been perfect with nothing over 8 but now I feel like my bodies just against me no matter what.

Sorry if this is too much information but you guys are a source of such great knowledge you are my first point of call. As always any comments appreciated.

 

[newbs]

So, had my 6 monthly consultant appointment today...

I have protein in my urine (evidently this has been a theme for me that I didn't know)... So they want to do further tests to see if I have kidney disease?!?!? Needless to say I burst into tears when I left . I don't know much about this so any positive comments would be appreciated...

Turns out I also had ketones this morning.... With a blood sugar of 6 - I'm clearly just weird. They started talking about these being "starvation ketones" because I'd only eaten meat and celery for breakfast... Don't really get this either but think I still had the words "kidney disease" ringing in my ears and didn't ask questions

All in all - really sucky c**p awful consultant appointment and I'm back to hating diabetes today . Apologies for the lack of positivity but when will this get easier? Depressingly my blood sugars for last three days have been perfect with nothing over 8 but now I feel like my bodies just against me no matter what.

Sorry if this is too much information but you guys are a source of such great knowledge you are my first point of call. As always any comments appreciated.

The same thing happened to me with the protein, had to provide various specimens over a period of a few weeks for further testing but all ended up ok in the end, was put down to a 'blip'. Hopefully the same goes for you.

 

[PhilT]

When I had my 3 Monthly checkup last Month the results of my ACR test showed large amounts of protein in my urine also. I have to have the tests repeated in a few months time to see if it is still a problem. I have also been getting traces of ketones as well.

Try not to get too stressed about it, hopefully everything will turn out ok for both of us.

 

[Dory]

I was diagnosed with the same thing when I was about 15 - protein in urine. They put me on ACE inhibitors (enalapril, later ramipril - which is also used to control bp) which sorted the problem out - 17 yers down the line my urine tests always come back clear.

Doctors have an awful habit of highlighting the worst but without going through all the lesser evils that it could be. I think if it had been very serious they wouldn't have let you leave the hospital - they would have admitted you etc. So try and see that as a positive thing.

D sucks royally - even when you do things by the book. Have a 'feel c**p' day (they're importnat to have) and then tomorrow, get up with a clear head and focus on questions you're going to ask the doctors and how you could perhaps fit tablets into your life. Anything really to avoid negatively thinking about it and instead constructively thinking about it.

Fingers crossed for you both.

 

[Northerner]

I've heard of quite a few people here on the forum having protein in the urine, but then things have come to nothing, so do try not to worry. I suppose it's a bit like when they tell you that you have background retinopathy - even if you know it is likely to be OK it's still upsetting to hear I hope the tests turn out OK 🙂

As for 'starvation ketones', these are perfectly natural, they are the result of using fat for energy in the absence of carbs - it's how people lose weight. Ketones only become dangerous if the body can't use the glucose in the blood for energy because there is insufficient insulin circulating - it then burns fat, even if your levels are high, because that's all it can use. Hence, ketones are dangerous if you also have high blood sugar levels. Insulin is also helpful in removing ketones from the blood - again, if there isn't enough insulin then they build up, so you get high blood sugar levels and high ketones, which equals DKA (so-called because ketones are acidic).

People who deliberately don't take their insulin will lose weight, but place themselves at extreme danger of DKA and complications.

 

[Redkite]

Re the protein in the urine, don't panic! First you'll have a retest (possibly a 12 hour urine sample) - sometimes protein can appear temporarily as a result of energetic activity ("postural proteinuria") or a urine infection. Your next test could be clear.

In my son's case, he has continued to leak protein every time his urine ACR (albumin creatinine ratio) has been tested, and as he's only 12 I've had to do some pushing to get it properly investigated. Earlier this year he had an ultrasound scan of his kidneys (which showed no abnormalities) and a 24hr blood pressure monitor (if the kidneys are under strain the BP can go up). We had a consultation with the renal team at Gt Ormond St, and I asked them what ACR would be a cause for concern. My son's ACR has varied from 12-50, normal range for males being 0-2 I think. We were told that 2000-3000 would be a worrying level! However, as a precautionary measure my son has been started on a low dose ACE inhibitor. The dose will be adjusted according to his urine ACR results, with the goal being no protein in the urine.

It's depressing, but the main thing is to detect potential problems before they can cause harm, and take appropriate treatment. It's easy for me to say "don't worry" when I've been VERY worried 😉 but my son's consultant and his renal colleague are both confident that the ACE inhibitors and good diabetes control will prevent problems.

 

[Caroline]

Me too, I have rampiril to clear it up. WIll go back for more tests in a couple of months to see.

 

[grainger]

Hey all,

So sorry for the slow reply and thank you for the support. Waiting on test results of 24 hour test now and hopefully things will be clearer after that.

Also hope everyone else who's mentioned they are in a similar boat find that they are ok and it's a false alarm or is treated really quickly.