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Protein in Urine

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sandym

sandym

Active Member
Relationship to Diabetes
Type 1
Hi there!
I am a newbie on here, although I have been diabetic for 15 years now. I am type 1. I have had a scare this week which still isn't resolved and I am frankly highly anxious. I know I can't expect you to tell me its all going to be OK but I do wonder if any of you have had experience of this.
My Hbac1 test was a bit high, it has been for a while now. I think it was 8.6. Anyway I did my usual urine test and they have found some protein in my urine. My GP is very good but unfortunately not very supportive. I have given another sample and have to take another one in in 2 weeks. I am also doing home BP readings over 4 days to take in next week.
I really am quite frightened. When I told my GP this she said that she couldn't tell me anything to make me feel better and I need to tighten my control! Try as I might, I find it hard to tighten....
Any experiences that you'd like to share with me would be great.
Sandy 🙂
 
Hi Sandy, sorry to hear about this, I am sure it must be very worrying. Are you on any medication for high blood pressure, and do you know what yours is like currently? Presumably the GP has given you the home testing kit as they they want to get a better picture of your BP day-to-day rather than in the surgery where a lot of people suffer from 'white coat syndrome' (including me - my BP is always higher when GP takes it!).

What insulin regime are you on, and do you only see your GP about your diabetes, or do you also have access to a consultant and DSN? Whilst it's not great that you are showing signs of protein, as far as I know this is only a very early indication that something needs to be looked more closely at, and there are very effective treatments, such as some of the BP medications.

Getting your HbA1c down would most certainly help, and perhaps we can help you with that by offering suggestions on areas you might like to look at and discuss with your healthcare team.
 
Hi sandy.

I think there are a few possible causes for protein in urine, hence the BP checks which will help to narrow it.

I think kidney infections can cause it, so maybe they'll test for cystitis.

If you have swinging highs and lows that average to your HbA1c, then that would potentially cause more damage than a steady average around it.

So it's more the extremes that you may need to tighten up on rather than getting a lower HbA1c, if that makes sense.🙂

Rob
 
Thank you so much for that both of you! I was kind of hoping it might be some kind of infection but I have no symptoms and my urine is a good colour so I doubt its that.
No I'm not on any meds for BP but I have just started on Statins and an asprin a day just before this scare.
I am on Novo Rapid and Lantus, have been for years. Oddly enough I used to get white coat syndrome but my recent test at the diabetic clinic was fine. Now I'm doing it at home it varies wildly! Although like I say this thing is causing me to feel very anxious.
BP readings : Highest 150/95 and lowest today now I feel a little calmer 127/89 I feel sure the high ones are stress but I am no expert!
I do hear what you are saying about extremes Rob and that's me all over.....
Again thank you!
 
PS should have added I just see my GP and diabetic nurse.
 
Welcome SandyM

If protein was found in a routine test for someone with diabetes, then it's more likely to be microprotein leaking from kidneys than to be a urinary tract infection.

So, make sure you find out exactly what they meant, SandyM.

The good news is that the same group of drugs can help treat both raised blood pressure and microprotein in urine. Plus, the sooner a problem is discovered and treatment started, the less time there is for problems to develop.

So, GP is right, tightening your control will help, but so might medication thta they can prescribe for you. Hope you get some explanations soo.
 
Thank you. To be honest she seemed quite sure that it was leaking kidneys. I just hope that is is early enough. I am not at all sure if this has been tested recently. Normally its just a dip stick in the urine for sugar when I go for my 6 monthly checks.
Fingers crossed!
 
sandym said:
Thank you. To be honest she seemed quite sure that it was leaking kidneys. I just hope that is is early enough. I am not at all sure if this has been tested recently. Normally its just a dip stick in the urine for sugar when I go for my 6 monthly checks.
Fingers crossed!
Click to expand...

They should test for protein at every check up, so hopefully this is something recent and therefore easier to treat 🙂
 
I bloomin' hope so! Maybe they have done and I've just not noticed. Will keep you posted.
 
Sandy, quite honestly? - I think you should ask to be referred to a hospital consultant.

With an A1c in the 8's, you need specialist advice, not from a 'Diabetes Specialist GP' or a nurse at the surgery who 'looks after the diabetics' and has most likely not undergone the sort of training that 'proper' Diabetes Specialist Nurses have to do. These days, it's a Degree course. Just for diabetes nurses, and involves working in a hospital diabetes clinic full time whilst gaining that Degree.
 
Oh god now I'm really freaking out! I do hope they know what they are doing..... It was suggested that I see a specialist though, but I will insist. Thank you, I need to hear it and I feel so supported on here already.
 
You sound a bit like me 10 years ago, yep I was bricking it and freaking myself out I was doomed kind of thing.. I'm still here nope my kidneys weren't doomed, they don't even protest any more as the damaged that was done has been reversed.. I've been clear of leaking protein for around 18 months or more...

It taken a while I know, but here's how I achieved

The actual tallest order is bringing the blood glucose levels into order, which in my case has required the aid of a insulin pump which after a 3 year battle, pumps are rare in my clinic, I got funding 4 years ago..

At one stage they did try me on BP meds, but because my bp was fine I suffered spin outs, BP going too low they even tried me on the most expensive BP meds but I still suffered spin outs, so came off them...

I would ask to be referred to the hospital diabetic clinic you'll really need it, as they are more able to help you explore your control to see where your control is going wrong, if needs be explore the possibility of insulin pump therapy etc..

As by the sounds you may be missing a lot of the background information that makes all the difference in managing diabetes to your best advantage.. And there's us lot, who all can help you, by filling in missing information handy hints and tips that we find works for us, may not for you but might put you on the track to finding out what does works for you as we're all different.

All you need to do is fire questions at us, and we will answer with what we know, or what worked for us for you, to take a look at and decided if it might help you..

Oh forget, welcome to the forum
 
My last but on urine test came back with protein traces so I had a follow up last month which was OK. Please don't worry but like the others say, ask to see a specialist.
 
Again thank you so much. That is SO encouraging. I really had pretty much written myself off this week. Thank god I came on here 🙂
 
Hi Sandy. When I was ill a few years ago I had loads of protein and it soon cleared up by itself. Another time, when I was in my early 20s recovering from a serious accident I was ill and my GP said that I had to prepare myself that it was my kidneys beginning to fail.....but that time it was only an infection. Last year my consultant wrongly said that there was protein in my urine, he had read the result wrongly, but what he did tell me is that you wouldn't know if there was a problem based on one test. I know it's not easy but try not to worry as everything could turn out ok......and if there is a problem it can be treated.
 
Thanks again, all of you. I feel so much better for your thoughts and experiences. I have thought about a pump but I thought it was for very unmanagable diabetes - although mines not far off by the looks of things!
 
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