Lower Insulin/BP Meds?

Kris · #1 (**permalink**) 02-03-2004, 06:54 AM

Hi folks, its Kris the new one. I am happy to let you know that my doctor has lowered my insulin to 6 units am and 10 units pm..he told me that he sees in the near future that I will go back to a pill and off insulin..something he never writes in a chart. He was very encouraged by the work I have been doing. I had lost weight as well. My blood pressure is normal and so were other test like urine and my kidneys. Yeh! Now I will say he has put me on a kidney disease preventative pill. I was so discouraged by this considering I have never had high blood pressure and now my blood pressure is that of a normal, healthy person. He said they are finding out what is causing the kidney disease in diabetics....high blood pressure and by putting me on something now it will save my kidneys down the road...does anyone have an opinion of this? I hate taking another pill. I am on synthroid, vitamin and occasionally asma inhaler. Thanks, Kris

mg_2204 · #2 (**permalink**) 02-03-2004, 07:41 AM

Kris, this is wonderful news!

x 100

**Congrats!**

Hard work does pay off!

Never heard of a pill that could save you from kidney disease. I was sure the only thing that could prevent damage was excellent BG control and nothing else. Wasn't even aware high blood pressure could damage kidneys. See? I'm still learning too! Is 'synthroid' for your kidneys?

To answer your question, if I was told by my doc I have to take pills to avoid damage to my kidneys well I would take it in a heart beat. No hesitation. Wouldn't want to end up on dialysis. The risks are too high. I would do it.

Never get discouraged Kris... even when things aren't going so well. There is always tomorrow you know! And this great place which you've found: the forum.

But there is much to rejoyce here in your message. So let's focus on that shall we?

Congrats again!

Marie

zookeeper671 · #3 (**permalink**) 02-03-2004, 07:48 AM

Hiya mg~ Synthroid is a thyroid replacement hormone (used to treat hypothyroidism). I take it too.

... and wonderful news Kris!

Angie

Kris · #4 (**permalink**) 02-03-2004, 08:03 AM

Thanks guys....appreciate your comments. Kris

HeatherP · #5 (**permalink**) 02-03-2004, 09:41 AM

There are certain blood pressure meds that have the added benefit of helping the kidneys avoid damage. They are Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitors. My doc wants me to start taking them. The one she's going to give me is Lisinopril. What's the big deal about one little pill? Beats dialysis and transplant surgery!

lgvincent · #6 (**permalink**) 02-03-2004, 10:24 AM

I've been taking Monopril since 1996 to help avoid kidney damage although it's probably too late for me. I saw nothing wrong with it at the time since it had been discovered that the ACE Inhibitors are helpful in preventing kidney problems. I just wish I had known about it earlier.

Kris · #7 (**permalink**) 02-03-2004, 10:50 AM

lgvincent:
Are you saying that the meds caused your damage OR that you already had kidney damage and the meds weren't able to help you? I know taking another pill is better than dialysis...i guess I am still thinking that I can beat this disease thus..no kidney or circulation or nerve problems...so why take a pill for a problem that I shouldn't have if I am not on insulin or meds anymore for my diabetes...do you see what I mean? Kris

lgvincent · #8 (**permalink**) 02-03-2004, 11:21 AM

No, the Monopril didn't cause the damage. I've recently started having kidney problems probably because I've had diabetes 36 years. I just wish I had started taking one of these drugs earlier to help avoid the complications.
I'm under the impression that if a person makes it 25 years without kidney problems that they usually don't occur, but I made it several years beyond that and I've been using Monopril for over 7 years so I guess the damage had already been taking place without my being aware of it.
I've always tried hard to keep my blood sugar under control but didn't start checking my blood sugar daily until about 1983, so the damage probably occured before that time. I began having nerve damage in 1996 and in the last few months it's gotten really bad. Them's the breaks I guess.

Kris · #9 (**permalink**) 02-03-2004, 11:34 AM

lgvincent,
Wow, I am sorry...do you have Type 1 or 2....I was diagonosed about 6 years ago...I am not 40. I was first diagnosed with Thyroid after a weight gain of 70lbs in six months....everyone thought I had a tumor or something..then I got tested and was put on meds...but my weight never changed..I kept asking them to test me for diabetes but they wouldn't. They said I had no obvious symptoms. My mother (had) 7 brothers/sisters all who died from complicatons plus I have several cousins that have it. I have 3 additional aunts/uncles plus my mother was on glucophage for a while but maintains control with diet....all of this and they still wouldn't test me so I found a new doctor. I was put on glucophage imediatley. I stayed on it for most of the past 6 years with the exception of 2 bouts with insulin that I was able to get myself off of in 2 months. Then last year Oct 2002, my sugars creeped back up to 500 or so (my fault) and well, this time I haven't been able to get off insulin. I guess I felt I was invinsible. I really had at that point never accepted my disease. This past year of 2003 has been an interesting year of change. I had managed to keep my numbers under 200 with 20am, 20units pm of 75/25 Humalog. Then this past summer I was on a steriod for asma and my sugars within 5 days were up around 350-400. My doct told me to up my insulin to 40am, 40pm..I was devasted b/c I felt I was never going to get back to just taking glucophage or nothing. Well my sugars did come back down but still I couldn't seem to get them lower than 180 or so..even with diet...untill I started exercising...now I am doing so well..losing weight..feeling great...exercise was the key. I hope others try it and see...I go 4-5 times a week...lift weights, cardio, stretching, situps....it has really made a difference. I guess when my doct said..wow, you are doing so great..here's another pill I was like what? I am going to pray about it some more. I hope to hear from others who are taking it too that might give me some insight. Thanks for your time reading this. Kris

lgvincent · #10 (**permalink**) 02-03-2004, 11:41 AM

Oh, nothing to be sorry about. I developed type one diabetes when I was a fairly young child in 1968. I've lived longer than I was expected to and I haven't had the problems that others in my home town have had so I guess I've been lucky to some degree. I know one young lady who is a few years younger than I but who has had the disease about 4 years longer who has had 2 kidney transplants and she's had a heart attack too.
I'm also know another fellow who lost his eyesight for a time, had a kidney transplant, and lost both legs. He's not expected to live more than one more year. He also developed the disease around 1964.
I think each case of diabetes is unique and it depends to some extent on how well the person takes care of themselves. I've always tried to live by the rules and guess I've been a little lucky but to be honest about it, I expect the disease to kill me too.