Sunday, February 15, 2015

5 Important Tests for People With Diabetes

What the numbers mean: "Normal creatinine value is about 1 mg/dL. Typically, if renal function is declining, the creatinine values start rising," Dr. Reddy says.

The creatinine value is related to muscle mass, so men tend to have higher numbers than women. To come up with a measurement, medical labs use a formula based on creatinine, age, gender, weight and ethnicity, and report it as estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), he says.

"If you're middle-aged and your serum creatinine rises from 1 to 2, it means that renal function has declined by 50%," Dr. Reddy says.

Your doctor will want you to have a serum creatinine test at least once a year, especially if you are on medication to help control your diabetes, he says.

What you can do: Keeping your blood pressure under control can help prevent creatinine from rising, Dr. Reddy says.

Cutting back on animal protein in your diet may also reduce creatinine levels, he adds. But above all, make sure you drink enough water.

Talk to your doctor about which foods to limit or avoid, and how much exercise you should get.

For more information and expert advice, visit Lifescript's Type 2 Diabetes Health Center ^[1].

Myth vs. Fact: How Much Do You Know About Diabetes?
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