Trying to donate a kidney.

[Amandlaz]

Hi, I'm trying to donate s kidney to my son, passed all tests then...glucose level came back at 42. I'm going to be tested again in March. So with confusing advice I've put myself on a low carb sugar free diet and gone from 70kg to 62kgs in 5 weeks. By doing this will my HBA1c level drop and by how much. My morning glucose reading is around 4.7 and two hours after eating it's around 5.6 what does this mean ?

 

[Prem51]

@Amandlaz If you are following a sugar free low carb approach to eating, and your weight is reducing, your HbA1c level is probably reducing too. If your mmol/L readings are 4.7-5.6 those are good and if you average around those figures over the 12 weeks before your next HbA1c test in March, the HbA1c reading should be below 32 (5.6mmol/L), which would be in the non-diabetic range (below 42)

 

[Amandlaz]

Thank you, that's encouraging to hear. My bmi has dropped to 23.5 and I'm in my seventh week of sugar free my weight has dropped 23lbs. Sugar free is difficult as it's everywhere, however I have 3 smallish meals a day at sensible times and I between I have a snack. No late night eating anymore. I feel so much better and prey my levels have dropped enough to be able to donate my kidney. Fingers crossed.

 

[pleinster]

Hi, I'm trying to donate s kidney to my son, passed all tests then...glucose level came back at 42. I'm going to be tested again in March. So with confusing advice I've put myself on a low carb sugar free diet and gone from 70kg to 62kgs in 5 weeks. By doing this will my HBA1c level drop and by how much. My morning glucose reading is around 4.7 and two hours after eating it's around 5.6 what does this mean ?

Hi. Your reading of 42 is very borderline and does not necessarily indicate diabetes...but certainly is heading in that direction.
42 loosely equates to a meter reading of 7.0 mmols. Your 4.7 is mmols and equates likewise to a level way below "diabetic", with your 5.6 equating to a similarly low level of 32. The single meter readings can only, of course, give an indication of the blood sugar level at a given moment ..while the HbA1c indicates your average over a 3 month period. That said, testing before and 2.5 hours after a meal (or new untested food) and recording both food and reading, will inform you well as to what's immediately effective and it will allow you to spot patterns. If you are eating a strict low carb diet (ie. no bread, spuds, pasta, rice, cereal etc etc...and foods that have 10g or less carb for every 100g) you will keep the levels down, maybe even lower them further. I would recommend 2 litres of fluid per day. I'd say things would work very quickly, but then...your readings are already pretty low (and very normal).
My recent HbA1c came in at 43 (ie. 7.1 mmols on my meter) having been 49 a month earlier and 54 a month before that. What might make my experience quite relevant is that I had a kidney transplant exactly a year ago yesterday. My sister donated her kidney. It has been very successful. Irony is - my diabetes is steroid induced (from a drug called prednisolone given to help fight rejection...common to most transplant patient..and it carries a risk of this). So, it is pretty bizarre that you can be stopped from giving a kidney due to high blood sugar when it is very possible your son might end up with high blood sugar anyway! In fact, I am not sure at all that your renal team, or the co-ordinators, could not be persuaded (in light of their own undoubted knowledge that many transplant patients end up diabetic) to ignore it completely, particularly as his donor is a living donor (where chances of success are much, much higher than from a so-called cadaveral donor). Speak to them again, but I am sure that by March, your levels will be ok if you are strict. is your son on dialysis or are you hoping to pre-empt this?
And, what is his kidney function atm? If I can help with any info at all...please don't hesitate. My mother and brother have also both had transplants, and..well..I'm pretty well aware of the issues around renal health. Paul

 

[Neohdiver]

Hi. Your reading of 42 is very borderline and does not necessarily indicate diabetes...but certainly is heading in that direction.. . . In fact, I am not sure at all that your renal team, or the co-ordinators, could not be persuaded (in light of their own undoubted knowledge that many transplant patients end up diabetic) to ignore it completely, particularly as his donor is a living donor (where chances of success are much, much higher than from a so-called cadaveral donor).

I started the donation process for a liver (another donor was found before I got far). They are extremely cautious about the potential for creating problems in a healthy person via the donation process. Your elevated reading suggests that it is likely you will have diabetes one day. Since chronic kidney disease is a known risk associated with diabetes, I would not be surprised if it disqualified you (even if your numbers are normal by the time a decision has to be made).

 

[pleinster]

I take what Neohdiver says. They are very, very cautious as the live donor is technically a healthy person who does not need and operation, having an organ removed. That said, having been through the live donor process with three different potential donors and having been through the cadavral waiting list process, and having been in dialogue about all the possibilities and consequences at regular clinics from diagnosis at 17 to kidney failure at 52 - and Scotland may well differ - live donors can open dialogues with the surgeons to discuss progress if there are "minor issues" (eg. certain past/dormant viruses in the donor), and while diabetes is associated with chronic kidney disease...it will not necessarily rule out a renal donor if all other compatibility ratios are strong, as the risk to the donor is one which already exists - whether they progress or not, and so the main concern is instead whether there is risk to the graft once in place...I would think that if your border line level at the last test is lower in March, you would not be ruled out as a donor...otherwise why are they testing you again in this context? Stay positive and go on with the process as far as possible, hopefully up to transplant.

 

[catherinecherub]

Hi, I'm trying to donate s kidney to my son, passed all tests then...glucose level came back at 42. I'm going to be tested again in March. So with confusing advice I've put myself on a low carb sugar free diet and gone from 70kg to 62kgs in 5 weeks. By doing this will my HBA1c level drop and by how much. My morning glucose reading is around 4.7 and two hours after eating it's around 5.6 what does this mean ?

I just wanted to give you a hug. ((((()))))

 

[AndBreathe]

I started the donation process for a liver (another donor was found before I got far). They are extremely cautious about the potential for creating problems in a healthy person via the donation process. Your elevated reading suggests that it is likely you will have diabetes one day. Since chronic kidney disease is a known risk associated with diabetes, I would not be surprised if it disqualified you (even if your numbers are normal by the time a decision has to be made).

My understanding of the pre-diabetes to diabetes shift is that in otherwise healthy people, with no external or pharmaceutical interferants, such as steroids, the percentage shift from pre-diabetes to frank diabetes is c30%. This was from an Australian academic paper, but I don't, unfortunately have time this morning to search it out. Clearly any prediabetes levels should be taken as a warning bell, and where appropriate, steps taken to trim that number back.

It could be the renal team just want to ensure the donor body isn't rattling over the diabetes line as that could throw a whole new set of questions into the melting pot.

@Amandlaz - you are doing the right things to shift your HbA1c in the right description. Don't get hung up on the 32 number quoted, as finger prick testing can miss both highs and lows, but it certainly sounds like you are giving it your best shot to get into your best shape for the challenge. I really do wish you and your son the best of fortunes with this. It's a courageous thing for you both to undertake.

 

[sillysausage]

Hello (Pleinster) Paul,
Thank you very much indeed for your advice, will check c' level tomorrow.
My consultant ( a Nephrotic Specialist) has been working a' balancing act' with my medication since 2007 as type 2, but as from Nov' 2014 on Insulin....hate tablets, hate injections !!!!!!!
Consultant told me early on what to expect in possibly' 10yrs.,
(Also have DVT which goes with the territory !)
My husband hopes to be my donor, would go to Cambridge for transplant.
Sorry rambling on, hope to keep in touch.
With kind regards, Sue.

 

[pleinster]

Hello (Pleinster) Paul,
Thank you very much indeed for your advice, will check c' level tomorrow.
My consultant ( a Nephrotic Specialist) has been working a' balancing act' with my medication since 2007 as type 2, but as from Nov' 2014 on Insulin....hate tablets, hate injections !!!!!!!
Consultant told me early on what to expect in possibly' 10yrs.,
(Also have DVT which goes with the territory !)
My husband hopes to be my donor, would go to Cambridge for transplant.
Sorry rambling on, hope to keep in touch.
With kind regards, Sue.

Hi Sue - do stay in touch. Don't hesitate to ask if I can be of any help/hindrance at all. Good luck. Paul

 

[Skagway]

My understanding of the pre-diabetes to diabetes shift is that in otherwise healthy people, with no external or pharmaceutical interferants, such as steroids, the percentage shift from pre-diabetes to frank diabetes is c30%. This was from an Australian academic paper, but I don't, unfortunately have time this morning to search it out. Clearly any prediabetes levels should be taken as a warning bell, and where appropriate, steps taken to trim that number back.

It could be the renal team just want to ensure the donor body isn't rattling over the diabetes line as that could throw a whole new set of questions into the melting pot.

@Amandlaz - you are doing the right things to shift your HbA1c in the right description. Don't get hung up on the 32 number quoted, as finger prick testing can miss both highs and lows, but it certainly sounds like you are giving it your best shot to get into your best shape for the challenge. I really do wish you and your son the best of fortunes with this. It's a courageous thing for you both to undertake.

 

[Skagway]

Hi
I am a newcomer to the forum, a 66 year old retired nurse and would like to donate a kidney.
However I have a history of prediabetes with the highest results being 55 some years ago, but recently down to 45 (at 80kg) after losing 20 kg over the last few years. I now weigh 72kg.
I continue to diet and exercise so hope to get down to 70kg fairly soon.
Is there any chance of becoming a donor?

 

[Diakat]

Hi @Skagway you would need to discuss this with the transplant team and recipient.