Kidneys

[stratospheric]

I'm just wondering is it just me.. I've had more than few kidney infections in past year. Now ended up with using antibiotics once a day for a year. My dr told me that ppl with diabetes do tend to have these infections.. Has anyone else experienced problems with kidney infections? Any suggestions how to avoid them or when or if it's gonna get better?

 

[CarbsRok]

I'm just wondering is it just me.. I've had more than few kidney infections in past year. Now ended up with using antibiotics once a day for a year. My dr told me that ppl with diabetes do tend to have these infections.. Has anyone else experienced problems with kidney infections? Any suggestions how to avoid them or when or if it's gonna get better?

To my knowledge I have never had a kidney infection, been on insulin for 50 years.
What sort of levels are you running your blood sugar? This would have a an impact on your health.

 

[stratospheric]

To my knowledge I have never had a kidney infection, been on insulin for 50 years.
What sort of levels are you running your blood sugar? This would have a an impact on your health.

My control is nowhere near it's should be. But it's impossible to explain to dr that it's a never ending circle. I have infections, my sugar lvl goes up, lvl goes up and im more likely to get infection. Then on top kidneys affect my BP and other way around again. Tons of pils doesn't help aether. Ive had 9 infections last year, 2 was so bad i was hospitalised. Nightmare.

 

[shedges]

Do you get your diabetic care through your GP or through a diabetes care team? Not all GPs are experts in diabetes - they have general knowledge but unless it's something they specialise in, you might want to go to your care team for more help. They'll get you back to basics. They'll be able to advise what to do when infections affect your blood sugar levels. And through blood sugar control they'll help you stop getting the kidney infections in the process... preventing rather than treating.

What are your hba1cs like?

 

[Juicyj]

Hey Strato, a friend of mine (non-diabetic) used to have loads of kidney infections, she is alot better now aged 44 I don't think its necessarily diabetes related, more like luck of the draw, sorry this probably doesn't help much ! Has you doctor given you any advice on how best to manage this ? This would be my starting point.

 

[stratospheric]

Hey Strato, a friend of mine (non-diabetic) used to have loads of kidney infections, she is alot better now aged 44 I don't think its necessarily diabetes related, more like luck of the draw, sorry this probably doesn't help much ! Has you doctor given you any advice on how best to manage this ? This would be my starting point.

Well dr says only way is long term antibiotics. Oh I can't tell in words how i hate antibiotics. Been taking them for 8 months now. Feel exhausted all the time.

 

[stratospheric]

Do you get your diabetic care through your GP or through a diabetes care team? Not all GPs are experts in diabetes - they have general knowledge but unless it's something they specialise in, you might want to go to your care team for more help. They'll get you back to basics. They'll be able to advise what to do when infections affect your blood sugar levels. And through blood sugar control they'll help you stop getting the kidney infections in the process... preventing rather than treating.

What are your hba1cs like?

Im under diabetic team. And my hba1c hasn't been under 10% never..... It's like i understand that all...i just dont know where to start from. It's like everything is happening at once.

 

[CarbsRok]

Im under diabetic team. And my hba1c hasn't been under 10% never..... It's like i understand that all...i just dont know where to start from. It's like everything is happening at once.

The best thing you can do is buy the books think like a pancreas, and using insulin. Both can be found on amazon.

Basal is no1 priority. If that's wrong everything is wrong. So start with basal get that right then work out how many carbs to 1 unit of insulin. Obviously if unwell then basal needs are greater so keep a diary so you can see the insulin needs and changes depending on your health.
If you are still swinging all over the place then perhaps consider a different type of insulin. Some people can not use the analogue insulin's.

 

[noblehead]

Im under diabetic team. And my hba1c hasn't been under 10% never..... It's like i understand that all...i just dont know where to start from. It's like everything is happening at once.

Agree with CarbsRok about starting with your basal insulin. If you've not done a carb counting course such as DAFNE then I strongly suggest you do so, in the mean-time you should take a look at the following which is an on-line version of the DAFNE course, it should cover things like getting your basal dose right and working on your insulin-to-carb ratio's:

http://www.bdec-e-learning.com/