Diabetes Care And Support
Finding out you have diabetes is the first step in taking charge of it. The more you know about diabetes, the better choices you can make for your health. Diabetes is a complex disease, but you don’t have to fight it alone. At Banner Health, we are ready to help you understand more about your diabetes and how to manage some of its challenges. Diabetes is a condition that affects how your body uses blood sugar (glucose). Glucose is essential for your health because it’s a vital source of energy for the cells that make up your muscles and tissues. Your body turns food like bread, rice and milk into sugar (glucose) for energy. Insulin, a hormone made in your pancreas, helps this sugar enter your body’s cells for fuel. If your body doesn’t make enough insulin or can’t use it properly, the sugar builds up in your blood and causes high blood sugar (hyperglycemia). Managing diabetes means finding a balance between blood sugar and insulin, often through lifestyle changes or medication. While it may be overwhelming at first, over time you will become more in tune with your body and what it needs to stay healthy. Managing diabetes is a team effort. Talk to your health Glyco Care Formulahealthy glucose levels team, who can help tailor your plan and answer questions along the way.
Healthy kidneys maintain the blood creatinine within a normal range. However, as kidney function declines, the kidneys may be unable to clear the creatinine level in the blood. Abnormally high levels of creatinine could indicate potential kidney malfunction or failure. For this reason, the doctors conduct a creatinine test (along with other tests) to determine how well your kidneys perform. Any condition that affects the function of the kidneys is likely to elevate the creatinine level in the blood. It is essential to work with your nephrologist to develop a treatment plan to address any medical issues that might be implicating your kidney function. In this article, we will look at the definition of creatinine, the test to determine the creatinine levels in the blood, ways to lower creatinine levels, and myths about lowering creatinine. Creatinine is a waste product produced mainly by muscle activities from the breakdown of the compound called creatine. Creatine is a metabolite from creatine phosphate from muscle and protein metabolism, which the body uses to supply energy to the muscles.
As the muscles use energy, the tissue that comprises the muscles break down naturally, releasing the creatinine into the bloodstream. Creatinine can build up in the blood from a high protein intake, intense workout, medication or supplement dosage, or if a person has a kidney problem. Healthy kidneys filter creatinine from the blood and excrete it from the body through urine. However, impaired kidneys couldn’t filter creatinine and other waste materials properly from the body, thereby causing waste buildup. Doctors typically use a creatinine test to determine kidney function. However, checking the presence of creatinine alone in your blood isn’t the best way to evaluate your kidney health since your creatinine level is dependent on your age, race, gender, and body size. The best way to determine your kidney function is through Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR). GFR is a calculation of your creatinine level, age, gender, race, and weight. Your GFR number will help your doctor determine if you have kidney disease.
If your GFR number is below 60 for three months you may have kidney disease. Moreover, you may have kidney disease if your GFR number is above 60 with signs of kidney damage (presence of protein in the urine). Creatinine levels can be determined through two types of tests: a blood test and a urine test. The blood test a.k.a. A healthcare specialist will draw blood from a vein in your arm during this test, then send the blood samples to a lab for further analysis. Serum creatinine levels will elevate as kidney function declines. In the case where your kidney function is very low, or your muscle mass is abnormal, a creatinine clearance test becomes necessary. Your doctor may likely request a random single 24-hour urine sample, which involves collecting your urine for 24 hours. Serum creatinine is measured by milligrams (mg) of creatinine per deciliter (dL) of the blood.
Meanwhile, the creatinine clearance is measured in milliliters (ml) of blood filtered per minute (min). Important Note: For Serum Creatinine tests, see numbers in "SC" and for Glyco Care Formulahealthy glucose levels Clearance Rate tests see numbers in "CR". It is essential to note that this chart is for general reference. As mentioned, the serum creatinine normal range is dependent on a range of factors such as age, gender, hydration, or body mass. Hence, you must not interpret your lab results by yourself. Consult your doctor as they will evaluate and interpret your numbers and explain them to you. Although high levels of creatinine are indicative of potential kidney problems, other possible reasons could elevate your creatinine levels. These reasons may be one-time occurrences, such as dehydration or intake of large amounts of supplement creatine or protein. Other causes of high creatinine may suggest a health condition. These conditions can impair kidney functions or indicate kidney disease.
