Does kidney failure affect diabetes?

[MelissaJean]

I have type 2 diabetes and took medication to control it.  The doctors told me that my diabetes was partially due to the prednisone I was taking for my lung transplant.  At the time my kidneys started failing, they lowered my predisone dose.  A few weeks later I needed to stop taking my diabetes medication because my blood sugar would get extremely low.  I am trying to figure out why my diabetes has taken this turn... because of the predisone or because of the renal failure?   Has anyone else experienced a lessening of medication when your kidneys got worse?
Melissa

[Joe Paul]

I have type 1 diabetes, had it for 32 years. So far, no effects from kidney failure. Ive had to take prednisone as a "pretreatment" for the dye they used during my heart cath, as I am allergic, infact had to take more insulin as the prednisone made my sugar go UP!

[Rerun]

Most transplant (Kidney) patients are on prednisone.  I was on 10mg for 18+ years during my transplant and infact I'm still on 4mg because I can't get off the stuff without going into steroid withdrawl.  I am not diabetic and so I guess years of prednisone did not bring on diabetes .

What anti-rejection medications are you on for a Lung transplant?  How long do Lung transplants last?  If you get a kidney transplant do you have to take more medication, or is your immune system already compromised enough?  Questions, Questions, Questions!!?

[MelissaJean]

Most transplant (Kidney) patients are on prednisone.  I was on 10mg for 18+ years during my transplant and infact I'm still on 4mg because I can't get off the stuff without going into steroid withdrawl.  I am not diabetic and so I guess years of prednisone did not bring on diabetes .

What anti-rejection medications are you on for a Lung transplant?  How long do Lung transplants last?  If you get a kidney transplant do you have to take more medication, or is your immune system already compromised enough?  Questions, Questions, Questions!!?

The anti rejection medications I am on are: predisone, prograf, rapamune (sirolomus), and cell cept. Although, my medications have been switched around a couple times.. origionally I started on cyclosporine, imuran, and prednisone.  After my transplant I had large doses of these medications and over time (4 1/2 years) they weened me down.  When I get a kidney transplant they will just increase the medication to what I had right after my lung transplant.
On average lungs last for 5-10 years.  I remain hopeful because of the great things happening in medicine. 
Hope that answers your questions.... any more I am an open book.

[deej]

I have diabetes 1 and the hemo-dialysis machine does lower your sugar when you are connected. Some people don´t take insulin before dialysis. Talk to your doctor. I know my diabetes is lower now than before - on and off the machine. Also, as we have diet changes with kidney failure and we sometimes suffer from nausea, that would also account for a possible lower sugar level. At least it´s that way with me.

[Bajanne]

After some years on dialysis, my brother no longer had to take diabetes medication.  And some time back, my nephro told me that one day, because of dialysis, I will find that my diabetes gets better.

[angieskidney]

I started on cyclosporine, imuran, and prednisone. 

Those are what I took after my kidney transplant.




When I was on PD I was told that can CAUSE Diabetes. Is that true? I guess HD doesn't?

[kitkatz]

PD formulas have lots of sugar in the glucose solutions so it can casue some complications for diabetics.  I would think.

[goofynina]

I am on PD and my blood sugars are running normal,  better than when i was on hemo.  So i can honestly say that doesnt go for everyone,  I am not on insulin but an oral pill once a day.

[kitkatz]

Listen folks.  Step closer. I want you to be able to hear this really, really well.  Okay?  Ready?


KIDNEY FAILURE AFFECTS EVERYTHING!

[angieskidney]

Listen folks.  Step closer. I want you to be able to hear this really, really well.  Okay?  Ready?


KIDNEY FAILURE AFFECTS EVERYTHING!

Type out the list I know it is long

[kevno]

Does it? Never noticed? Hold on!

I have been a renal patients all my life, so I never noticed Just had to live with Kidney Failure Affecting Everything
Next time not so loud, my ear hurts

[kitkatz]

If I got started writing the list on everything kidney failure affects, I would be writing forever! It would take over my life. But I have more important things to write about.

[angieskidney]

If I got started writing the list on everything kidney failure affects, I would be writing forever! It would take over my life. But I have more important things to write about.

lol true! It is a long list..

[livecam]

Type II diabetes damaged my kidneys in the first place.  After dialysis started I noticed a much reduced need for oral diabetes meds such as glyburide etc.  I've read elsewhere that this is because dialysis can't completely remove such meds from the bloodstream so their effect lasts longer. Anyway my blood sugars were very well controlled during my years of dialysis with little effort on my part.  Lets jump to transplant time almost 5 years ago after which my sugars started to soar.  Its kind of interesting but I mentioned this to various doctors and nurses in the hospital none of whom seemed very concerned.  My sugars ran high even with oral meds so I requested a switch to insulin and they agreed. I was completely weaned from Prednisone, again at my request about 2 years and 9 months after the transplant.  Initially this seemed to help with blood glucose levels but over the long term I don't think it made much difference.  So now I'm a completely insulin dependant diabetic with excellent function in the transplanted kidney at just under 5 years.

[JerseyGirl]

The prednisone will affect your blood sugars for sure.

[angieskidney]

Type II diabetes damaged my kidneys in the first place.  After dialysis started I noticed a much reduced need for oral diabetes meds such as glyburide etc.  I've read elsewhere that this is because dialysis can't completely remove such meds from the bloodstream so their effect lasts longer. Anyway my blood sugars were very well controlled during my years of dialysis with little effort on my part.  Lets jump to transplant time almost 5 years ago after which my sugars started to soar.  Its kind of interesting but I mentioned this to various doctors and nurses in the hospital none of whom seemed very concerned.  My sugars ran high even with oral meds so I requested a switch to insulin and they agreed. I was completely weaned from Prednisone, again at my request about 2 years and 9 months after the transplant.  Initially this seemed to help with blood glucose levels but over the long term I don't think it made much difference.  So now I'm a completely insulin dependant diabetic with excellent function in the transplanted kidney at just under 5 years.

Too bad you couldn't have gotten a pancreas as well

[livecam]

Won't necessarily help.  Since the problem was originally type II a pancreas wasn't called for at the time.  Simultaneous kidney/pancreas transplant patients have a MUCH shorter wait on the cadaveric list which is a very good thing. Transplantation of the pancreas has a higher complication rate than kidney transplant but yea I could probably use one right now.

[Joe Paul]

Won't necessarily help.  Since the problem was originally type II a pancreas wasn't called for at the time.  Simultaneous kidney/pancreas transplant patients have a MUCH shorter wait on the cadaveric list which is a very good thing. Transplantation of the pancreas has a higher complication rate than kidney transplant but yea I could probably use one right now.

You are correct, the wait for the dual transplant is 1 - 2 years here in Pennsylvania, compared to a 3 -5 year wait for just a kidney. The transplant Doctors here at UPMC (University of Pittsburgh medical center) told me that its usually the same Doctor that removes the kidneys, whom remove the pancrease, and being the pancrease is more fragile, most times does not survive the removal. When I had my interview in May this year, the Doctors told me the chance of a successful dual transplant is at 85%, not bad at all, it would be nice not to have to take insulin shots after 32 years of them. Sorry for taking this off topic, just thought id share the info in-case anyone was curious.