Diabetes and kidney health are closely connected, but kidney disease is not inevitable. Drs. E+P share tips on prevention, protection, and treatment options so you can reduce your risk and maintain a greater quality of life.
This video was supported through a sponsorship from Lexicon Pharmaceuticals.
After 66 yrs. living with T1D I was dx with CKD stage 3a in 2019. My endo told me to limit potassium in my meals. She actually said “don’t eat two bananas in a row”. I made an appointment with my CDE and learned how to decipher her comment. Since then I’ve had labs twice a year to monitor the condition that has remained stable. I’m very interested in adding medication to delay CKD progression, but because the FDA has not approved use for T1D patients, Medicare and Medigap insurance won’t cover it. Unfortunately, I don’t have any resources left to pay out-of-pocket. Are there additional studies being conducted re. use with T1D? At age 78, I understand clinical studies would no longer be interested in my application. Guess the best I can do is to continue to be careful with the potassium content of my meals and not eat two bananas in a row.
There are lists out there of foods that have high potassium levels, which you can easily find online. SGLT2 inhibitors are vital for people with type 1 to prevent the progression of CKD. There’s a company called Lexicon that has done studies in type 1, and they are going to the FDA in the next couple of months to try to get their SGLT2 medication approved for use in type 1. We’re hopeful that it will be approved.
What are eGFR and urine protein criteria for more aggressive kidney treatment and when to see a specialist?