WARNING: Creatine Levels Necessary

[canuck]

All diabetics for sure must get a creatine level done before embarking on Dr Atkins program.
Protein does not harm the kidneys.They have found this out.(see Duke university research)
But diabetics can have impaired kidneys from tolerating high blood glucose if the diabetes has been out of control. An impaired kidney needs to work harder to process protein and this can further tax your kidneys.
So please follow the book. Follow Dr A advice and get a creatine level testt done before doing this program. Keep track of all blood tests and it is fun to watch yourself get healthy.

[angelb]

hi, i am new here but i have been lurking and reading all the wonderful post and soooo jealous and happy for the people who have lost so much weight. that was excellent and information advice about creatin test! :nod
i started the atkins diet on June 1st,i know your are to weigh once a week but i have been doing it each day and so far no result,but i have only been eating approx. 10 carbs a day just not that hungry. can someone tell me how to find jello without aspertame? oh yeah starting today i have increased my carbs trying my best to get as close to 20 a day as possible,before i begin atkins, for a month i had been doing 60 carbs a day on my own at first i lost 8lbs. and without cheating or anything i started gaining the 8lbs. back still a mystery to mehope i can lose i can't wait until 2 weeks is up for results ensive

[Coop2004]

hi, i am new here but i have been lurking and reading all the wonderful post and soooo jealous and happy for the people who have lost so much weight. that was excellent and information advice about creatin test! :nod
i started the atkins diet on June 1st,i know your are to weigh once a week but i have been doing it each day and so far no result,but i have only been eating approx. 10 carbs a day just not that hungry. can someone tell me how to find jello without aspertame? oh yeah starting today i have increased my carbs trying my best to get as close to 20 a day as possible,before i begin atkins, for a month i had been doing 60 carbs a day on my own at first i lost 8lbs. and without cheating or anything i started gaining the 8lbs. back still a mystery to mehope i can lose i can't wait until 2 weeks is up for results ensive

Welcome!

First of all, do you have the Dr. Atkins New Diet Revolution (DANDR) book? If so, Please get it and read it.

Second of all, do you have diabetes? If you do, also get Dr. Bernstein's Diabetes Solution.

If you aren't diabetic, although you are more than welcomed to post and read posts here as well, it would be very beneficial for you to check out the Induction Forum quite thoroughly, as well as the FAQs Forum and Atkins Diet Forum.

I see that you realize that 10 carbs a day is not quite enough and that you need to be closer to 20 carbs. Make sure that you are following Induction by the book. By having done 60 carbs a day, that is way too much for this diet, especially on Induction.

And I cannot say it enough, if you don't have the Atkins book, please, by all means, get it.

Again, welcome and good luck.

Linda (Coop)

[ppdoc1]

Just a small correction. The test you are after that measures kidney function is CREATININE, not creatine. It is cleared from blood by kidneys, therefore its level rises when kidneys don't function well.

[angelb]

thanks for the welcome and i do have the book,but it is sometimes confusing but people on this board are so knowledgable when i'm confused i come here to clarify and yes i am a diabetic and have noticed improvement,i took my diabetic meds last week and was sick all day because my sugar was low and the meds was too much, now i test my sugar before taking meds :yes. i'm still on induction and now losing,i got advice from this board because i had began to gain lost pounds someone suggested processed foods may be the problem and when i cut out the bacon i began to lose again. i have 125 more pounds to go but i'm ready . only lost 6 pounds the first 2 wks. but better than nothing

[Coop2004]

thanks for the welcome and i do have the book,but it is sometimes confusing but people on this board are so knowledgable when i'm confused i come here to clarify and yes i am a diabetic and have noticed improvement,i took my diabetic meds last week and was sick all day because my sugar was low and the meds was too much, now i test my sugar before taking meds :yes. i'm still on induction and now losing,i got advice from this board because i had began to gain lost pounds someone suggested processed foods may be the problem and when i cut out the bacon i began to lose again. i have 125 more pounds to go but i'm ready . only lost 6 pounds the first 2 wks. but better than nothing

Well, I'm glad to see that this board is helping you, that's what it's here for, but always remember that you also need to check with your doctor periodically, because we're not medical professionals here.

By the way, have you had a Hemglobin A1C lately, or for that matter, at all? It should be done every 3 months. Normal level for US, is 6.5 and in Canada it is 6.1. It's an average of your Blood Glucose levels.

Glad to see that you check your levels on a daily basis. It's very important!!

And congratulations on the weight loss.

Please keep us informed.

:hug

Linda (Coop)

[angelb]

thanks for the welcome and i do have the book,but it is sometimes confusing but people on this board are so knowledgable when i'm confused i come here to clarify and yes i am a diabetic and have noticed improvement,i took my diabetic meds last week and was sick all day because my sugar was low and the meds was too much, now i test my sugar before taking meds :yes. i'm still on induction and now losing,i got advice from this board because i had began to gain lost pounds someone suggested processed foods may be the problem and when i cut out the bacon i began to lose again. i have 125 more pounds to go but i'm ready . only lost 6 pounds the first 2 wks. but better than nothing

[Eagle]

---Normal Creatnine Level About 0.6?

If 0.6 is not totally normal it must be pretty close. Anyone have better info?

I have at least one prescription to protect kidneys from high b.g. levels while experimenting with various meds, Lisinopril.

[canuck]

I only know the metric measurements, sorry,maybe skank or coop know USA, Atkins book i think says under 37 but i have lent mine out so cant look it up and may be wrong as this ole memory sometimes tricks me.

[Coop2004]

In Chapter 10, page 93, of the DANDR (2002 Version), Dr. Atkins states that people with severe kidney disease have a creatine over 2.4 (and should not do Atkins).

Hope that's the info requested.

Linda (Coop)

[canuck]

Thnx coop, maybe 37 is metric numebr,

[Eagle]

I Think That's What We're Looking For.

Thanks, Coop and Cannuck. That gives new people and us a general idea what creatnine number is normal or way off.

[Chupa Cabras]

Re: WARNING: Creatine Levels Necessary

Normal creatinine levels should be no more than 1. As it begins to elevate, it shows that protein is being 'spilled' into the urine due to reduced kidney function. Kidney disease is also caused by high blood pressure, and high blood pressure causes kidney disease, so it's a vicious circle.

As the creatinine levels go up, it shows how much damage is continuing to be done to the kidneys. This isn't caused by a high protein diet. But as the levels rise, lowering protein intake will reduce the strain on the kidneys.

My husband is diabetic, and we've been struggling with kidney disease for several years. I watched his creatinine levels go to 3.9, and the docs said kidney function couldn't be reversed...the damage was done. But with diet we brought it down to 2.4! He still had kidney damage, of course, and it would only worsen in time.

February of 2005 he had a kidney transplant. The new kidney is functioning well, and there have been no rejections. His creatinine level is around 1.5, which is very good for a donor kidney, especially a cadaveric one from a small child.

ALL diabetic should have their creatinine levels checked several times a year. If we had caught it in time, there would have been no kidney transplant. If you have to ASK for it, then ASK!!!

[norweaver]

Re: WARNING: Creatine Levels Necessary

Normal creatinine ranges anywhere from about 0.6 to 1.3 depending on the lab at which it is drawn. I caution anyone here not to look at particular numbers in isolation and without the input of your MD. Creatinine must be looked at in combination with BUN (blood urea nitrogen), and is looked at in a ratio of BUN to Cr. Many things can cause it to be elevated, including things as simple as dehydration or as complex as kidney failure. PLEASE ask your doctor or other health care professional to explain. Most importantly, ask your doctor if you are spilling protein in your urine (microalbumin) which is an early indication of problems with kidney filtration.