A while ago, like over 15 years ago, I had some lab work done, and was called into my then Family Doctor to discuss the results.
I go in and sit down, or something like that, and we go through the results.
A1C - Check
Fasting Blood Glucose - Check
Lipids - Check
and then.............
Oh, you have some protein in your urine.
My heart dropped, to me this meant the end all be all, downward spiral into one of the killers that diabetics get, Kidney Failure.
I replied "Really, what does this mean?"
He said, "It is called Microalbuminuria and it is a very early indication of Kidney Damage."
I said, "So my kidneys are damaged?"
He said, "Well, not exactly."
I thought, WTF I'm really freaking out here, and you can't give me a straight answer. I was a hot head back then. But I did not vocalize my thoughts.
I said "What can we do?"
He said "We will put you on an ACE Inhibitor, which is a low dose Blood Pressure Medication that works on the kidneys and prevent the progression of Kidney Damage"
I took my first breath of relief. Took the Rx and filled it immediately.
This was my first encounter with a potential deadly diabetic complication. And I was completely freaked out about it. I spent the next several weeks, researching Kidney Disease, Progression from MicroAlbuminuria to overt Proteinuria. I looked to basically see how long I had left to live.
I guess the lesson I learned from this is that people get panicked about results, so when I break the news I do the best I can to provide as much information as possible and also offer a feedback loop, so the patient does feel on their own.
I never ever want anybody to feel like they have had a brush with death in the doctors office.
Trev
