Diabetic, Creatinine 2.1, Potassium 7.2, Leg Swelling

A:

First I will give you a illness analysis of your father’s illness conditions so that you can know what is the position of his health conditions.

Since your father has about 20 years diabetes, kidney damages must have been caused and the swelling in his right leg, high creatinine and high potassium level in the blood are the indicators of kidney problems.

High creatinine 2.1 is higher than the normal range (0.5-1.2 for adults) and it means that at least more than 50% of kidney functions have been lost. This is because creatinine is not a sensitive indicator of kidney damages and it can still in the normal range until more than half kidney functions are damaged. But creatinine 2.1 is not high enough to begin dialysis, therefore it means that illness conditions have not developed into the end stage and there is still great chance to control the high creatinine and improve renal functions.

Normal potassium level in the blood is about 3.5-5.0 for adult. Your father’s blood potassium is 7.2 which is higher than the normal value. Since kidneys are the main organ to remove excess potassium from the blood, the elevated potassium is due to declined renal filtrating function. High potassium can be very harmful to the patient or it can even threaten the patient’s life, therefore it is very necessary to limit potassium intake through diets. Potassium binders will be needed if necessary.

As for the leg swelling, it is very common among diabetic kidney disease patients and it is caused by fluid retention due to declined renal functions. The swelling is more likely to occur in the legs, feet and ankles, etc. Diuretics can help relieve the leg swelling.

For your father, the best treatment at present is Micro-Chinese Medicine Osmotherapy which can treat both his diabetes but his kidney problems so as to help improve renal functions and relieve all his symptoms and discomforts from the very root.