My mom just got diagnosed with microalbuminuria. How bad is it?

Answer 1

She needs to watch her sugar, BP and take medicine that ends either with a -pril or a -sartan or both (ACE-I or ARB.)
1/20 or so can eventually progress to dialysis.

Answer 2

microalbuminuria means the kidneys have started spilling protein into the urine. This is one of the earliest indicators of kidney damage. Thankfully, if she controls her blood pressure (<130/80) and her diabetes (A1c<7) she can stave off further kidney problems by taking a drug called an ACE inhibitor. These drugs (enalapril, lisinopril, captopril, etc.) have been proven to reduce the rate of kidney disease in diabetics with proteinuria. Alternative drugs called ARBs (losartan, candesartan, valasartan, etc.) work slightly different, but have the same ultimate effect. The ARBs have not been proven to reduce the rate of kidney disease in diabetics with proteinuria, but it is believed to do so. I reccommend starting with an ACE inhibitor, because the most common reaction is a dry cough. If you can either get by with a cough, or end up not getting the cough, these are proven to help, whereas the ARBs are only believed to help.

Answer 3

Microalbuminuria is the urinary excretion of small (micro) amounts of albumin, a protein. Ordinary urine dipstick analysis can't pick this up. This office performed test isn't sensitive enough. This condition is an early indicator of altered glomerular permeability in diabetics. It may mean that your mom's kidneys are developing a problem due to her diabetes. Speak to her. If she needs more information as to how significant this is, she must contact her health care provider.

Answer 4

She should start monitoring her sugars, BP. Also watch her cholestrol. Does she smoke? Start mild aerobic exercises- walking 20 minutes.