General Health Test Family
We're down to our last few tests! Some of these may be familiar to you. We include them here because they are important for anyone who wants to maintain their health, especially those with kidney disease. We'll call them the general health test family. They are:
- Serum albumin
- Cholesterol
- Triglycerides
- Fasting blood glucose (FBG)
- Hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c)
Remember protein (albumin) in the urine? That was a not-so-good thing. But the levels of albumin you have in your blood are very important. Why? Because your serum albumin—the amount of protein in the fluid part of your blood—measures your overall nutrition. When your kidneys are failing, you may notice that you don't want to eat meat or other protein foods. Over time, this can lead to malnutrition.
Malnutrition is a risk factor for death in people who are on dialysis, so it's important to stay healthy and eat well! People who start dialysis with higher albumin levels do better down the road. Your level should be greater than 4.0 g/dL.
But What About a Low Protein Diet?
If you have chronic kidney disease, your doctor may suggest a low protein diet. Some doctors believe that eating less protein may help the kidneys work a little longer.
But doctors do not all agree that a low protein diet will help the kidneys. There is good evidence that malnutrition is harmful and leads to early death. So eating less protein needs to be balanced with staying healthy. If your doctor suggests a low protein diet, ask for a referral to a renal dietitian, who can help you design a meal plan that will keep you healthy.
Once people begin dialysis, they may need extra protein. Dialysis—especially PD—removes some protein, so it is important to eat enough protein to avoid malnutrition.
Cholesterol and triglycerides are measures of fat in the blood.
Cholesterol is a soft, waxy fat in your blood that is used for many body processes. Cholesterol insulates your nerve cells, helps form the membrane around every cell in your body, and helps with hormone production.
A test for cholesterol measures the amount of these fats in your blood. Most labs measure total cholesterol and two types of cholesterol: high density lipoprotein (HDL) and low density lipoprotein (LDL).
HDL is "good" cholesterol, because high levels in your blood seem to protect against heart attack. LDL is "bad" cholesterol, because high levels increase the risk of heart attack. And people with kidney disease are already at higher risk for heart disease.
Triglycerides make up about 95% of all the fat in our diets and in our bodies. This test measures the risk of heart disease and the body's ability to use fat effectively. High levels of triglycerides can mean a higher risk of heart attacks. Some diseases, like diabetes, raise triglyceride levels.
Both cholesterol and triglycerides are measured after an overnight food and alcohol fast.
