Question 1

at what stage of diabetes should you consider dialysis?

Accepted Answer

It's not: A stage of diabetes, it's when your kidney function falls below a certain level and isn't able to properly clear toxins out of your blood. Discuss w/your diabetes care team, they should be informing you if your kidney function is declining.

Question 2

how long can a 76 year old very healthy man with diabetes live with chronic kidney diseas stage 5 (while taking dialysis) ?

Accepted Answer

Age illnesses matter: Using medicare data for life expectancy of dialysis patients...

20yo male on dialysis 15.3years average
40yo male on dialysis 8.4 years average
60yo male on dialysis 4.6 years average
80yo male on dialysis 2.3 years average

illnesses and the reason for starting dialysis matter too, but that's too complicated for a chart. Good luck.

Question 3

72 year-old refusing dialysis.  gfr is 6. she has hypertension and diabetes. eating junk and smoking. realistic life expectancy?

Accepted Answer

Days to weeks: Hospice care would be appropriate at this point as symptom control will be superior without affecting significantly survival.

Question 4

would starting dialysis as soon as possible with a patient who is in kidney failure due to diabetes be beneficial even if their kidney function has no?

Accepted Answer

Depends: on the severity of kidney failure and damage and severity of diabetes: please make an appointment with a board certified nephrologist and your PCP.

Question 5

would starting dialysis as soon as possible with a patient who is in kidney failure due to diabetes be beneficial even if their kidney function has not dropped below 15 percent? would it improve their quality of life, length of life

Accepted Answer

Detox with dialysis: The kidneys are an essential organ responsible for helping to clean toxins from the body. Thankfully, we live in a time where their function can be mimicked with dialysis machines! Kidney failure can be both acute and chronic...or a bit of both. A persistently low filtration rate means they really need some help...and getting everything in order for dialysis is a wise step!

Question 6

my dad is in the icu for acute pneumonia. has diabetes and partial kidney failure as well. will dialysis help in recovery and in reducing lung fluid?

Accepted Answer

It depends: Dialysis would be needed for severe renal failure that is causing significant metabolic abnormalities or fluid overload. It may not necessarily help in cases of mild or moderate renal failure and pneumonia. It definitely wouldn't help remove the inflammatory fluid from a pneumonia. I hope this helps and that your father improves.

Question 7

complete liver failure and chronic kidney failure and diabetes, one doctor said emergency dialysis, and another said not bad enough? how can this be?

Accepted Answer

Kidney function: The decision to initiate dialysis usually is based on several factors. First laboratory testing can be performed to estimate the glomerular filtration rate. In addition clinical signs are taken into account such as the presence of swelling, poor appetite, weight loss, and decreased level of functioning. Since these are not absolute criteria, there may may some variance in opinion between physician.

Question 8

my grandmother has end stage four kidney disease, heart disease, does not eat properly, is not dialysis, needs oxygen but doesnt use it, has diabetes and does not take her insulin, and she is in her late sixties. based on this, long does she have?

Accepted Answer

: There is one typo in your statement I assume. End stage renal disease (ESRD) is stage 5 chronic kidney disease, not stage 4. When patient reaches ESRD, Insulin may not always be necessary. Survival varies a lot and the most important fact is oliguric (not making enough urine) or non-oliguric CKD. She survives much longer with non-oliguric type. Her time could be in the average of 6 - 24 months.

Question 9

my grandmthers creatinine level is 9. her kidneys arent working well. but she refuses to dialyze and is scared that she will die. what can we do? she has high blood pressure and diabetes.

Accepted Answer

Renal failure: Renal failure can be classified as prerenal, intrarenal or postrenal- heart failure, glomerulonephritis, bladder outlet obstruction would be examples.  Typically an elevated creatinine is not a helpful sign and is associated with increased mortality. Your grandmother has made a life choice for herself. Concentrate on the now. Love and support her. This can last a lifetime of good for her and you.

Question 10

what is the average life expectancy for a type 1 diabetic (has had diabetes for 35 + yrs) with end stage renal disease, and is on dialysis?

Accepted Answer

Depends: Any answer that includes a definite number would be questionable from my point of view; as it would probably not consider the subpopulations' future attitude and compliance, not to mention current overall health status/genetic of this "cohort". Meaning, life expectancy at this point may vary wildly for many reasons. It would be more useful to just optimize treatment in a multidisciplinary fashion.

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Doctor answers about:

Diabetes dialysis and immunology

A member asked:

At what stage of diabetes should you consider dialysis?

A member asked:

How long can a 76 year old very healthy man with diabetes live with chronic kidney diseas stage 5 (while taking dialysis) ?

A member asked:

72 year-old refusing dialysis. gfr is 6. she has hypertension and diabetes. eating junk and smoking. realistic life expectancy?

A member asked:

Would starting dialysis as soon as possible with a patient who is in kidney failure due to diabetes be beneficial even if their kidney function has no?

A member asked:

Would starting dialysis as soon as possible with a patient who is in kidney failure due to diabetes be beneficial even if their kidney function has not dropped below 15 percent? would it improve their quality of life, length of life

A member asked:

My dad is in the icu for acute pneumonia. has diabetes and partial kidney failure as well. will dialysis help in recovery and in reducing lung fluid?

A member asked:

Complete liver failure and chronic kidney failure and diabetes, one doctor said emergency dialysis, and another said not bad enough? how can this be?

A member asked:

My grandmother has end stage four kidney disease, heart disease, does not eat properly, is not dialysis, needs oxygen but doesnt use it, has diabetes and does not take her insulin, and she is in her late sixties. based on this, long does she have?

A member asked:

My grandmthers creatinine level is 9. her kidneys arent working well. but she refuses to dialyze and is scared that she will die. what can we do? she has high blood pressure and diabetes.

A member asked:

What is the average life expectancy for a type 1 diabetic (has had diabetes for 35 + yrs) with end stage renal disease, and is on dialysis?

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