My microalbumin is 85. My dr wants to put me on 2.5mg of Ramipril to try and lower my microalbumin. My blood pressure is perfect at 105/70. Is anyone else on any blood pressure medicine for microalbumin?
It’s fairly standard practice to place diabetics on an ace inhibitor, like lisinopril or ramipril, to slow the rate of deterioration. These drugs do lower blood pressure, which is important in diabetes, however, even in normotensive people they exert a protective function on the glomeruli of the kidneys, as well as lowering proteinuria and slowing the deterioration in kidney function which can eventually lead to kidney failure and dialysis. Microalbuminuria is the first sign that the kidneys have been damaged, allowing very small amounts of protein to leak through the damaged vessels. By catching the damage at this point and treating it with the ace inhibitor it may be possible to slow the progression of renal damage. I’ve had type 1 diabetes for 13 years. Even though my blood pressure ran 120/70 when I was diagnosed, my doctor started me on low dose lisinopril right away. I’ve been on it ever since, my microalbumin remains normal and my creatinine was 0.8 at the time of my last labs.
I had elevated microalbumin for 2 straight spot urine exams so my endo put me on Lisinopril. My latest microalbumin test came back normal.
In July I had the microalbumin test done, and I am type 2 diabetes since April 2010, and my doctor put me on lisinopril 5 mg blood pressure, and my blood pressure was 125/80, and that test 44. I am having this test and two other test done over again in October.
Hi Rich,
Charvena is right. I’ve been on low dose Lisinopril for several years even though my resting Bp is 90/50. As Charvena says its a low dose ACE inhibitor which has a usable side effect which in this case protects and reduces further damage to your / our kidneys. The dose is small enough not to effect you / my Bp greatly. My diabetologist goes as far as saying that if he had his way all T1s would be on a statin and ACE from the word go! Sweeping statement I think but probably the right sentiment! According to all the texts after 34 years of diabetes I should have end stage renal failure and be waiting for a transplant. I’m happy with a small pill instead! D
How many MG are you on? He put me on 2.5mg because my BP is already normal/low at 105/70 and doesnt want me to get dizzy and light headed. I haven’t filled the prescription yet.
What is your dosage? Is lisinopril better than ramipril
My story of 2.5mg Ramipril…the learning curve at age 70 : I have been taking Ramipril since about 2001 . Living with diabetes since Jan 1983 . Kidneys fine . MY GP decided to have a potassium ( K ) Lab test performed ( July ) and the result NOT GOOD with a high number of 6
( High Potassium can lead to heart murmurs) . Was advised to stop taking Ramipril immediately . I also stopped taking a multi vitamin and have not re-started ( has some K ) .I had to take medication for 3 days to lower potassium and was successful …more blood tests to prove I was OK .
I changed GP’s since last year .Last potassium test performed in 2006 .I questioned my Pharmacist and he advised , that one should have blood work done 6 months after starting Ramipril to set a base line; yearly there after .
BP is an average of below 120/70 , actually no change and Creatinine result on 29/07/10 shows 69 ( target range 40-110 umol/ ) . I don’t have a number in front of me, of the Alb/Creat. Ratio …target range female <2.8 , male < 2.0.
I have learned !
And one of the happy side effects of NOT taking Ramipril : my stool is softer …I just had to share this here and with my GP 
ok, let me get this straight. You were diagnosed in April. Already your doctor claims you have kidney problems. I call bogosity.
Unless you spent the last 10 years walking around with an elevated blood sugar, it is unlikely you have kidney problems. It is more likely you either normally dump a little protein or you exercised before the test.
I blew a microalmumin test, I think I had a 35 or something and my doctor wrote in big letters “KIDNEY FAILURE” on my chart. I’ve perhaps had D for ten years. I then investigated and found that exercise can cause you to dump protein and now I make sure I don’t exercise for 48 hours before a urine test.
That being said, I was given blood pressure medication and I still take it to this day. I don’t particularly have blood pressure problems (except when dealing with doctors), but I take it anyway. Some research suggests it is preventative.
Oh, and as a final note, I’ve now had perhaps a dozen protein tests, all perfectly clean. Stopping the exercise before the test apparently totally healed my kidney failure, but my doctor still has it “kidney failure” written on my chart.
ps. My non-diabetic daughter dumps protein in her urine “normally.” Some people do. If you continue to dump protein, see a nephrologist, you may just normally dump a little protein.
I am actually seeing a nephrologist tomorrow before I start any meds. I am not doing any exercise today as I am sure he will have me tested again or run some other tests. My endo did say it is more of a preventative measure and more of a predictor of possible kidney problems down the line.
I’m on 10 mg. My endo never increased the dose and told me it would be ok if I came off of them if I had unpleasant side effects. None noticeable so far so I just stayed on the same dose.