My endo gave a diagnosis of hyporeninemic hypoaldosteronism, but said she “could not describe it in mychart”. First, she suggested I come in and see her, then changed her mind and said I should see a CDE/nutritionist instead,who would explain the low-potassium diet. This morning, I asked my endo two questions via mychart:
Which of my symptoms would this diagnosis explain?
2.By following your suggestions, which of these symptoms would then be improved, other than a change in the numbers on the lab tests?
I am awaiting her response.
Sorry to hear about your diagnosis. There is a writeup on this topic on medscape. Apparently there are few observable symptoms except heart arrhythmia and muscle weakness. It will show up on various tests and the big sign is high potassium levels (hyperkalemia).
Kidney function (creatinine, BUN, GFR) solidly in center of acceptable range. Blood pressure on the low side of normal. Cortisol in normal range. Endocrinologist uncommunicative
Until you learn more about your condition, I’d begin following the low potassium diet yesterday. The kind of cardiac arrhythmias caused by high (enough) potassium levels aren’t the kind that simply make your heart beat irregularly for awhile, if you catch my drift. I’m sorry you are going through this and do not mean to alarm you, but better safe than sorry (or worse)…
My potassium level is mildly elevated (5.5). I am making some changes (had donuts for breakfast rather than toast with peanut butter).
Following a low-potassium diet is not like following a low-carbohydrate diet. In fact, most of the foods on the low-potassium list are high in carbohydrates (yellow cake, pasta, white rice, corn). It’s the antithesis of a low-carb diet in many ways. To make things worse, everything has potassium in it. Eating more than 1/2 a cup changes foods from low to high. Anyone advising me to follow a low-potassium diet should first look at what it entails; and that includes my endocrinologist.
A year or so ago, I tried to get even better control over my blood sugar by changing my diet. I substituted whole grains, vegetables like broccoli, and legumes for the starch in meals. Avocado for the bread with my tuna salad. Peanut butter on waffle for the bagel mit. More fish. Yogurt. All of these changes added potassium.
Looking at the list, I should have eaten more Twinkies. Yellow cake is on the low-potassium list.
Don’t try to scare me. On a scale of 1-10, my fear level usually is at about an 11. And fear causes hyperglycemia. Too little potassium can also cause heart arrythmia. A diuretic would lower my blood pressure from moderately low to dead.
I still am waiting for my endocrinologist to answer those two questions. I doubt she will.
I wanted to thank you, Brian_BSC, for your support. This is a very scary time for me. No one seems to know much and much is contradictory. Knowing that tudiabetes cares helps. I don’t feel as alone.
Monday I travel to Boston. Perhaps someone there will be able to help. And I will start attending Adult Type 1 meetings again. It may be time to look for a new health care team again.
Well known research scientist said Addison. Current endo will not consider, test for, or discuss it. Tests show healthy kidney function. Blood pressure is on the low side of normal, definitely not high. HH is chronic kidney disease and high blood pressure. However, only information I have gotten from current endo is low renin/low aldosterone indicates hyporeninemic hypoaldosteronism, which is like saying the Headless Horseman suffers from decapitation.
