First of all, I am not an expert in the field and I highly recommend you speak to a doctor about the specifics of this question, but I can try to steer you towards more information. A similar question to this was asked at netwellness.org which specializes in medical queries such as yours a doctor responded to your question as so..

--Quote--
In general, the tests that we use to keep track of progress for people with diabetes fall into two categories: first, we use measures of the level of blood sugar control, and second, we use markers for evidence of progression of the chronic complications of diabetes. I want you to feel good about the progress you have made on your blood sugar control as measured in the HbA1c but you should not be satisfied with having reached that level - it is important for you to improve that as much as you can. To give you some guidelines, the American Diabetes Association considers HbA1c of 6 to be the upper limit of normal, 7 to be the target for blood sugar control in people with diabetes and 8 to be the level at which further intervention is unquestionably warranted. Some other organizations set even tighter goals but there is some controversy about that.

The microalbumin test is a measure of leakiness of the filtration function of the kidneys: the higher the urine microalbumin test, the more evidence of leakiness or diabetic kidney damage. I can't comment on your particular microalbumin result because I don't have the reference range for that assay. I primarily focus on another version of that test in which it is reported as a microalbumin/creatinine ratio. Because of differences in how much urine different people make, that is a better way of looking at the result - you might check to see if that is on your report.

Between the two, I would say your major focus should be on improving blood sugar control. Most diabetes specialists would look at the urine microalbumin result in relation to your blood pressure. If you have either high blood pressure or an abnormal urine microalbumin, that would be my criterion for starting anti-hypertension medicines, most commonly in one of two classes, either an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor or an angiotensin receptor blocker. Some doctors would put everybody with diabetes on one of those medicines but I personally don't think there is good enough evidence in favor of doing that.

It takes a lot of work to take care of yourself with diabetes. It is important for you to realize that you can improve the outcome by using test results like these to make changes in your self care. Keep at it - and feel free to write back with further questions
--/quote--
Source(s):
http://www.netwellness.org/question.cfm/49686.htm

Permalink | Report