ask: What Has To Be Done For A Function Panel?

Anon, welcome to Empowher. So glad you found us, and thank you for your question.

A panel is just a term for a procedure in which doctors draw some of your blood and test it for multiple things. Since you have diabetes, you are probably familiar with a diabetes panel, where you might have glucose and blood sugar testing. There are also renal panels, lipid panels, and so on.

A renal panel may be what you are referring to. In it, a doctor is checking different aspects of your kidney function, to find out exactly how it's working and what your general level of nutrition is. It will measure creatinine, BUN (blood urea nitrogen), albumin, calcium, carbon dioxide, chloride, glucose, phosphorus, potassium and sodium. The levels of these things will give the doctor a very detailed idea of how your kidney is functioning.

Since you specifically mentioned "function panel," I am wondering if your doctor suspects liver damage or problems with the function of your liver? Because a hepatic function panel is normally a group of seven tests that evaluate the liver for infection, inflammation or injury.

Can you tell us more about which panel you are being tested for? Is the kidney failure a new diagnosis or have you been dealing with it for some time?

Please write us back with more information and let us see if we can get you more detail.