Diabetes and Kidney

DIABETES AND KIDNEY (NEPHROPATHY)

How does diabetes cause kidney disease?

Diabetes can damage the kidneys and cause them to fail. Failing kidneys lose their ability to filter out waste products, resulting in kidney disease. Many people with diabetes also develop high blood pressure, which can also further damage your kidneys

Who gets kidney disease?

You are also more likely to develop kidney disease if you have diabetes and

  • smoke
  • don’t follow your diabetes eating plan
  • eat foods high in salt
  • blood pressure is too high
  • are not active
  • are overweight
  • have heart disease
  • have a family history of kidney failure

But if a person keeps diabetes and blood pressure under control, the chance of getting kidney disease are minor.

What are the symptoms?

The symptoms of kidney disease are not specific

  • The first symptom of kidney disease is often fluid build-up.

  • Other symptoms of kidney disease include

    • loss of sleep
    • poor appetite
    • upset stomach
    • weakness
    • difficulty concentrating.
How can I prevent it?
  • Control blood glucose.
  • Control blood pressure.
  • Control blood cholesterol
  • Do not smoke
  • Avoid pain medications that can hurt your kidneys (such as NSAIDs)
  • Test urine for kidney function and urine microalbumin/creatinine ratios yearly.

Here are four facts you should know about this preventable condition.

  • The first sign of a problem is increased protein or microalbumin in the urine.
  • Chance of damage is less in whom blood sugars and blood pressures are controlled.
  • Early detection and treatment successfully help to maintain a better kidney function.

Treatments

  • SELF-CARE
  • Already mentioned in prevention above

MEDICINE

Three-point treatment are:

  • Controlling blood glucose- Mentioned in treatment
  • Blood pressure- These medications relieve pressure inside the kidney.
  • Minimizing microalbumin or protein levels in the urine

DIET

A low-protein diet can decrease protein loss in the urine and increase protein levels in the blood. But you should refer to your doctor before starting a diet such as this.

Kidney failure

  • In advanced stages, kidney function is impaired and the serum creatinine rises. The final stage is kidney failure, requiring dialysis or transplant.
  • Once kidneys fail, dialysis or kidney transplant is necessary.
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