“How does diabetes affect the kidneys?”
I'm 45 and male, and I have been dealing with type 2 diabetes for about 4 years now. But, in my recent check up my doctor suggested that I need to be taking better care of my diabetes because it's affecting my kidneys. Can you explain to me why diabetes can affect my kidneys?
5 Answers
Diabetes can make your kidneys enlarge and spill protein in your urine. Over time, the protein will damage your kidneys and you can develop high blood pressure, which will further damage your kidneys. Controlling your sugars and blood pressure will stop this damage.
Elevated blood sugar (hyperglycemia) produces “advanced glycation end-products" (AGE) reactive oxygen species, which can result in inflammation in the kidneys. Also, high insulin level and insulin resistance causes kidney damage. Diabetes is the leading cause of chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal disease in US.
Diabetes can cause Diabetic Nephropathy. The leak of protein in the urine is the first sign that it has started effecting your kidneys.
There are some medications you should be on to control the protein and to slow down worsening of the Kidneys.
There are some medications you should be on to control the protein and to slow down worsening of the Kidneys.
To get a good idea about your question, please read this article, especially The stages of diabetic nephropathy & the Pazmiño DM "Rule of 100's"
Pazmiño PA: Current Concepts on Diabetic Nephropathy and 2014 Data on Diabetic
Renal Failure in Texas. Texas Medicine July 2016.
Available at:
www.texmed.org/July16Journal.
Best wishes,
PP
Pazmiño PA: Current Concepts on Diabetic Nephropathy and 2014 Data on Diabetic
Renal Failure in Texas. Texas Medicine July 2016.
Available at:
www.texmed.org/July16Journal.
Best wishes,
PP
When the diabetes is not controlled, it makes the kidneys work harder, in a situation that is called hyperfiltration. The sign that your doctor saw may well have been some extra protein, called albumin, in the urine. This often occurs as the first sign that the kidneys will keep getting worse, and then other signs of kidney disease, loss of kidney function gradually, and progressing to discussions of dialysis and/or kidney transplantation. It would be a shame to end up on dialysis, when looking back you realized that you just needed to get the blood sugars under good control!
Remember also that control of blood pressure, with a goal of close to or maybe better than 120/80, is part of what you should be doing at this time.
Hopefully, you can get the blood sugars and the blood pressures in good control and you will never get to meet a nephrologist!
Remember also that control of blood pressure, with a goal of close to or maybe better than 120/80, is part of what you should be doing at this time.
Hopefully, you can get the blood sugars and the blood pressures in good control and you will never get to meet a nephrologist!
