Kidney Disease and Diabetes

Kidney Disease and Diabetes - Kidney Disease, also known as nephropathy, is a very serious condition that can be caused by Diabetes. Approximately 30 percent of patients with Type 1 Diabetes and 40 percent of patients with Type 2 will develop kidney disease. It is very important to learn about what you can do to prevent this serious condition and help your kidneys stay healthy and working properly.

How Does Diabetes Affect the Kidneys?

Diabetes is a disease that damages the blood vessels in the body. Capillaries are small blood vessels located in the kidneys which are responsible for filtering out the waste products that the body produces when digesting the protein we eat. Diabetes overworks the filters and eventually they stop working properly. Protein starts getting lost in the urine, a condition called microalbuminuria. After many years, the kidneys are unable to filter the waste products, and these start accumulating in the blood. Eventually, the kidneys fail completely, a very dangerous condition known as ESRD, or end stage renal disease.

Kidney Disease Symptoms

Kidney Disease does not usually produce noticeable symptoms in the beginning stages. Fluid Build up is an early sign, followed by ankle swelling and weight gain. You might also notice that you have to go to the bathroom more often at night. High blood pressure, nausea, poor appetite, an increased excretion of albumin (protein) in the urine, high levels of blood urea nitrogen and creatinine in the blood might also be symptoms of kidney disease.

Stay in touch with your doctor and have your blood sugar, blood pressure and urine checked at least once a year to keep an eye out for any signs of nephropathy. Remember that early diagnosis of kidney disease is vital to help prevent further damage that leads to end stage renal disease.

Prevent Kidney Disease

Kidney Disease prevention begins by control of your blood sugar and blood pressure levels. It has been proven that those who keep their blood and sugar levels under strict control have reduced their risk of kidney disease and in some cases even reversed microalbuminuria. A healthy diet, regular exercise and avoiding smoking and alcohol are also important steps to prevent diabetic kidney disease.

Kidney Disease Treatment

Ace Inhibitors (angiotensin converting enzyme) are blood pressure drugs that the doctor might recommend to also aid and slow the progress of kidney disease. A low protein diet might also be recommended by the doctor. This will help reduce the loss of protein in the urine and increase the protein levels in the blood.  

When end stage kidney failure occurs, the kidneys can no longer filter the blood at all, and kidney transplantation or dialysis is needed. Dialysis works like an artificial kidney, filtering the blood for your kidneys that don’t work anymore. There are two types of dialysis: hemodialysis and peritoneal dialysis.

In hemodialysis, the blood is extracted from the body and sent to an artificial kidney which filters the blood and then returns it to the body. The process must be done two to three days per week.

In peritoneal dialysis, the peritoneum, the lining inside the abdomen is used as the filter. A cleansing fluid called dialysate is put in the abdomen and the blood passes through the peritoneum into the dialysate. The fluid and waste products are then drained off.

Talk to your nephrologist to discuss which dialysis option is best for you. Always remember that control of your diabetes is vital to prevent kidney disease. You can do a lot to help your kidneys stay healthy for a very long time. Always consult with your doctor about changes in your diet or exercise plan, and keep your blood and sugar levels on your target range.