How Diabetes affects kidney?
Kidneys are an essential part of our body. Millions of neurons together make Kidneys. High Blood Sugar from Diabetes leads to kidney failure by damaging its vessels. There are foods that should be avoided on a long run if one is suffering from diabetes. There is a link between Diabetes and Kidney failure as many people who have diabetes are also having high blood pressure that also leads to kidney failure. Let’s discuss the signs and possible prevention one can take to avoid kidney damage.
Early signs that your diabetes is now affecting your kidney
In the early stages of Diabetic Nephropathy (term used to describe the kidney damage caused by Diabetes), include:
- High Blood Pressure (<120 mm/Hg) that gets harder to control.
- Swelling of feet,ankles,face,eye,hands.
- Foamy urine.
- Confusion or difficulty in thinking.
- Shortness of breath.
- Loss of appetite.
- Nausea and vomiting.
- Itching.
- Tiredness and weakness.
- Fatigue
- Frequent Urination
- Back pain
- Abnormal Urine Test you can take yours (we can attach the link of the test)
- Trouble Sleeping.
- Puffy eyes.
- Sudden weight loss.
- Protein in the urine
- Change in the color of urine.
Risk Factor
If one is having diabetes, following are the reasons that can worsen the kidney functioning:
- High blood sugar that is not controlled, which is known as Hyperglycemia.
- High Blood Pressure that is not controlled, which is known as Hypertension.
- Smoking is one of the leading causes for kidney failure.
- High blood cholesterol.
- Being overweight.
- A family history of diabetes and kidney disease.
Complications
Complications with damaged Kidneys come with a duration of time. They may include:
- Body fluid builds up. This could lead to swelling in the arms and legs, high blood pressure, leading to pulmonary edema.
- High level of potassium in the blood.
- Cardiovascular diseases affect the heart and its veins which can lead to a stroke.
- Fewer red blood cells to carry oxygen. This condition also is called anemia.
- Metallic taste – Many patients develop metallic taste.
- Seizures.
- Developing Bone disease.
- Bone Fractures.
- Metabolic Acidosis – When there is too much acid in your bodily fluids that kidney did not filter out.
- Muscle Cramps.
- Drastic weight loss due to loss of appetite.
- Developing heart diseases as when the kidney does not filter blood it affects the functioning of the heart as well.
- Developing Gout, a type of arthritis when uric acid is built up in joints.
When to see a Doctor?
If you are having any of the symptoms that indicate kidney disease or you are having kidney disease make sure to visit a doctor. If you have diabetes, visit your doctor once in a year or as often as you’re told for tests that measure how well your kidneys are performing. Diabetic Nephropathy is a severe consequence of both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Patients with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are at a significant risk of getting this disease, thus they should monitor their blood sugar levels on a regular basis.
How to prevent kidney?
Prevent your kidney before damaging it due to diabetes. Here are some precautions that one can take to avoid kidney failure:
- Keep the blood sugar levels in your target range as much as possible.
- A1C tests can be done after every 6 months, it is highly recommended if you have other health conditions or if there are some changes in your medicine even if the dose of your medicine changes. To get your A1C test done click on this link: link of Medhypex slot booking page.
- Check your blood pressure regularly, maintain it below 140 mm/Hg (or the target your doctor set).
- Eat foods that can repair the kidney. Foods that can repair the damage are listed below:
- Grapes, Cherries, Apple, Plum, Berries, Onions, Cauliflower, Eggplant, Turnips, Lean meats, Eggs, Unsalted Seafood, White Bread, Bagels, Sandwich buns, Pasta.
- Avoid intake of Salt as it contains Sodium that harms the kidney, avoid taking drinks that have Sugar, Soda, Alcohol, Caffeine, Dairy products, etc.
- During snack time take a light snack.
- Take proper sleep to avoid sugar imbalance.
- Exercise daily.
- Maintain your weight. Have a check on your BMI.
Conclusion
Diabetes alone is the root cause of many diseases that cannot be reversed with time. They can only be prevented by maintaining your lifestyle and avoiding some mistakes. Kidney Failure is one of the leading diseases that is caused by diabetes.
Through collaborative efforts and ongoing research, we can strive towards better outcomes with diabetes and safeguarding the health of the kidney.