Diabetes Complications - Kidney Problems (Diabetic Nephropathy)

The most common reason for kidney failure (diabetic nephropathy) in the United States is diabetes type I or type II. The kidneys are organs whose job it is to filter the blood and create urine. If the kidneys are damaged, this ability can be lost over time, which is a serious health problem. People with kidneys that do not work very well will eventually need to have dialysis regularly or have a kidney transplant. Dialysis is a process where a special machine is used to filter the blood, since the kidneys are not longer able to complete this function.

Kidney problems, just like many of the other complications linked to diabetes, is related to uncontrolled blood sugar levels and lack of preventative care. When any person, diabetic or not, eats a food that contains sugars or carbohydrates, the body digests these sugars and then puts them into the bloodstream where cells will take the sugar and use it for energy. A diabetic’s body has lost the ability to get the sugars from the blood into the cells, so the sugar stays in the blood. Insulin or medications will help the body to use the sugars so that they do not accumulate in the blood.

The sugars will stay in the bloodstream if the diabetic is not following their doctor’s instructions. The sugar makes the blood thicker than it should be, which causes circulation problems and high blood pressure. This is very damaging to the kidneys and can be a cause of nephropathy (disease of the kidney).

To reduce your chance of suffering from kidney problems in the future, there are several things that you can do. The most effective defense is to prevent problems before they occur. You can do this by maintaining a healthy weight, good control of blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol levels. If any of these measures begins to creep up, take care of it immediately before it can become a more serious problem and damage your kidneys and other parts of your body.

Along with maintaining a good numbers with your cholesterol, blood sugar, blood pressure, and weight, it is also important to get regular screenings. There are urine and blood tests that can indicate that the kidneys are not functioning as well as they should. Usually these tests will identify problems years before the kidneys are damaged to the point that symptoms will begin. If the kidney problems are caught early, you and your doctor can work to prevent further damage from occurring.

Don’t wait for complications to occur. Take preventative control of your body and your diabetes today!

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