The effects of diabetes on the kidneys: in this article we prepared, you will find everything you need to know.
When analyzing the data, we see that the number of people in the world who suffer from Diabetes Mellitus is increasing significantly.
It is estimated that more than 460 million people worldwide suffer from this condition.
Studies indicate that this may be directly related to people’s pace of life, which ends up leading to poor eating habits and a sedentary lifestyle.
And one of the main causes of diabetes is not having a balanced diet.
What many people do not know is that the lack of proper treatment for this disease can lead to complications in the body, such as cardiovascular diseases, damage to the eyes, nerves, and even the kidneys.
What is diabetes mellitus
First of all, we need to understand what this condition is and what its relationship with the kidneys is.
Diabetes Mellitus is caused by high blood glucose levels. This occurs due to a lack of the hormone insulin or its inability to properly perform its function in the body.
Insulin is responsible for promoting the entry of glucose into the body’s cells.
If this hormone fails or there is a defect in its activity, glucose levels tend to rise.
Risk factors
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- Family history of changes in sugar metabolism;
- Lifestyle with limited physical activity;
- Weight above the ideal range;
- Cholesterol levels outside the desired balance;
- Use of certain medications that may affect blood sugar levels;
How diabetes affects the kidneys
Due to high sugar levels, the effects of diabetes on the kidneys can be observed, as they end up having to filter more blood than normal, overloading these organs and even losing protein through the urine.
This causes diabetes to damage the kidneys, making filtration more difficult.
Over time, because of the damage caused, the kidneys begin to perform their function more strenuously and end up becoming overloaded.
As a result, they may lose their filtering capacity, which can often culminate in chronic kidney failure.
It is important to note that not all patients with diabetes develop kidney disease.
If glucose levels are controlled from the beginning, this risk can be reduced considerably.
Signs of kidney complications
The symptoms that may appear are sometimes easily confused with other diseases. These include:
- Loss of appetite
- Swelling;
- Weakness;
- Sleep loss;
- Stomach pain;
- Pain or pressure in the chest;
- Decrease or increase in urine volume.
Because the initial symptoms are similar to those of other health problems, identifying this condition often only happens when it is already at an advanced stage.
As a result, the kidneys may already be in a critical phase of functioning. Studies indicate that, in Brazil, 46% of diabetics are unaware that they have this clinical condition, since it often does not show up at the beginning, remaining silent.
And, of course, at the same time, they are unaware of the effects of diabetes on the kidneys.
All of this causes patients not to control their blood glucose as they should, which directly affects the kidneys and their capacity.
How diagnosis is made
As soon as the patient comes to the appointment and reports some of the symptoms mentioned above, the doctor immediately recommends carrying out some tests. They will confirm or rule out a kidney problem. These are:
- Blood tests;
- Urinalysis tests;
- Measurement of urine output;
- Kidney tissue biopsy;
- Ultrasound or computed tomography.
Prevention
As explained above, diabetes can sometimes appear silently, which is why prevention is so important.
If this condition has already been diagnosed, maintaining proper blood glucose control is essential. This helps avoid possible complications that can cause other problems.
Therefore, it is vitally important to take some precautions, including:
- Control blood pressure;
- Use the medications prescribed by specialists correctly;
- Have a balanced diet rich in vitamins, fiber, and minerals. For example, greens, fruits, and vegetables;
- Avoid consuming processed foods, such as soft drinks, white flour, and sweets;
- Chew food well and eat slowly (it has been proven that eating quickly increases the risk of developing the disease);
- Do not go many hours without eating;
- Exercise regularly;
- Maintain body weight control;
- Reduce consumption of caffeinated beverages;
Conclusion
Education about diabetes and its complications is essential to prevent and control kidney problems.
In addition, having proper treatment and following the care guidelines presented in today’s post can considerably minimize the effects of diabetes on the kidneys.
Advice: always get a complete check-up every year to assess how your health is doing.
And among the tests performed, ask to include a creatinine test, which indicates whether the kidneys are functioning properly.
