Patients with diabetes are at an increased risk for multiple complications from their condition. Years of uncontrolled blood sugars can damage different organ systems fairly quickly. Even when sugars are in decent control, the body can suffer damage from slightly elevated levels of glucose. Common complications of diabetes include diabetic retinopathy, nerve problems and chronic kidney disease.
Chronic kidney disease caused by diabetes is one of the leading causes of end-stage renal disease requiring dialysis in the United States. The official term for this condition is diabetic nephropathy and it is very serious condition that can progress rapidly if ignored.
The kidney is compromised of approximately a million little filtration units called nephrons. High sugar levels can cause damage to these nephrons, leading to problems with the removal of toxins from the blood. One signal of this damage is the spillage of proteins into the urine. When proteins, or albumin, are spilled into the urine in small amounts, this is called microalbuminuria.
Microalbuminuria is the first sign of renal damage secondary to diabetes. This abnormality indicates that there is blood vessel damage to the nephrons and it should prompt your doctor to pay careful attention to your blood test readings. A routine blood test called the basic metabolic panel measures certain markers of kidney function called a blood urea nitrogen (BUN) level and a creatitinine level. As the creatitine levels rises, it signals a loss of nephrons. For every doubling of this number, it signals a 50% loss of the remaining nephrons. These values are inserted into a formula to calculate the filtration rate of the kidneys. The progression of kidney failure from stage 1 to end-stage renal disease is determined base don this calculation.
If you are looking to preserve your kidney function and have diabetes talk to your doctor about these important tips!
1. Excellent sugar control! Patients with tight glucose control tend to have slower progression of kidney disease.
2. Routine screening! The diabetic patient should have their renal function monitored annually at a minimum. This is done using a urine test and a blood test. If there is damage, the patient may need more frequent monitoring.
3. Blood pressure control! High blood pressure accelerates kidney damage.
4. Medication! A medication called an ACE inhibitor can help protect the kidneys from progressive disease in diabetic patients. Even a very low dose of this medication can be helpful!
5. Quit Smoking! Smoking contributes to accelerated kidney problems and can increase blood pressure and reduce blood flow.
If you have diabetes, be sure that your doctor is watching your kidney function closely because once the damage is done, it cannot be reversed.
For more information about diabetic nephropathy and how to improve sugars to prevent complications with diabetic snacks visit us at knowyoursugar.com!
By Abby Sanders
Chronic kidney disease caused by diabetes is one of the leading causes of end-stage renal disease requiring dialysis in the United States. The official term for this condition is diabetic nephropathy and it is very serious condition that can progress rapidly if ignored.
The kidney is compromised of approximately a million little filtration units called nephrons. High sugar levels can cause damage to these nephrons, leading to problems with the removal of toxins from the blood. One signal of this damage is the spillage of proteins into the urine. When proteins, or albumin, are spilled into the urine in small amounts, this is called microalbuminuria.
Microalbuminuria is the first sign of renal damage secondary to diabetes. This abnormality indicates that there is blood vessel damage to the nephrons and it should prompt your doctor to pay careful attention to your blood test readings. A routine blood test called the basic metabolic panel measures certain markers of kidney function called a blood urea nitrogen (BUN) level and a creatitinine level. As the creatitine levels rises, it signals a loss of nephrons. For every doubling of this number, it signals a 50% loss of the remaining nephrons. These values are inserted into a formula to calculate the filtration rate of the kidneys. The progression of kidney failure from stage 1 to end-stage renal disease is determined base don this calculation.
If you are looking to preserve your kidney function and have diabetes talk to your doctor about these important tips!
1. Excellent sugar control! Patients with tight glucose control tend to have slower progression of kidney disease.
2. Routine screening! The diabetic patient should have their renal function monitored annually at a minimum. This is done using a urine test and a blood test. If there is damage, the patient may need more frequent monitoring.
3. Blood pressure control! High blood pressure accelerates kidney damage.
4. Medication! A medication called an ACE inhibitor can help protect the kidneys from progressive disease in diabetic patients. Even a very low dose of this medication can be helpful!
5. Quit Smoking! Smoking contributes to accelerated kidney problems and can increase blood pressure and reduce blood flow.
If you have diabetes, be sure that your doctor is watching your kidney function closely because once the damage is done, it cannot be reversed.
For more information about diabetic nephropathy and how to improve sugars to prevent complications with diabetic snacks visit us at knowyoursugar.com!
By Abby Sanders
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