We all know that the primary work of the kidney is to remove waste and toxins from the blood and return the cleaned blood to the body.
But what happens when the kidney fails?
In cases like this, the kidneys are no longer able to remove waste and toxins, and they can't maintain the level of fluid and salts that the body needs.
Kidney failure is caused by high blood glucose (sugar) levels. With the continuous increase in sugar levels in the blood, it can damage the millions of tiny filtering units within each kidney. Eventually, it leads to Diabetic Kidney Disease that causes Kidney failure.
In India, Diabetes is the ultimate cause of kidney failure, accounting for 44% percent of new cases.
What is diabetic kidney disease?
Diabetic Kidney Disease, also known as Diabetic nephropathy, includes a severe condition of type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Around 20 to 30 percent of people with diabetes develop Diabetic Kidney Disease, although not all progress to kidney failure.
This disease affects the ability of the Kidneys' to do their regular work of removing waste products and extra fluid from our body. Another name for the disease is 'Diabetic Glomerulosclerosis.' People with diabetes have a risk of other kidney problems, which include narrowing of the arteries to the kidneys, called renal artery stenosis or renovascular disease.
How is diabetic kidney disease diagnosed and assessed?
People who bear diabetes and kidney problems are usually diagnosed during a regular check-up by their doctor. Sometimes, a person can be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes without knowing it. That means their uncontrolled high blood sugar levels are slowly damaging their kidneys. There are several tests that help to diagnose Diabetic Kidney Disease.
1. Urine tests- to check protein levels. An abnormally increased level of protein in the urine is one of the first symptoms of diabetic nephropathy.
2. Blood pressure- regular examinations for increased blood pressure are necessary. High blood pressure is caused by diabetic kidney disease and also contributes to its progression.
3. Blood tests- To examine the degree of kidney function.
4. Biopsy- It's a small part of the tissue that is removed from the kidney through a thin needle and examined in a laboratory. This is only performed when there is doubt about the kidney damage, whether it is due to diabetes or another cause.
5. Kidney ultrasound- allows the size of the kidneys to be imaged and allows the arteries to the kidneys to be checked for narrowing that can cause decreased kidney function.
How does diabetic kidney disease develop and progress?
Over the years, the infection slowly damages your kidneys' delicate and essential filtering system.
This Kidney disease may progress to kidney failure, also known as end-stage kidney disease. This disease of Kidney failure is a life-threatening infection. Complications of the disease may grow gradually over months or years. Fluid retention leads to swelling in your arms and legs, an increase in blood pressure, or fluid in your lungs, reduces the number of red blood cells to transport oxygen, and many more complications may occur over time.
What are the symptoms of diabetic kidney disease?
At first, the only symptom is high protein levels in the urine. Th list of observed symptoms is as follows:
- Fluid retention
- Fatigue
- Headache
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Worsening control of blood pressure
- High Protein in the urine
- Swelling of ankles, hands, feet, or eyes
- Increased need to urinate
- Reduced need for insulin or diabetes medicine
- Shortness of breath
What is the risk of diabetic kidney disease?
If you have Diabetes, factors that can increase your risk of diabetic kidney disease include these risks:
- Uncontrolled high blood sugar
- Uncontrolled high blood pressure
- Smoking can be risky
- High blood cholesterol
- Obesity
- Bone and mineral disorders
- Heart and blood vessel disease
What causes kidney disease in diabetics?
Your kidneys comprise millions of tiny blood vessel clusters that filter waste from your blood. Severe damage to these blood vessels can cause diabetic kidney disease, decreased kidney function, and kidney failure.
Diabetic Kidney Disease is an infection of type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Over a period, poorly controlled diabetes can lead to damaged blood vessel clusters in your kidneys that filter out waste from your blood. This is the reason for kidney damage and causes high blood pressure.
High blood pressure leads to further kidney damage by increasing the pressure in the filtering system of the kidneys.
How to cure diabetic kidney disease?
Till now, there is no cure for diabetic kidney disease, and treatment is lifelong. People who have diabetes are also at risk of other kidney problems, narrowing of the arteries to the kidneys, called renal artery stenosis or renovascular disease.
The best way to prevent or delay diabetic kidney disease is by supporting a healthy lifestyle and sufficiently managing your diabetes and high blood pressure. Early treatments may prevent or slow the disease's progress and reduce the chance of severe complications.
How can I keep my kidneys healthy if I have diabetes?
If you are diagnosed with diabetes, to keep your Kidneys healthy, you need to be more active. It's essential to exercise regularly and be physically active. Check your blood sugar regularly and get screened early for kidney disease. Quit smoking.
What is the treatment for diabetic kidney disease?
Treatment must become more intensive as the kidneys deteriorate towards failure. The treatments include:
1. Prevention- It's the best option for treatment, and it includes control over blood glucose levels and blood pressure.
2. Medications- The medications are to decrease high blood pressure, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, and angiotensin receptor blockers to curb kidney damage.
3. Dialysis- Also known as artificial kidney treatment. Dialysis either involves shunting the blood through a special machine called hemodialysis that helps remove the wastes at the same time while preserving water and salts or removing wastes through fluid introduced into the abdomen. Dialysis is needed several times every week for the rest of the patient's life.
4. Kidney transplant- a healthy Kidney donor, accepted either from someone who has died or from a relative or friend, can replace the function of the diseased kidneys.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the symptoms of kidney disease in diabetics?
There are many symptoms such as Worsening blood pressure control, protein in the urine, swelling of feet, ankles, hands, or eyes.
Is diabetics' kidney disease fatal?
Yes, this disease, if it worsens over the years, can be fatal.
Can kidney damage be reversed from diabetes?
No, it is not possible to reverse kidney damage due to diabetes.
How does type 2 diabetes affect the kidney?
High blood sugar caused by diabetes can injure blood vessels in the kidneys. Type 2 diabetes can damage kidneys too.
What is the first sign of kidney disease?
Nausea and vomiting, muscle cramps, loss of appetite, swelling of feet and ankles, and dry, itchy skin can be the first sign of kidney disease.
What is the final stage of diabetes?
The end-stage renal disease occurs after many years of living with diabetes.
What is the most critical symptom of early kidney disease from diabetes?
Increased excretion of albumin in the urine is an important sign of early kidney disease from diabetes.
Conclusion
As a result, every diabetes patient needs to look carefully for their kidneys as they are one of the essential organs of our body. If not taken care of, they can get infected with diabetic kidney disease, which can be fatal.
The treatments are too costly and will go on for a lifetime. So, in that case, you should always take caution to prevent the risk rather than take an after-treatment.
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