Did you know that 1 out of 3 adults with diabetes has kidney disease? Diabetes-related nephropathy is the most common reason for end-stage kidney disease in the world. But how does diabetes affect the kidneys? Are there any ways to prevent this? Read this article to find out. If you want to know more about urological health, visit us at Doral Health and Wellness Urology Center and consult with the best nephrologists and urologists in East New York.
Impact of diabetes on Kidney health
The kidneys’ main function is to filter waste and excess fluids out of the blood and turn them into urine. The kidneys also help manage blood pressure and produce hormones. When you have diabetes, it affects nephrons (which are microscopic parts of the kidneys that filter waste and excess fluids out of the blood). Over time, it can lead to blood vessel and nephron damage.
When blood vessels get clogged and narrowed, it impairs the kidney’s function. This makes the kidneys work harder than usual, which can cause nephrons to stop working altogether over time. It is a kidney disease called hyperfiltration. When these blood vessels become damaged, the kidney begins to leak a protein called albumin. The more protein gets leaked, the worse the kidney condition gets.
Excessive glucose also leads to toxins buildup in the kidneys, which causes inflammation and cellular stress. This cellular stress can cause kidney cell death. Additionally, diabetes also harms the kidneys by damaging the nerves in the body that send signals to your organs, and high sugar levels can increase bacterial growth in urine which increases the risk of infections. That’s why it is crucial to manage diabetes to prevent diabetes-related nephropathy diseases and keep your kidneys healthy.
5 Tips to mitigate risks and manage kidney health
The best way to keep your kidney healthy is to manage your diabetes properly by taking proper treatment and making necessary lifestyle changes. Here are some tips that’ll help you mitigate risks and manage your kidney health well.
- Manage your blood sugar levels:
When you have diabetes, managing blood sugar levels in the targeted range is the most crucial thing. Your healthcare provider will test your blood sugar every 3 months. It is a blood test (A1C) that checks your average blood glucose level which is different from the blood glucose levels you do yourself. The higher your A1C number, the higher your blood glucose levels will be during the past 3 months. This test goal is to ensure diabetic people’s average blood sugar levels are below 7%. You can consult what the targeted goal for you should be with your healthcare team because it helps to protect your kidneys. To reach the A1C goal, you need to work with your healthcare provider to make the right decisions about food, physical activity, and medications to make sure that when you get tested your blood glucose levels come to the targeted levels.
- Control your blood pressure:
Blood pressure is the force your blood has against the wall of your blood vessels. High blood pressure can make your heart work harder which can lead to heart attack, stroke, and kidney disease. Your healthcare team will work with you to help you reach your blood pressure goal, which is usually below 140/90 mm Hg for diabetic people. Your healthcare provider recommends medications to lower your blood pressure which also help in reducing kidney damage. Two types of blood pressure medicines, ACE inhibitors, and ARBs help in protecting your kidneys. Each medicine can slow kidney damage in diabetics who have high blood pressure and diabetic kidney disease (DKD).
- Develop healthy lifestyle habits:
Adopting healthy lifestyle habits can help you achieve your blood pressure and blood sugar goals. You should add these habits to your lifestyle to keep your kidneys healthy.
- Quit smoking.
- Hire a dietitian to develop a diabetes meal plan that helps you achieve your goals.
- Exercise regularly.
- Try to achieve or maintain a healthy weight.
- Get enough sleep at night. Aim for at least 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night.
- Take medicines as prescribed:
To manage your diabetes properly, medicines play a big role when taken on time. Your healthcare provider will prescribe medicine based on your health needs. The medicine helps to keep your blood sugar and blood pressure in the targeted range. You may need more than one kind of medicine to manage your blood pressure.
- Manage your emotions:
With diabetes, many people feel stress, sadness, or anger which can affect your diabetes management plan. Long-term stress can increase your blood glucose and blood pressure. However, there are many ways you can regulate your emotions and manage stress. Activities like deep breathing, gardening, taking a walk, doing yoga, meditating, listening to music, etc. can be helpful.
Diabetes can significantly impact kidney health by damaging nerves, blood vessels, and nephrons (kidney filtering system). Over time, these effects can lead to kidney failure. However, if you properly manage your diabetes, you can prevent this. Follow the above-mentioned tips to mitigate the risk of diabetes and keep your kidneys healthy.
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At Doral Health and Wellness Urology Center, our team of urologists will work with you in managing your disease and your quality of life. We also offer services, such as renal and bladder ultrasound. To schedule an appointment, please visit us at 1797 Pitkin Avenue, Brooklyn, New York 11212 or call +1-718-367-2555. You can also visit our website at https://www.urologistbrooklyn.com/.
