Diabetic Kidney Disease: What Causes It and How to Manage It?

Diabetic Kidney Disease: What Causes It and How to Manage It?

kidney disease

Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney disease. About 1 out of 4 adults with diabetes has kidney disease. The main job of the kidneys is to filter wastes and extra water out of your blood to make urine. Your kidneys also help control blood pressure and make hormones that your body needs to stay healthy.

When your kidneys are damaged, they can’t filter blood like they should, which can cause wastes to build up in your body. Kidney damage can also cause other health problems. Kidney damage caused by diabetes usually occurs slowly, over many years. You can take steps to protect your kidneys and to prevent or delay kidney damage.

What are other names for diabetic kidney disease?

Diabetic kidney disease is also called DKD, chronic kidney disease, CKD, kidney disease of diabetes, or diabetic nephropathy.

How does diabetes cause kidney disease?

High blood glucose, also called blood sugar, can damage the blood vessels in your kidneys. When the blood vessels are damaged, they don’t work as well. Many people with diabetes also develop high blood pressure, which can also damage your kidneys.

What increases my chances of developing diabetic kidney disease?

Having diabetes for a longer time increases the chances that you will have kidney damage. If you have diabetes, you are more likely to develop kidney disease if your

*blood glucose is too high

*blood pressure is too high

*You are also more likely to develop kidney disease if you have diabetes and

*Smoke

*don’t follow your diabetes eating plan

*eat foods high in salt

*are not active

*are overweight

*have heart disease

*have a family history of kidney failure.

How can I tell if I have diabetic kidney disease?

Most people with diabetic kidney disease do not have symptoms. The only way to know if you have diabetic kidney disease is to get your kidneys checked.

Health care professionals use blood and urine tests to check for diabetic kidney disease. Your health care professional will check your urine for albumin and will also do a blood test to see how well your kidneys are filtering your blood.

You should get tested every six month for kidney disease if you have Diabetes or High blood pressure.

How can I keep my kidneys healthy if I have diabetes?

The best way to slow or prevent diabetes-related kidney disease is to try to reach your blood glucose and blood pressure goals. Healthy lifestyle habits and taking your medicines as prescribed can help you achieve these goals and improve your health overall.

Reach your blood glucose goals

Your Physician will test your A1C. The A1C is a blood test that shows your average blood glucose level over the past 3 months. This is different from the blood glucose checks that you may do yourself. The higher your A1C number, the higher your blood glucose levels have been during the past 3 months.

The A1C goal for many people with diabetes is below 7 percent. Ask your Physician what your goal should be. Reaching your goal numbers will help you protect your kidneys.

To reach your A1C goal, your Physician may ask you to check your blood glucose levels. Work with your doctor to use the results to guide decisions about food, physical activity, and medicines and how often you should check your blood glucose level.

Control your blood pressure

Blood pressure is the force of your blood against the wall of your blood vessels. High blood pressure makes your heart work too hard. It can cause heart attack, stroke, and kidney disease.

Your Physician will also work with you to help you set and reach your blood pressure goal. The blood pressure goal for most people with diabetes is below 140/90 mm Hg. Ask your health care team what your goal should be.

Develop or maintain healthy lifestyle habits

Healthy lifestyle habits can help you reach your blood glucose and blood pressure goals. Following the steps below will also help you keep your kidneys healthy:

*Stop smoking.

*Work with a dietitian to develop a diabetes meal plan and limit salt and sodium.

*Make physical activity part of your routine.

*Stay at or get to a healthy weight.

*Get enough sleep. Aim for 7 to 8 hours of sleep each night.

*Learn more about these tips to manage Diabetes.

*Take medicines as prescribed.

Medicines may be an important part of your treatment plan. Your health care professional will prescribe medicine based on your specific needs. Medicine can help you meet your blood glucose and blood pressure goals. You may need to take more than one kind of medicine to control your blood pressure.

How can I cope with the stress of managing my diabetes?

Managing diabetes isn’t always easy. Feeling stressed, sad, or angry is common when you are living with diabetes. You may know what to do to stay healthy but may have trouble sticking with your plan over time. Long-term stress can raise your blood glucose and blood pressure, but you can learn ways to lower your stress. Try deep breathing, gardening, taking a walk, doing yoga, meditating, doing a hobby, or listening to your favorite music. Learn more about healthy ways to cope with stress.

Does diabetic kidney disease get worse over time?

Kidney damage from diabetes can get worse over time. However, you can take steps to keep your kidneys healthy and help slow kidney damage to prevent or delay kidney disease. Kidney failure means that your kidneys have lost most of their ability to function—less than 15 percent of normal kidney function. However, most people with diabetes and kidney disease don’t end up with kidney failure.

If your kidneys become damaged as a result of diabetes, learn how to manage kidney disease.

References

www.webmed.com

www.nationalkidneyfoundation.com

national institute of diabetes and digestive and kidney diseases

American Diabetes Association.

Featured image courtesy: Pixabay.

Disclaimer: The views expressed here are solely of the author. My India My Glory does not assume any responsibility for the validity or information shared in this article by the author.

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