11/01/2024
How does diabetes impact kidneys and what are the early signs of kidney damage related to diabetes?
Over time, diabetes can hurt your kidneys, causing a condition called diabetic nephropathy. Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes can lead to this serious problem.
Damage to the kidneys from diabetes is a complicated process, but it's mostly caused by high blood sugar levels for a long time. When blood sugar is too high, the kidneys have to work too hard and filter too much blood. Over time, this overwork can cause important proteins to leak into the urine. This is called proteinuria, and it can eventually lead to kidney failure.
Here are some effects of diabetes on the kidneys: High Blood Sugar Levels: High blood sugar levels can hurt the millions of tiny blood vessels that your kidneys use to filter waste out of the blood.
Glomerular Hyperfiltration: High blood sugar can also cause the kidneys to work too hard and filter more blood than they usually would. Because of this, the filter system can start to leak, letting proteins (like albumin) that should stay in the body get out in the urine.
Advanced Glycation End products (AGEs): When blood sugar stays high for a long time, sugar molecules can stick to proteins in the blood vessels and make AGEs, which are harmful substances. Over time, these AGEs can hurt the blood vessels in the kidneys.
Inflammation: Diabetes can cause inflammation, which can damage the kidneys and cause scars.
High Blood Pressure: Many people with diabetes also have high blood pressure, which can also hurt the kidneys.
Diabetes-related kidney damage often doesn't show up right away, and many people don't notice symptoms until their kidneys are badly hurt. But some early warning signs could be:
Protein in the p*e is often the first sign that the kidneys are damaged. Most of the time, a p*e test that looks for a protein called albumin can find it.
High blood pressure: High blood pressure can hurt the kidneys, but it can also show that the kidneys are already damaged.
If your kidneys aren't working right, they may not be able to get rid of extra fluid from the body. This can cause swelling. This can make your legs, knees, feet, hands, and the area under your eyes swell up.
Weakness or lack of energy: A hormone called erythropoietin (EPO) is made by healthy kidneys. It helps your body make red blood cells that carry oxygen to your muscles. If your kidneys are hurt, they might not make enough EPO, which could cause anemia and tiredness.
Trouble sleeping: Toxins that would usually be eliminated in the urine can build up in the blood when the kidneys aren't filtering properly. This makes it hard to sleep.
If you have uremia, waste products build up in your blood, which can make you feel sick or make you lose your hunger.
It's important to remember that just because you have diabetes doesn't mean you'll get kidney disease. Taking care of your blood sugar and blood pressure can help keep your kidneys healthy. It's important to get regular checkups so that any signs of kidney disease can be caught early and the right steps can be taken.