Diabetes and Kidney Disease

Rebecca Katzman, MD_editedBy Rebecca Katzman, MD

 

Kidney disease affects one in seven adults in the US and one in three adults are at risk. The National Kidney Foundation estimates that up to 90% of people who have chronic kidney disease may not know it. The most common cause of kidney disease in the US is diabetes. Understanding the connections between diabetes and kidney disease can help people manage their wellbeing.  Like many medical conditions, prevention is the first and one of the  most important steps.

Excess sugar in the blood of people who have diabetes sticks to and damages the blood vessels, especially the small blood vessels in the kidneys. Damage to the kidneys can add stress to the heart and raise blood pressure. High blood pressure reduces blood flow to the kidneys and can worsen kidney disease.

Keeping blood sugar and blood pressure controlled helps reduce the likelihood of developing kidney disease.  Healthy nutrition and regular physical activity help both of these. Talk to your healthcare provider if you need to follow specific restrictions for your nutrition, but in general an eating plan of nonstarchy vegetables, lean protein, fiber, moderated amounts of healthy fats, and little to no added sugars will help reduce blood sugar and blood pressure. Some people also will take medications to help control their blood sugar and blood pressure or protect the kidneys.

When the kidneys don’t work as well, abnormal waste products in the blood stream start to build up and can damage other organs such as the heart and brain. A diagnosis of kidney disease does not guarantee kidney failure and kidney disease often progresses slowly, but awareness is vital.

Knowing how your kidneys are working involves getting laboratory tests of the blood and urine. Most people with diabetes will have these checked at least once a year. Seeing a change in these numbers does not mean you will die from kidney disease. Even if there are signs of damage to the kidneys it is not too late to make healthy changes to protect kidneys from further damage or in some cases even restore kidney function!