Can diabetes affect the human kidney?

Over time, too much blood sugar levels in the blood can affect the blood vessels throughout the body, which also includes blood vessels that flow to the kidneys. About 1 out of 4 adults with diabetes have chronic kidney disease. Kidney disease that occurs due to high blood sugar levels is called diabetic kidney disease.

The main job of the kidneys is to filter the blood and remove excess fluid present within the bloodstream. This easy the kidneys help maintain blood pressure level and make hormones to stay healthy.

How does diabetes cause kidney disease?

When we consume protein or anything, the process creates waste products. The kidneys have millions of tiny blood filters having holes in them. The blood is allowed to pass through those blood filters (blood vessels) waste products in the blood are squeezed by the holes. Such unwanted substances are then eliminated along with the urine, while useful substances such as protein and RBCs are reabsorbed and sent back to the bloodstream. To perform this work, blood vessels should be healthy and continuous blood flow also.

Proteinuria Treatment in the Ayurvedic Medicine

Diabetes damages the whole system. High blood sugar affects the kidney’s filters, and it becomes hard for the vessels to work with efficiency. After years of diagnosis of diabetes, the vessels become weak and start leaking useful protein. Hence, protein instances in the urine can be experienced in diabetic patients more often. If treatment is not taken, kidney disease, later on, progresses to end-stage renal disease. Waste products may build up in the bloodstream, and finally, the kidneys fail. A person with end-stage renal disease may need either dialysis or transplant. Alternatively, diabetic kidney disease can also be managed with the help of ayurvedic treatment.

Who develops kidney disease after diabetes?

It is not compulsory that a person will develop kidney disease after having diabetes. There are some factors that can influence kidney function such as genetics, blood pressure, frequent UTI, etc. The better you manage blood pressure and blood sugar, the lower are the chances of developing kidney disease.

Risk factors

A person’s risk of diabetic nephropathy increases if they have type 1 or type 2 diabetes. In addition to this, the following factors are responsible:

  • High blood pressure (hypertension)
  • Being a smoker
  • High blood cholesterol
  • A family history of diabetes and kidney disease
  • Being older age
  • If you are not physically active
  • Consume foods high in salt and sugar
  • If you have a heart disease

What are the symptoms of diabetic kidney disease?

The first symptom that may appear during diabetic kidney disease is fluid buildup. Many of the complications arise because of waste and fluid buildup in the linings of the heart and chest. Often symptoms include:

  • Swelling of the hands, feet, and face
  • Trouble sleeping
  • Confusion
  • Poor appetite
  • Sleep issues
  • Nausea
  • Weakness
  • Itchy and extremely dry skin
  • Drowsiness
  • Abnormalities in the hearts' regular rhythm
  • Muscle twitching
  • Chest pain
  • Shortness of breath

When to see a doctor

Make an appointment with your doctor if you have any signs of kidney disease. A diabetic patient should yearly visit their doctor for urine and blood tests to detect protein and creatinine levels. This is a way to know how the kidneys are functioning.

You can also consult us at Karma Ayurveda if your kidney function is not accurate and need Ayurvedic treatment for it.

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