How Are Diabetes and Kidney Disease Related?
Most of what we understand about the kidneys is that “kidneys” are organs responsible for removing waste from the body. But in reality, the kidneys have many other functions and importance…
“Besides removing waste from the body, the kidneys also regulate the balance of water and minerals in the body. For example, if we drink a lot of water and the body has more water than needed, the kidneys will excrete the excess. The kidneys also produce certain hormones or vitamins essential to the body, such as the hormone responsible for producing red blood cells. If a patient with kidney disease cannot produce this hormone, they will produce fewer red blood cells and develop anemia.
The reason diabetes can cause kidney disease actually involves several factors, but the main one is that high blood sugar levels produce a toxic substance that triggers various mechanisms that damage kidney tissue, leading to chronic kidney disease.
Some people may think that taking diabetes medication for a long time causes kidney disease, but that is not true! Diabetes medication is necessary to control blood sugar levels within the normal range. Persistently high blood sugar levels in diabetic patients are more likely to cause kidney disease than the medication itself. Therefore, diabetes drugs hardly have any effect on damaging kidney tissue.”
Diabetes = Kidney Disease
Although diabetes is the main cause of kidney disease, doctors provide additional explanations…
“Not all diabetic patients necessarily develop kidney disease. It primarily depends on how well blood sugar levels are controlled. There are also other factors that can cause diabetic patients to develop kidney disease, such as high blood pressure. If a diabetic patient also has high blood pressure, it becomes a contributing factor to kidney disease.
Additionally, older patients, even if they do not have diabetes, have a chance of developing kidney disease. Therefore, having diabetes increases the risk of kidney disease. Obesity is another factor; even non-diabetic obese individuals can develop kidney disease. So having both diabetes and obesity further increases the risk because the mechanisms that damage the kidneys are similar to those in diabetic patients. The development of kidney disease, whether in diabetic patients or those with primary kidney disease, is not different.”
Symptoms and Screening Tests
In the early stages of kidney disease, patients usually have no symptoms. Therefore, it can only be detected by testing the patient’s urine for protein leakage. Protein is a type of albumin produced by the body and circulates in the bloodstream. It is essential for the body. When blood passes through the kidneys, if the kidneys are normal, albumin passes through without leaking. But if the kidneys are diseased, albumin leaks into the urine. This indicates that the patient has kidney problems.
The second method to detect kidney disease is a blood test to assess kidney function by measuring the glomerular filtration rate (GFR). If the GFR is below normal, it indicates diabetic kidney disease. Patients can also observe themselves by checking for foamy urine or swelling in the feet, which may be early signs of kidney disease.
Take Care of Yourself This Way to Avoid Diabetic Kidney Disease
We should all take care of ourselves to stay away from kidney disease, which can be done as follows…
“The first thing is to avoid developing diabetes and high blood pressure because, as mentioned, diabetes is the main cause of kidney disease, accounting for about 30% of patients needing dialysis. So the easiest way is to avoid diabetes by avoiding sweets and exercising regularly. Those at risk, such as those with a family history, should be especially careful. Blood pressure should also be monitored to prevent hypertension.”
If You Have Kidney Disease, What Should You Do?
For those who already have kidney disease, especially chronic kidney disease, meaning kidney deterioration has lasted more than 3 months, the condition cannot return to normal. In this case, treatment aims to slow down kidney deterioration as much as possible to delay the need for dialysis. It is recommended to control blood sugar well and keep blood pressure within normal limits. This can be achieved through exercise, and finally, some medications may be used to treat kidney issues.
Dr. San Trivitayapoom
Internist, Head of Kidney Disease Center, Specialist in Internal Medicine and Kidney Diseases
Dialysis Center, Phyathai 3 Hospital
