Diabetesis the leading cause ofkidney disease.
Diabetes is a condition characterized by an inability to regulate blood sugar levels.
Chronically high blood sugar levels are toxic to small blood vessels and cause injury to the kidneys over time.
Illustration by Julie Bang for Verywell Health
When your kidneys are damaged, they begin to lose their ability to filter blood effectively.
Their main purpose is to filter your blood to remove wastes and maintain fluid and electrolyte balance.
The kidneys also release hormones that regulate body systems such as blood pressure.
Your kidneys filter your body’s entire blood volume about 30 times per day.
The remaining water and any waste products are carried away through the production of urine.
The other vital function of the kidneys is to maintain fluid levels.
The kidneys remove waste by producing urine.
They also regulate electrolytes like sodium and potassium.
As a result, less oxygen-rich blood reaches the kidney, compromising the organ’s ability to function.
High blood sugar levels are toxic to blood vessels, especially the small blood vessels that serve the kidneys.
Spilling albumin in urine is one common test to detect kidney disease.
The presence of high levels ofcreatinine, a waste product, indicates that the kidneys filtration mechanism is compromised.
Getting routine screenings by a healthcare provider is one way to uncover early signs of kidney disease.
Hemodialysisis the process of mechanically filtering blood via a machine.
PD works by infusing a solution through a port into your abdominal cavity.
The solution absorbs waste products, which are then drained through a port.
Sometimes kidney damage causes blood to enter the urine which may cause your urine to darken in color.
Diabetic kidney disease is a chronic, progressive condition that worsens over time without treatment.
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