Kidney Failure - A Result of Diabetes

Diabetes is a potentially devastating problem that affects kidneys, intestines, heart and every other organ in the body. It is a condition in which the body is unable to properly use or produce insulin. Insulin, a hormone that is necessary for converting starches, sugar and other food into energy. The factor leading to diabetes is unknown and there is no known cure although effective management may be achieved under a physician's care.

Endocrinologists are specialists that treat diabetes. They are easy to find in most areas. Here are some examples: David Alster, MD of Tucson AZ, Dr Firouz Khamsi of Toronto, C. Kurt Alexander, MD, CDE, FACP, FACE of Muncie, IN, Amanda Megan Bell, MD of Washington, DC, Nora Barsony, MD of Tucson AZ, Catherine Lang Bain, MD, FACE of Indianapolis, IN, Stephen F. Brandt, MD at the Emory University Division of Endocrinology of Atlanta, GA

In 2005, it was estimated that there were 20.8 million people of all ages who are afflicted with the disease. That is approximately 7% of the population. Of that figure, 14.6 million people had been diagnosed, but 6.2 million people were estimated to have diabetes but they had not seen a doctor. Not only that but, about fifty four million folks are pre-diabetic with one and a half million new cases in people over the age of 20, found annually.

Diabetes is the most common cause of kidney disease. Indeed, high blood pressure and diabetes are the two leading causes of kidney disease. This leads to probably 70 percent of renal failure cases with diabetes accounting of 44 percent of kidney failure cases. The early stages of kidney disease have no symptoms . It makes war on your body and eventually when it is finally detected, the damage is so far advanced that it {often is|can be|might well be|quite often is] too involved to prevent failure of the kidneys. Once your kidneys fail, you have two options: {kidney transplant or dialysis|dialysis or kidney transplant]. If you do not receive one of these, you will die.

How Diabetes causes Renal Disease

When your kidneys are working as they should, the glomeruli (tiny filters that are in the kidneys) keep the proteins inside of your body. Protein is vital for quite a few operations within your body and are necessary for keeping you healthy. Diabetes creates a high concentration of glucose in the blood which damages the glomeruli. This means that they can't maintain the protein in the body and it seeps into the urine from the glomeruli.

When the kidneys are damaged they no longer work efficiently and do not cleanse our waste and extra fluids as they should. When this occurs, the fluids and waste build up in the blood instead of being expelled through urine. The more this goes on, the worse the damage becomes until the kidneys eventually cease to function.

The Progression of Renal Disease

It can require years for kidney disease from diabetes to develop. Some people experience hyperfiltration in the first few years of their having diabetes. This means that the glomeruli actually produce more urine than normal. Once the damage starts, though, it is progressive. As a person develops kidney disease, they will have a blood protein known as albumin that will start to leak into the urine in small amounts. At that time, usually the glomeruli are really working normally.

The progression of the disease will lead to more protein leaking into the urine and the glomeruli begin to eventually fail as the filtering function begins to drop. Waste is retained in the blood due to the filtration failure. Finally, the kidneys cease to function.

How to Prevent Kidney Problems if you have Diabetes

If you have diabetes, you can most often prevent kidney problems. Take these suggestions to protect yourself: * Control your blood sugar by eating well and a good exercise regimen * Take your medication as prescribed * Have your physician test your urine and blood regularly for kidney disease * If testing shows that you do have kidney disease, check into medicines such as angiotensin II receptor blockers that can help keep your kidneys healthy.

A diagnosis of diabetes does not have to automatically mean kidney disease. As long as you stay on top of your condition, manage it well and follow your doctor's orders, there is no reason that you can't live a long, healthy, happy life - without kidney disease.