Kidney Care
Kidney disease is extremely common among Diabetics.
In fact, Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure, a condition
also known as nephropathy, (nuh-frop-uh-thee) which affects almost
200,000 Americans each year.
20 to 40% of people with Type 1 Diabetes will develop kidney failure, usually before the 
The Kidneys
age of 50. Kidney failure generally occurs 15 to 25 years after a
person has been diagnosed with Diabetes if he or she is going to have
it. If you are one of these people, you are not alone. There are also
treatments available that can help you stay active and healthy.
Inside The Kidneythe primary means of filtering toxins from the body, kidney failure
means that the body has an increase in the level of toxicity.
In particular, the kidneys filter out a blood protein called albumin (al-byoo-muhn) and Creatinine
(kree-at-n-een, -in). When the kidneys begin to fail, the kidneys stop
processing these proteins properly and they leak into the urine. Kidney
function continues to degenerate and the body retains waste that it
cannot filter properly. As such, the level of toxins rises, as does the
bodys blood pressure.
Think of your kidneys as a sponge that absorbs toxic chemicals from
your bloodstream. If the sponge stops absorbing toxic chemicals, then
they will stay in the bloodstream and remain dangerously toxic.
Tests for Kidney Health
A sensitive blood test for protein or albumin in the urine involves laboratory measurement and calculation of the protein-to-creatinine or albumin-to-creatinine ratio. Creatinine is a waste product
in the blood created by the normal breakdown of muscle cells during
activity. Healthy kidneys take creatinine out of the blood and put it
into the urine to leave the body. When the kidneys are not working
well, creatinine builds up in the blood.
(dahy-al-uh-sis) or a kidney transplant. Dialysis is a treatment that
involves sending a patients blood through a filtration machine in
order to mechanically remove the toxins from the machine. Most patients
requiring dialysis must have the procedure performed daily or several
times a week.
High blood pressure
has also been found to be a huge contributing factor to kidney failure.
Therefore, lowering blood pressure can help to reduce the toll on the
kidneys. Many Diabetic patients will take blood pressure medicine in
addition to increasing their levels of physical activity and
maintaining a nutritious diet.
Many Diabetics are also warned about the dangers of high-protein diets.
It can be difficult for the kidneys to filter excess protein;
therefore, many doctors recommend that Diabetics consume a normal level
of protein, but do not adhere to high-protein diets. In fact, reducing
the amount of protein in the diet may even help to delay the onset of
kidney failure. If you are considering reducing your protein in-take,
consult your physician first.
Additionally, doctors recommend that Diabetics facing kidney failure maintain low-sugar meal plans in order to reduce their blood glucose levels. Diabetics should also continue their normal medications, such as insulin injections or pills, in order to keep their blood glucose levels as normal as possible. By
following a very strict, low-glucose diet, the Diabetes Control and
Complications Trial (DCCT) found that Diabetics can reduce the risk of
developing or worsening kidney failure.
healthy. In order to reduce your risk of developing kidney failure or
to delay the severity of the condition, it is a good idea to have
regular check-ups.
Keep your A1C level at 7% or less.
Consult with your doctor about the best treatment for you, including
meal plans, medication, exercise and blood glucose monitoring.
Have your urine checked once a year.
Have an annual blood check.
Pay close attention to your nutrition, including how much protein you eat.
