Early Detection of Kidney Disease Can Help Extend a Diabetics Life

Diabetics make up roughly 8% of the United States 23.6 million people according to the latest data. Even though close to a quarter of the population goes undiagnosed it is better than the 50% that went undiagnosed ten years ago. There are many conditions that accompany diabetics. This common disease can lead to many serious conditions ranging from heart complications to kidney disease.

There are two types of diabetics:

Type I (Juvenile Onset Diabetes): typically occurs in children. These types of diabetics are insulin dependent for life because their pancreas does not secrete the proper amount of insulin in the body to control sugar levels. There are several ways a diabetic can perform insulin therapy either using the typical insulin vial and syringe or by using the insulin pump. Typically insulin pumps are preferred for children, but adults can use them as well.

Type 2 (Adult Onset Diabetes): usually occurs in adults over the age of 40. Their pancreas secretes too much insulin, resulting in high blood sugar levels, and typically is treated with oral medication and proper diets. These diabetics may also have to use insulin injections to help lower blood sugar levels.

In either case, diabetics need to monitor their blood sugar levels daily. Spikes in blood sugar levels are prompt indicators of what is occurring in a diabetic's body. They can indicate whether an infection is present or not. High sugar (glucose) levels should not be ignored because it is one of the causes of kidney disease.

According to the Kidney Foundation roughly 30% of Type I diabetics will experience kidney disease and 10-40% of Type 2 diabetics will develop this disease as well. Kidney disease occurs when the blood vessels in the kidneys no longer can filter the waste out of the blood stream properly to ensure a healthy state. Nerve damage is common in diabetics which can lead to damaged blood vessels that can prevent the kidneys from working properly. Urine can back up in the bladder resulting in bacteria that rapidly forms causing blood sugar levels to rise.

Diabetics need to pay attention to early signs and symptoms of this disease, because the longer they go undiagnosed the more damage is done to the kidneys. And once the kidney function reaches 10-15% they have now entered into the renal failure phase of kidney disease which treatment options include transplantation and dialysis. The average length of time between injury to the kidneys and kidney failure is five to seven years. So it is very important to anyone who lives with Diabetes to not only focus on the early signs of kidney disease, but also on the ways to prevent it, or delay it, from occurring.

Early Signs:
1. Increased albumin (blood protein) in urine
2. Weight gain and ankle swelling
3. Increased bathroom trips during the night
4. High blood pressure

Late Signs:
1. Blood urea nitrogen (BUN) levels are high
2. Creatinine (waste product from protein) levels rise
3. Nausea and vomiting, fatigue, weakness, muscle cramps and itching
4. Anemia (low blood count) occurs
5. Less insulin is needed because damaged kidneys cause less breakdown of insulin.

Diabetics who experience any of these symptoms need to contact their doctors. It's hard to establish what symptoms are accompanied by what disease because some of the ones listed here for the kidney disease are very similar to diabetics who also have congestive heart failure. Either way, contact your physician to get your kidneys checked. The best prevention can begin today with diabetics in the simple form of monitoring blood sugar levels daily, monitoring blood pressure, eating a healthy low protein diet, and keeping current with yearly tests.

Sources:

http://www.kidney.org/ATOZ/atozItem.cfm?id=37

http://www.diabetes.org/type-1-diabetes/kidney-disease.jsp