Kidney Watch
The kidneys and their work
The kidneys are very important organs of the body ,in the
sense that they help maintaining the purity of the blood and
cleanse it of toxic substances accumalated as waste products
of the energy release mechanism of the body.
The kidneys have a filtering system consisting of tiny blood
vessels,bundles in a ball like structure called the glomerulus.The
kidneys produce about a quart of urine every day to maintain
the body's fluid balance.
But sometimes this filtering system breaks down. Failing
kidneys lose their ability to filter out waste products. One
cause of kidney failure is diabetes. The kidneys produce about
a quart of urine every day to maintain the body's fluid balance.
< Top >
How Diabetes Damages Kidneys?
In diabetes,high levels of glucose make the kidneys filter
too much blood. This extra work is hard on the filters. Long-term
diabetes may result in damage to the bundles of capillaries
that form the kidneys' filtering system.
Diabetic nephropathy develops in stages over many years.
Kidney filtering becomes less efficient, and certain proteins
leak out.Useful protein is lost in the urine. Prescence of
little amounts of protein in the urine is called microalbuminuria
(micro =small),while the prescence of larger amounts is called
proteinuria or macroalbuminuria.
< Top >
Does every one with diabetes get kidney disease?
Not everyone with diabetes develops kidney disease. Factors
that can influence development include genetics, blood glucose
control, and blood pressure.
The better a person keeps diabetes under control, the lower
the chance of getting kidney disease. High blood pressure
should also be kept under control. The healthier the blood
pressure, the healthier the kidneys will be.
< Top >
Symptoms and Diagnosis
In diabetes,many of the times, kidney disease produces no
symptoms until almost all function is retarded. Also, the
signs and symptoms are not specific. Protein in the urine
may be the first sign of nephropathy. Other signs include
high blood pressure, weight gain from fluid retention, fatigue,
and just feeling ill. Kidney function tests help determine
the degree of kidney damage.
It is vital to see your health care provider regularly. The
doctor can test the urine for protein, check whether blood
pressure is high, and detect diabetic eye problems.
< Top >
Prevention
- Keep your blood glucose level in good control.
- Maintain normal blood pressure.
- Take prescribed medications regularly.
- Follow the specific diet recommended by your health-care
provider
< Top >
|
