Diabetes develops either when the body is unable to produce enough insulin or when it cannot use insulin effectively. One example of a hormone is insulin. It regulates the amount of sugar that is found in your blood. But you might wonder how diabetes affects your kidneys. A high sugar concentration in the blood may lead to health issues in a variety of organs and systems in the body. 

The high sugar concentration affects almost all the vital organs, including the heart, kidneys, eyes, and brain. This may, in the long run, result in renal damage and ultimately kidney failure.

• Diabetic kidney disease is the leading cause of chronic kidney disease worldwide.
• The kidneys filter around 180 liters of blood daily, removing waste and excess fluids.
• High blood sugar levels can cause scarring in the kidneys, known as diabetic nephropathy.
• Diabetes can damage the glomeruli, the tiny filters in the kidneys, leading to protein leakage in urine.
• Kidney damage from diabetes can be detected early through microalbuminuria tests.
• Controlling blood pressure is crucial for preventing kidney damage in diabetic patients.
• Kidney disease due to diabetes can progress silently without symptoms until significant damage occurs.
• Intensive blood sugar control can reduce the risk of developing kidney disease by 35% in diabetics.

There are basically two types of diabetes: 

It often manifests itself in children and young adults. In such a scenario, the body does not produce an enough amount of insulin.

It is often diagnosed in individuals older than 40, although the disease is on the rise in younger patients as well. In most cases, being overweight is a contributing factor, and the tendency to develop it may run in families. Insulin is produced by the body in people with type 2 diabetes, but its utilization is impaired.

The kidneys function as the body’s filtration mechanism, which helps to keep the overall fluid content in the body stable. Urine is a waste product that is eliminated by the kidneys. They are also responsible for the regulation of electrolytes, such as sodium and potassium.

When either the kidneys themselves or the blood arteries that feed them become damaged, the body loses its capacity to filter blood effectively.

Those who have diabetes and hypertension are at a greater risk of developing nephropathy, which refers to a decline in kidney function.

This is because increased blood pressure levels lead the blood vessels to become more rigid. Because of this, less blood that is rich in oxygen is sent to the kidney, which impairs the kidney’s capacity to perform its job.

Diabetes is associated with an increased risk of developing high blood pressure, which is defined as a systolic blood pressure (top number) that is more than or equal to 140 mmHg or a diastolic blood pressure (bottom number) that is larger than or equal to 90 mmHg.

A target systolic blood pressure of less than 130 mmHg and diastolic blood pressure of less than 80 mmHg, if it is safe for you to do so, may be acceptable for those who have diabetes, high blood pressure, and other risk factors for heart disease.

A dangerously high quantity of sugar in the blood is harmful to the blood vessels, particularly the delicate blood capillaries that supply the kidneys. The processes and routes that contribute to this damage are complex and not well understood.

It has been shown that controlling blood sugar levels may enhance kidney function.

The following are some of the ways in which diabetes may impair the kidneys:

The filtering units of the kidney are packed to the brim with capillaries of varying sizes.

The presence of high quantities of sugar in the blood may, over time, lead these blood vessels to become constricted and blocked. When there is not enough blood flowing through the body, the kidneys get damaged.

In this situation albumin, a form of protein, is able to get past these filters and into the urine. Urine is not where the albumin should be found.

Diabetes may also affect the nerves in your body, which can be quite painful. Your bladder is connected to the rest of your body by nerves, which transmit information from your brain to every other part of your body.

They communicate with your brain to let it know when your bladder has reached its capacity. If the nerves in the bladder are destroyed, you may not sense when it is time to empty your bladder.

When your bladder is full, the pressure that builds up might be harmful to your kidneys.

If urine is allowed to pool in the bladder for an extended period of time, you run the risk of developing an infection in the urinary system. Bacteria are to blame for this situation.

Bacteria are microscopic creatures that, like germs, may lead to the development of illness. They multiply very quickly in urine that has a high concentration of sugar.

These infections attack the bladder the vast majority of the time, but they may sometimes extend to the kidneys as well.

A treatment plan tailored specifically to your needs will be developed by your attending physician. It is also possible that you may need to see a renal specialist (called a “nephrologist”).

Additionally, consulting a dietician could be of help. The following are some ways that may improve the function of your kidneys and lengthen their lifespan:

Maintaining tight control of your blood sugar levels is the most effective approach to stave off or slow down kidney damage.

Diet, exercise, and, if necessary, insulin or hypoglycemic tablets are the primary methods of treatment for this condition (to lower your blood sugar level).

Having high blood pressure might make you more susceptible to developing renal failure. Inquire with your physician about the ideal range for your blood pressure.

Even if your blood pressure is normal, your doctor may still recommend that you take medications to treat high blood pressure (also known as ACE inhibitors or ARBs).

According to research, the use of these drugs may be able to reduce the progression of kidney damage in persons who have diabetes, even those who have normal blood pressure.

Protein is essential for overall health, but those with diabetes and renal problems should be careful not to consume excessive amounts of it. According to some research, reducing the amount of protein you consume may help prevent kidney injury. You need to discuss this matter with your attending physician. 

At this stage, it would be beneficial to discuss the specifics of your diet with a nutritionist who specializes in renal disease. This would help in developing a healthy strategy for making adjustments to your eating habits.

It is critical to begin treatment for urinary tract infections as soon as possible. The desire to pee often, a burning or painful sensation during urination, murky or blood-spotted urine, or a strong stench coming from your urine are all potential indicators that you have an infection in your urinary tract.

You may help regulate high blood pressure and minimize oedema in your body by reducing the quantity of salt you consume in your diet.

It is important to avoid taking any medications that might potentially harm the kidneys, notably nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) like ibuprofen and naproxen.

Before taking any herbal supplements, it is important to discuss the matter with your primary care provider since certain of them are known to be harmful to the kidneys.

Achieving and maintaining a healthy cholesterol and lipid balance. This will assist in preventing further damage to bigger blood arteries, such as those found in the brain and the heart.

Injuries to the kidneys result in a loss of the organs’ capacity to store necessary proteins, filter waste products from the blood, and ensure electrolyte and fluid equilibrium in the body.

The majority of individuals who have early kidney impairment do not exhibit any symptoms.

Getting a urine test done at least once a year is the most effective technique to detect kidney impairment in its early stages. This test looks for a condition known as albuminuria, which involves extremely trace levels of protein being found in the urine.

In diabetic patients, it may assist in the detection of kidney impairment at an earlier stage.

You must be very clear by now about how diabetes affects your kidneys until you end up with kidney failure. Renal failure may not always occur in every patient with kidney disease.

It is possible to stop kidney disease from growing worse by receiving the appropriate therapy. Both high blood pressure (also known as hypertension) and high sugar concentrations in blood that are not under control are major contributors to kidney damage that may be caused by diabetes.

Only precaution and vigilance can save your life.