Is Diabetes Mellitus a cause of Kidney Disease?
Insulin is a hormone that helps the body’s cells to absorb glucose (sugar). The body uses glucose as a prime source of energy. Diabetes Mellitus causes glucose levels to build up in the blood and urine. This causes excessive urination, thirst, hunger, and problems with fat and protein metabolism.
There are two types of diabetesTYPE 1 DIABETESType 1 diabetes tends to first occur in young adults and children. It is sometimes referred to as insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus or juvenile diabetes. It is responsible for approximately 10 percent of all cases of diagnosed diabetes. In type 1 diabetes, the body stops producing insulin. Patients must, therefore, take daily insulin injections or use an insulin pump. They must also control blood glucose levels by diet and exercise. People with type 1 diabetes are more likely to develop kidney failure. Up to 40 percent of people with type 1 diabetes develop kidney failure between the ages of 30 to 50 years. TYPE 2 DIABETES Type 2 diabetes first occurs more often in people over the age of 40. However, it can occur at any age... even during childhood. It is sometimes known as non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus or adult-onset diabetes. This is much more common and accounts for about 90 percent of people with diagnosed diabetes. Many people with type 2 diabetes do not respond properly to their own insulin or to injected insulin. This is sometimes referred to as an insulin resistance condition. In some cases, people with type 2 diabetes control their blood glucose levels with meal planning and physical activity. Others must take pills that not only stimulate the production of insulin, but also reduce insulin resistance and decrease the liver’s output of glucose. Others may also require injections of insulin in addition to pills. How can diabetes mellitus affect the kidneys?Diabetes causes damage to the small blood vessels in the kidney. When these blood vessels are injured, the kidneys cannot perform their function properly. Consequently, excess water and salt is retained in the body. The excess fluid in the body can result in weight gain and swelling of the ankles.In some cases it may take many years for someone with diabetes to develop kidney disease. Sometimes, the filtering function of the kidneys is actually higher than normal, in the first few years of developing diabetes. This process is known as hyper-filtration. This happens as the kidneys try to respond to the excess glucose in the blood. Over time, however,this begins to affect the kidneys and their filtering function begins to drop. Generally, kidney damage rarely occurs within the first 10 years of diabetes. Sometimes, as much as 25 years will pass before there are any signs of kidney failure. The risk of developing kidney failure decreases, for most people who live with diabetes for more than 25 years, without any signs of kidney damage. Diabetes is most common in adults over the age of 45 years. It is also more common in women than in men and in people of African and Hispanic descent. Other risk factors for this disease are obesity, physically inactivity, and having an immediate family member with diabetes.
What are the symptoms of diabetes and kidney disease?Due to low levels of insulin or the poor response to insulin caused by diabetes mellitus, the cells are prevented from absorbing glucose. Consequently, there is a build up of glucose in the blood.When this blood (with excessive glucose) passes through the kidneys, these organs cannot absorb all of the excess glucose. This excess glucose accompanied by water, goes into the urine and causes frequent urination, in order to get rid of the additional water drawn into the urine. This, in turn, triggers excessive thirst and hunger, to replace the water and the glucose lost in urination. Additional symptoms of diabetes mellitus may include hypertension, blurred vision, unexplained weight loss, irritability, weakness, fatigue, and nausea and vomiting. Diabetes is also a contributing factor in many deaths from heart disease, kidney failure, and other conditions. This condition should not be taken lightly. Prevention is the best way to avoid the complications associated with diabetes and kidney disease. A balanced lifestyle, healthy diet, regular exercise, and avoidance of harmful substances (such as tobacco and drugs), will go a long way to preventing and slowing the effects of this terrible disease. From Diabetes Mellitus to HOME PAGE
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