What are the symptoms of diabetic kidney disease?
You are unlikely to have symptoms with early diabetic kidney disease - for example, if you just have microalbuminuria (defined above). Symptoms tend to develop when the kidney disease progresses. The symptoms at first tend to be vague and nonspecific, such as feeling tired, having less energy than usual, and just not feeling well. With more severe kidney disease, symptoms that may develop include:Difficulty thinking clearly
A poor appetite
Weight loss
Dry, itchy skin
Muscle cramps
Fluid retention which causes swollen feet and ankles
Puffiness around the eyes
Needing to pass urine more often than usual
Being pale due to anaemia
Feeling sick
As the kidney function declines then various other problems may develop. For example, anaemia and an imbalance of calcium, phosphate and other chemicals in the bloodstream. These can cause various symptoms, such as tiredness due to anaemia, and bone thinning or fractures due to calcium and phosphate imbalance. End-stage renal failure is eventually fatal unless treated.
What increases the risk of developing diabetic kidney disease?
All people with diabetes have a risk of developing diabetic kidney disease. However, a large research trial showed that there are certain factors that increase the risk of developing this condition. These are:A poor control of your blood sugar (glucose) levels. (The greater your HbA1c level, the greater your risk.)
The length of time you have had diabetes.
The more overweight you become.
Having high blood pressure. The higher your blood pressure, the greater your risk.
If you are male.
This means that having a good control of your blood glucose level, keeping your weight in check and treating high blood pressure will reduce your risk of developing diabetic kidney disease.
If you have early diabetic kidney disease (microalbuminuria), the risk that the disease will become worse is increased with:
The poorer the control of blood sugar levels. (The greater your HbA1c level, the greater your risk.)
Having high blood pressure. The higher your blood pressure, the greater your risk.
Smoking.
What are the possible complications?
End-stage kidney failureIn people with proteinuria (described above), end-stage kidney failure develops in approximately 8 in 100 people after 10 years. If this occurs then you would need kidney dialysis or a kidney transplant.
Cardiovascular diseases
All people with diabetes have an increased risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, such as heart disease, stroke and peripheral vascular disease. If you have diabetes and diabetic kidney disease, then your risk of developing cardiovascular diseases is increased further. The worse the kidney disease, the further increased the risk. This is why reducing any other cardiovascular risk factors is so important if you have diabetic kidney disease (see below).
High blood pressure
Kidney disease has a tendency to increase blood pressure. In addition, increased blood pressure has a tendency to make kidney disease worse. Treatment of high blood pressure is one of the main treatments of diabetic kidney disease .
What is the treatment for diabetic kidney disease?
Treatments that may be advised are discussed below.Treatments aim to:
Prevent or delay the disease progressing to kidney failure. In particular, if you have early diabetic kidney disease (microalbuminuria) it does not always progress to the proteinuria phase of the disease.
Reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases such as heart disease and stroke.
Micro-Chinese Medicine Osmotherapy is one of efficient therapy for kidney disease patients .This therapy can soften blood-fat blood vessels and restore the normal blood circulation . And the Chinese herbs can permeate one's kidneys directly through a western . It can said that this therapy is one of innovative therapy . Because this therapy combined Chinese herbs with Western device .
Have any questions ? Contact me through kidney-treatment@hotmail.com .
