Kidney Disease Basics

Kidney disease, like other chronic health conditions can arise at various stages in life. Sometimes, autoimmune disorders or genetic defects can lead to kidney damage. More frequently however, lifestyle choices lead to kidney disease or suboptimal kidney function. The most common cause of kidney disease and failure is uncontrolled diabetes. This can happen either because people are unaware they are diabetic or they do not manage their diabetes properly. Other common causes of kidney disease include high blood pressure, alcoholism, or being overweight.

DIABETES AND KIDNEY DISEASE

How can uncontrolled diabetes lead to kidney disease? Diabetes is a disease in which the body’s ability to produce or respond to the hormone insulin is impaired, resulting in abnormal metabolism of carbohydrates and elevated levels of glucose/sugar in the blood and urine. Over time, the high levels of sugar in the blood damage the tiny filtering units in each kidney.

DIABETES AND HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

High blood pressure is defined as the excessive force of blood placed against blood vessel walls. This force in the tiny blood vessels within the kidney become scarred and unable to effectively filter fluid and waste from the body.

THE TAKEAWAY

While not all factors leading to kidney disease can be controlled, you can manage your diabetes, blood pressure and weight to help prevent the onset or progression of kidney disease.