High blood pressure and a kidney disease
With diabetes, the small blood vessels in the body are injured. When the blood vessels in the kidneys are injured, your kidneys cannot clean your blood properly. Your body will retain more water and salt than it should, which can result in weight gain and ankle swelling. You may have protein in your urine. Also, waste materials will build up in your blood.
The earliest sign of diabetic kidney disease is increased excretion of albumin in the urine. This is present long before the usual tests done in your doctor's office show evidence of kidney disease, so it is important for you to have this test on a yearly basis. Weight gain and ankle swelling may occur. You will use the bathroom more at night. Your blood pressure may get too high. This is why you should have your blood, urine, and blood pressure checked at least once a year. This will lead to better control of your disease and early treatment of high blood pressure and kidney disease. Maintaining control of your diabetes can lower your risk of developing severe kidney disease.
Did you know?
- More than 1 in 7 adults in the US, or about 37 million people, may have chronic kidney disease (CKD)
- Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure in the US, right after high blood pressure
- About 30 percent of patients with Type 1 (juvenile-onset) diabetes and 10 to 40 percent of those with Type 2 (adult-onset) diabetes eventually will suffer from kidney failure
- 1 in 5 adults (20%) in the US with high blood pressure may have CKD
- Although Black or African American people make up about 13 percent of the population, they account for 35 percent of the people with kidney failure in the United States.
- Following a healthy diet and taking medicine for high blood pressure may keep CKD from getting worse and may prevent other health problems such as heart disease
Useful tip
Would you like to learn more about diabetes and kidney disease? The ADA offers free classes and other resources to show you how you can prevent kidney disease here:
Source: The American Heart Association, The American Diabetes Association, National Kidney Foundation, kidney.org
Nothing in this article should be considered medical advice. Ask your doctor if you have any questions. In a case of medical emergency call 911.