How Diabetes and Hypertension Can Contribute To Kidney Disease Kidneys play a crucial role in proper functioning of our body by filtering blood of the waste products and helping maintain the fluid balance. If even one of the kidneys is affected by some disease or infection, it can upset the balance of your balance of your health by interfering with its ability to filter the blood of natural waste products. It would be important to understand that kidneys help maintain a healthy blood pressure and high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, can adversely affect kidneys and even result in chronic kidney disease (CKD).
It may not be so easy to diagnose if one has hypertension because apparently there are little, if any, symptoms characteristic of high blood pressure and it is important to regularly monitor blood pressure. The situation could be far worse if one is suffering from diabetes as well. Diabetes leads to high levels of blood sugar, thus making the kidneys overwork and filter more blood than they can properly. Over a span of time, the filtering mechanism of kidneys is impaired and as a result blood starts losing useful proteins in the urine.
When small amounts of protein start appearing in the urine, the condition is known as microalbuminuria. If diagnosed at this stage, the condition can be managed with proper treatment but if too much time is lost before the problem is pinpointed, larger amounts of protein could be present in urine, which is known as macroalbuminuria. When diagnosed with macroalbuminuria, it can lead to end-stage renal disease leaving doctors with but little choice other than recommending a kidney transplant or dialysis, which involves artificial filtering of the blood. Together, high blood pressure and diabetes make for a menacing combination as far as health of the kidneys is concerned.
However, effective medication and treatment are available to manage these conditions in order to keep the situation from becoming more complicated. If one has diabetes, it is important to assess the stage and type of diabetes and it is also important to study if the patient has a history of high blood pressure. A rise in blood pressure can quickly contribute to worsening of kidney disease and the best way to manage this condition is keeping the levels of blood glucose and blood pressure under control. Regular exercise, balanced diet, lower salt intake and avoiding consumption of alcohol and tobacco can be of great help in managing these factors in an effective manner.
Nephrotic syndrome is a kidney related disorder which can be caused by a variety of kidney problems affecting the functioning of glomeruli, tiny blood vessels in the kidney which act as blood filters. This leads to improper functioning of kidneys leading to loss of large amount of protein in the urine. Albumin is one such protein which helps it absorb excess of fluids but when a significant amount of albumin is lost in urine it can affect the ability of blood to absorb fluids, resulting in edema. This leads to low levels of albumin in blood, which is known as hypoalbuminia.
Edema caused due to loss of albumin in urine manifests in the form of swelling of legs, feet, ankles or hands which is one of the symptoms associated with nephrotic syndrome. Large amount of protein found in urine is known as proteinuria, another symptom of this condition. Hyperlipidemia is yet another symptom indicating the presence of nephrotic syndrome. It involves higher levels of fat and cholesterol in the blood. This condition can also lead to weight gain, loss of appetite, foamy urine and a constant feeling of fatigue.
Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) is one of the primary causes behind nephrotic syndrome, which affects only kidneys. Secondary causes of this condition include diseases which affect the functioning of kidneys along with other organs and body functions. Diabetes is one of the most common secondary causes which can lead to nephrotic syndrome by interfering with the healthy functioning of kidneys. It is also important to keep in mind that loss of proteins caused by this condition can result in a number of health complications.
Hyperthyroidism, anemia, coronary artery disease, high blood pressure and acute kidney injury are some of the complications which can be caused due to this condition. Urinalysis is important for diagnosing its presence, which involves looking for high levels of protein in the urine. Usually, the ratio of albumin and creatinine in urine indicates whether there is some problem with kidneys. If the ratio is found to be abnormal, it can indicate a kidney-related disorder.
Blood tests and kidney biopsy could be needed to confirm the presence of this condition in a patient. Those who are suffering from diabetes may not need to undergo kidney biopsy because their earlier lab tests and medical history can be sufficient for confirming if this condition is present. Effective treatment for nephrotic syndrome is available which involves focusing on management of high blood pressure, high cholesterol, edema, and any risk of infection. Proper medications and diet changes can be the best ways of treating this condition.
Our urinary tract plays an important role in the body by helping remove waste fluids in the form of urine. The urinary tract includes two kidneys, two ureters, bladder and urethra, all of which are essential to the process of filtering blood of waste products, storing excess fluids and excretion. Kidneys play an important role by filtering blood of all waste products and ensuring that blood retains proteins and cells essential for healthy functioning of the body. After filtering blood of waste products, excess fluids are channeled to bladder through two narrow tube-like structures known as ureters.
The waste fluids are stored in bladder and finally emptied through another tube-like structure at the bottom of bladder which is known as urethra. Urinary tract infection or UTI can be caused due to bacteria which enter the urinary tract and cause an infection by overcoming natural body defenses. Usually, urinary tract washes up any bacteria with emptying of waste fluids through body but some bacteria might survive by attaching to the lining of the urinary tract and cause an infection.
If the seat of infection is in urethra, it is known as urethritis but bacteria may travel up to bladder and cause an infection. Bladder infection is known as cystitis and is generally not as serious as kidney infections, should they occur. UTIs can be classified into two broad categories, lower UTIs caused in the lower portion of the urinary tract including bladder and urethra which is treated as uncomplicated. On the other hand, upper UTIs are infections caused in upper portions of urinary tract including kidneys and ureters which are treated as complicated UTIs.
Kidney infections can have serious implications for the whole system as it can interfere with the ability of kidneys to filter blood of any impurities and upset the balance of health. It is also important to note that women are more susceptible to UTIs as compared with men and are especially prone if they have diabetes or during pregnancy. One must safeguard against this class of infections and consume a healthy amount of liquids to wash away any possible bacteria residing in the urinary tract.
Uncomplicated UTIs can be effectively treated with a short course of oral antibiotics but complicated UTIs may take longer to be treated properly. Usually, urinalysis helps diagnose the presence of UTIs but if needed imaging techniques can also be employed for detecting the seat of infection and assess the damage caused in order to decide the proper course of treatment.
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