Did you know that 422 million people across the globe are living with diabetes, a metabolic disease that has been linked with elevated risks of serious heart problems, chronic kidney diseases, nerve damage, visual impairment and so on? The global incidence of diabetes has increased significantly over the past few decades and the rates are alarming. As per a report published by the World Health Organization, diabetes and kidney diseases related to it, together, accounted for around 2 million deaths in the year 2019. This blog, by the top internal medicine specialist in Gurgaon, will help you understand more about the disease and how it affects our kidneys.
Diabetes: A brief understanding
Diabetes is a chronic disease marked by an increase in blood glucose. It is important to understand how glucose is processed by our body. Our pancreas produces a hormone known as insulin that facilitates the absorption of glucose by our body’s cells, where it is used for energy. A person can develop diabetes if his/her body is not producing enough insulin or, is unable to utilize the insulin that has been produced, as, in both situations, your blood glucose is likely to spike up.
The impact of diabetes on our kidneys
The kidneys are a pair of bean-shaped organs consisting of millions of nephrons that help to filter the blood. Elevated blood glucose levels can damage these nephrons, as well as the blood vessels that are responsible for supplying blood to the kidneys. The deprivation of oxygen and nutrient-rich blood can affect the functionality of our kidneys, resulting in a condition known as diabetic nephropathy or diabetic kidney disease. The complication is primarily associated with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes and can prevent the kidneys from carrying out their functions efficiently. As a result of this, there is a build-up of harmful wastes and fluids in the body. The process is slow and gradual and the damage does not happen overnight, diabetic nephropathy is progressive and can lead to complete kidney failure without proper medical intervention.
Managing diabetes to alleviate the risks of diabetic nephropathy
Experts from the best hospital in India suggest that the best way to protect our kidneys from diabetes-induced complications is by following habits that can help manage the condition efficiently. Here are a few tips that you may find helpful.
To know more about how diabetes can affect your kidneys, consult the experts from the best hospital in Gurugram.
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