Diabetes is the leading cause of chronic kidney disease
Diabetes is the leading cause of chronic kidney disease
According to the Centers for Disease Control, over 17 million Americans have diabetes. Unfortunately, one-third does not realize they have the disease. Diabetes is the number one cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD). In 1999, almost 44% of patients who needed dialysis had diabetes as the underlying cause for their kidney disease. The numbers continue to rise today.
How diabetes damages the kidneys
Diabetes is a disease that affects the body’s ability to produce or use insulin. When the body turns the food eaten into energy (also called sugar or glucose), insulin is used to move this sugar into the cells. If someone produces little or no insulin, or if the body cannot use the insulin (insulin resistant), the sugar remains in the bloodstream instead of going into the cells. Over time, high levels of sugar in the blood damage tiny blood vessels throughout the body including the filters of the kidneys. As more damage occurs to the kidneys, more fluid and waste remain in the bloodstream instead of being removed.
Symptoms of diabetes
The American Diabetes Association lists the symptoms of diabetes as:
Frequent urination
Excessive thirst
Extreme hunger
Unusual weight loss
Excessive fatigue
Irritability
Blurry vision
