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Complications

How To Protect Your Kidneys From Diabetes Damage?

Jun 18, 2017

Diabetic Nephrology basically means kidney damage resulting out of poor diabetes control. It is a serious complication that impairs vital kidney function either wholly or partially over a period of time.

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, 1 out of 4 US adults with diabetes have kidney disease.

What Are the Symptoms of Diabetic Kidney Damage?

  • A protein called albumin is detected in urine tests
  • You have constantly elevated blood pressure levels or unusual swelling in body parts like hands & legs
  • Excess fatigue, both mental & physical

Symptoms of Diabetic Nephrology may not be detected early as they take time to develop. If you get regular lab tests and work with your medical practitioner to understand them, early detection of kidney damage is possible.

Prevention Is Better Than Cure, So You Must

  • Meet your target blood sugar levels always as the first line of prevention
  • Monitor your blood pressure regularly. People with constant elevated levels have more chances of kidney complications
  • Get kidney function tests done, at least once in 6 months
  • Watch your protein intake. Excess protein can cause an unusual load on the kidneys and impair kidney function further. This is especially true if your diet does not contain sufficient good fats, since excessive protein intake soaks up fat soluble vitamins like vitamin A and E, leaving little or none for other vital functions.

Dietary Advice for Good Kidney Health

If your blood pressure is on the higher side, you may want to limit intake of sodium and potassium. Choose fresh meats and vegetables instead of processed and canned foods.

You could also…

  • Cut back on processed table salt and opt for sea salt or unpolished Himalayan salt instead
  • Avoid commercially produced pickles and sauces, canned soups & processed meats
  • Reduce your intake of alcohol to prevent filtration pressure on the liver and kidneys

Do Not Forget…

If your kidneys have already been damaged by diabetes, it is very important to work with a functional medicine or holistic practitioner to adopt a kidney-friendly diet and lifestyle. Diabetes or blood pressure medication alone may help you improve your lab numbers for a while, but they will address the root cause.

So,

  • Exercise regularly
  • Say NO to smoking & alcohol
  • Follow your diet restrictions, especially on processed foods
  • Maintain healthy weight

Remember: Medical doctors are today saying clearly that Type 2 Diabetes is a fully reversible dietary disease. Rather than wait for complications to develop, it would be wise to use tools like intermittent fasting, a Low Carb High Fat (LCHF) Diet and proper stress management techniques to address the root cause of Type 2 Diabetes.  To know more, please read Understand Your Diabetes Test Results And Why It’s Important!

Mahesh Jayaraman
Mahesh is a hormone health counsellor & holistic health expert. He has a Mastery Certification in Functional Blood Chemistry Analysis from the US, is certified in Functional Nutrition from Washington State University and uses a wide array of healing modalities to guide his clients to vibrant health and well-being.

References:

https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/preventing-problems/diabetic-kidney-disease