Can Diabetes Cause Kidney Failure?

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Yes, uncontrolled diabetes can cause kidney failure.

-In the long run, diabetes can affect kidneys, eyes and nerves, leading to conditions called diabetic nephropathy, retinopathy and neuropathy respectively.

-Diabetic nephropathy is a condition which is a major cause of kidney failure in diabetics. It has been reported that 1/3 of diabetic patients suffer from diabetic nephropathy.

-In Type 1 diabetic patients, kidney dysfunctioning is generally observed after 10 years from diagnosis, whereas in Type 2 diabetes, people are generally diagnosed with kidney diseases much earlier.

-Usually, the waste products released after digestion are small enough to pass the filters present in kidney. However, the big molecules (proteins and red blood cells) do not pass through the filter and stay in the blood.

-In diabetic patients, the filters of kidney get damaged due to high levels of blood sugar. This results in weakening of filters, followed by loss of proteins in urine (albuminuria).

-As the filtering ability of kidneys is reduced and progressively worsens, the kidneys eventually fail. This is called as kidney failure.

The best way to prevent damage to kidneys is by keeping diabetes in check, making dietary changes, monitoring sugar levels regularly, getting routine blood tests done and taking prescribed medications on time.

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