Subtle damage to the kidneys can be present at diagnosis in Type 2 Diabetes,
but it often takes 5 to 10 years to become a noticeable problem. This damage can
result in severe Renal Failure. People with Type 2 Diabetes from an Asian or
Afro-Caribbean origin are twice likely to develop Diabetic Renal Disease.
The role of healthy kidneys
Normally, the kidneys are essential to maintain good health. The most
important functions of the kidneys are to excrete toxins, excessive salt and
water out of the body with urine. The kidneys also play an important role to
regulate the blood pressure level and produce key hormone, erythropoietin to
stimulate the production of red blood cells by the bone marrow.
More than 60% people with Type 2 Diabetes manifest some form of clinical
kidney damage, which makes them at risk of progressive chronic kidney disease.
How does the disease impact the kidneys?
When a person has Type 2 Diabetes, the boy does not make enough insulin and
this results in a high blood sugar level. This injures the small blood vessels
of the kidneys, especially in the filtering portion of the kidney, the
glomerulus.
When the kidneys are impaired, the protein albumin leaks out of the kidneys
into the urine. This is one of the first signs of early stage renal disease.
Moreover, factors including arterial hypertension, obesity, smoking and
physical inactivity may also increase one's risk for Diabetic Nephropathy.
Symptoms of Diabetic Renal Disease are often non-existent in the early stages
of chronic kidney disease, so people may be unaware they have the condition
until a later stage in the disease.
It is important for persons with Type 2 Diabetes to have two tests of kidney
function performed early and regularly: 1) the serume creatinine or eGFR and 2)
the urine test for protein (albumin, microalbumin, or microalbumin/creatinine
ratio).
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