How Is Diabetes Management Affecting Your Kidneys?

As type 2 diabetes becomes an increasing problem worldwide, doctors and scientists need to examine many things; prevention options, new treatments and technology, and the effects of the disease are only the tip of the iceberg.

In fact, some scientists wonder whether diabetes management helps or hurts other organs, such as the kidneys.

Keeping Your Kidneys Safe

Diabetes is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD), otherwise known as kidney failure. Previous studies seem to show that diabetes management is an asset in preventing ESRD. Diabetes in Control wrote of the issue:

“Metformin, sulfonylureas and thiazolidione are connected with an increased incidence of hypoglycemia, weight gain and lactic acidosis in patients with type 2 diabetes and CKD.”

In a previous study by ADVANCE, 8,494 participants were divided into two groups. The first, of 4,283 people, underwent intensive glycemic treatment. The remaining 4,211 were given standard glucose control. In a follow up study (5.4 years later), researchers found that, while the HbA1c had risen among the first group, “There was a drastic decrease in the risk of ESKD witnessed in intensive glucose control in trial period.”


What Does it Mean?

The Indian Journal of Endocrinology and Metabolism has reported that, “it is being observed that 'more is not always better' in terms of overall outcomes of patients where more and more drugs are being poured in to achieve tighter targets, with all patients.” While they have a point, we can breathe a little easier when it comes to diabetes care and ESRD.

The ADVANCE study indicated that “[diabetes] control continues to protect against the development of ESKD in type 2 diabetes patients.” Keeping yourself in good health by eating right, exercising, and keeping your blood sugar under control can help stave off kidney failure for quite some time.


More Articles

With its slightly nutty flavor, chewy texture, and nutritional punch farro is an ancient whole grain worth a place in our pantry.

Farro...

Having diabetes is cause for concern, however it doesn’t mean that you need to eliminate all of your favorite foods from your diet completely....

With diabetes becoming more of an epidemic each and every day, being knowledgeable about the disease, its effects on the body as well as ways to...

If you’re a diabetic or live with one, it can be tough trying to figure out the best foods to eat because your priority is to control your blood...

In this post, I will show you the 10 best ice creams for diabetics.

When you think of sweetened foods that a diabetic shouldn’t consume,...

More Articles

If you’re living with diabetes, snacking is a necessity because going for more than 3-4 hours without eating can be detrimental to your health....

For diabetics, choosing healthy snacks can be a daunting task.

A good rule of thumb is to pick out snacks that are rich in protein, fiber,...

According to information available through the National Institutes of Health, there’s an estimated 462 million people in the world who are...

Eleven Clinical Studies

After eleven clinical studies and 300,000 participants, researcher Vasanti Malik and her team of researchers...

Diabetic women often have a harder time losing weight than non-diabetic women. A study funded by Jenny Craig proved that diabetic women have an...

Many recent studies have proved that magnesium levels are lower in patients with diabetes than in non-diabetics. This magnesium...

Fluid retention, also known as edema, is a problem that affects many diabetics, especially those with type 2 diabetes...

Some of us might be thrilled if we could manage our blood sugar by sitting in a hot tub or sauna, instead of working up a sweat biking, or using...

Cooking and baking with the ancient cereal grain sorghum has health benefits for people with diabetes, and those with weight control issues....

When it comes to certain foods, there are always questions as to whether or not a diabetic can have them without...

Matcha tea is a rich, creamy, full-bodied beverage with amazing nutritional properties that address several diabetes health concerns.

The...

Salads are good example of foods that type 2 diabetics can enjoy with relatively low guilt. With the right greens and other elements added, salad...

Remaining gainfully employed is important to many people. Those who live with any form of diabetes may find that some lines of work are more...

Learning that you have diabetes does mean making some lifestyle changes. One of the areas that needs attention is your diet. Most people find that...

One of the more challenging aspects of life as a type 2 diabetic is managing your diet. There’s often the temptation to avoid certain foods...