Living With Type 1 Diabetes: Kidney Complications

Now that we have talked about type 1 diabetes and the complications it can cause to the heart, nerves, and eyes, we will continue the conversation and talk about the damage diabetes can cause  to the body’s kidneys.

Nephropathy (kidney damage), occurs when the tiny blood vessels in the kidney that filter waste from the blood are damaged.2 This can eventually lead up to kidney failure or the ending stages of kidney disease. This damage to the kidney can cause protein to leak out of the kidney. This leaking of protein is called albumin.1 When a diabetic’s blood glucose levels are higher than normal, it can cause the kidneys to leak.

Diabetic kidney disease is the most common cause of kidney failure.1 Because of this, it is extremely important for type 1 diabetics to look out for the signs and symptoms of diabetic kidney disease. These symptoms include,

• Difficult time thinking clearly
• Poor appetite
• Weight loss
• Dry, itchy skin
• Muscle cramps
• Fluid retention resulting in swollen feet and ankles
• Puffiness around the eyes
• Frequently using the bathroom
• Being pale
• Feeling sick like

Some of these symptoms won’t show up or occur for a while. It is also common for a diabetic not to show any symptoms of diabetic kidney disease. However, if they do show any of these symptoms, it is important to contact their diabetic doctor to schedule an appointment and discuss what is going on.

There are two main categories of diabetic kidney disease.

• Microalbuminuria, which is also known as incipient nephropathy. This is occurs when the amount of albumin leaked is between 30 mg and 300 mg a day.
• Proteinuria, which is also known as over nephropathy. This occurs when the amount of albumin leaked is over 300 mg a day.

For type 1 diabetics, neither of these diseases are present at the time of diabetic diagnosis. It is usually after 5 years that about 14 in 100 type 1 diabetics will develop microalbuminuria After 30 years, that number increases to about 40 in 100.1

Treatments for diabetic kidney disease include:

• angiotensin -converting enzyme inhibitor
• angiotensin-II receptor antagonist
• Good control of blood glucose level
• Good control of blood pressure
• Review of medications

For more information on these treatments and how they work, visit http://patient.info/health/diabetic-kidney-disease-leaflet .

It is important for type 1 diabetics to have good control of their diabetes  and have routinely check ups with their doctors to help prevent or prolong diabetic kidney disease. Next time, we will talk about diabetic ketoacidosis, also known as DKA.

References:

1Diabetic Kidney Disease and Causes of Kidney Disease | Health | Patient. (n.d.). Retrieved June 06, 2016, from http://patient.info/health/diabetic-kidney-disease-leaflet

2Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research. (2014, August 02). Type 1 diabetes. Retrieved May 30, 2016, from http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/type-1-diabetes/basics/complications/con-20019573