Diabetes and kidney problems are often related
Lisa Weidner studied German and sociology and completed several journalistic internships. She is a volunteer at Hubert Burda Media Verlag and writes for the "Meine Familie und Ich" magazine and on nutrition and health topics.
More about the experts All content is checked by medical journalists.
In diabetics, the kidneys are also often damaged. Blood sugar should therefore always be checked in patients with kidney failure. In addition, regular blood tests and a lifestyle change can help to avert the danger to the detoxification organ.
Excessive blood sugar levels damage the blood vessels - including those that supply the kidneys. Kidney damage is therefore a common secondary disease in diabetics. In fact, kidney patients in many cases suffer from undetected diabetes. The German Diabetes Society points this out.
Every third person with kidney problems is affected
The experts therefore recommend that if you have kidney problems, you should also check your blood sugar. Early detection of diabetes and kidney disease is essential to protect patients from kidney damage and possibly a transplant or lifelong dialysis.
"Studies show that around every third person on the waiting list for kidney transplants has previously undetected diabetes or prediabetes," explains doctor Martina Guthoff, a specialist in kidney diseases.
Prevention: controls and healthy lifestyle
Diabetics should therefore have their urine checked for protein, so-called albumin, at least once a year. If the kidney does not work properly, more of it is excreted in the urine.
According to the specialist society, permanently elevated blood sugar and blood pressure are the main risk factors for kidney damage. That is why both values should be stable and in the green area. People with diabetes can also promote the functioning of their kidneys by losing weight, not smoking, eating healthily, and getting enough exercise. (lw / dpa)
