Kidney Disease

    When blood sugar is high, it can cause damage to the blood vessels in the kidneys, leading
    to kidney disease. This is sometimes called diabetic nephropathy (pronounced: neh-frah-
    puh-thee).

    Kidney disease is more likely to happen in people who haven't controlled their blood sugar
    levels over a long period of time. Kidney disease can worsen if someone also has high
    blood pressure or uses tobacco. Not everyone with diabetes develops kidney disease.
    Factors that can influence kidney disease development include genetics, blood sugar
    control, and blood pressure.

    In its early stages, kidney disease doesn't cause symptoms. Over time, though, it can cause
    kidney failure, which means the kidneys stop working. So kidney disease is a serious health
    problem.

    If doctors detect kidney disease early enough, the damage can sometimes be reversed with
    proper treatment. Doctors may tell a person with diabetic nephropathy to eat less protein
    and also might prescribe medications.

    If the kidney disease gets worse, a person may develop kidney failure, which requires
    dialysis (regular use of a machine to clean the blood as the kidneys normally would) or a
    kidney transplant. The good news is that these days kidney disease is less likely to end up
    as kidney failure because of earlier detection and better treatment than in the past.

    The best way to help prevent diabetic kidney disease is to keep your blood sugar levels
    under control by following your diabetes treatment plan. It's also important to get regular
    blood pressure checks and urine albumin tests — your diabetes health care team will tell
    you when you need these.

    In addition, steer clear of smoking, which can increase the risk of kidney problems and
    other diabetes complications and health problems.

    References

    http://www.diabetes.org/living-with-diabetes/complications/kidney-disease-nephropathy.html
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