The prevalence of diabetes is increasing across the globe and in India. Currently India houses approximately 7.5 crore diabetics. Compared to Western countries, Indians get affected by diabetes a decade earlier which leads to higher occurrence of other complications like heart and kidney disorders, said, consultant, Endocrinologist of Diabetes and Endocare Clinic, Brahmapur on the occasion of Doctor’s Day on July1.
Diabetes is one among the main causes of kidney problems. The small vessels in kidney get affected. Therefore, it cannot clean the blood and waste materials get deposited in excess amount. Water and salt get accumulated in body giving rise to weight gain and ankle swelling at the early stages, he told.
Additionally, the small urinary tubules too get damaged leading to leakage of protein and increased urinary excretion of protein. These further add up to swelling of body. Presence of co morbid conditions like hypertension, obesity and cholesterol problems further plays a damaging role in kidney, he added.
One of the earliest manifestations of kidney disorders include increased urinary excretion of albumin. Therefore, annually once urine albumin test is mandated in diabetic patients. There is increased urination at night along with increase in blood pressure. Further damage to kidney leads to elevation of Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine in blood. The symptoms include nausea, vomiting, headache, loss of appetite, weakness, lethargy, muscle cramps, poor sleep and concentration, frequent episodes of hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar) and reduction in requirement of ant diabetic drugs. In end stage kidney disease, itchinee, dry skin and drowsiness are seen. In case of appearance of any of the symptoms, prompt consultation is needed, Dr Kota advised.
Therefore, all the diabetic patients should test their blood and urine at least once every year. The early markers for kidney dysfunction include Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) and Urine for Micral. Explaining on Kidney dysfunction, Dr Kota said that, after diagnosis of kidney ailment, some more tests are done to rule out other causes of kidney disorders. Kidney biopsy is one such test where a tag of kidney tissue is taken out by a fine needle and studied under microscope. Ultrasound of abdomen along with DTPA and DMSA scans are done sometimes to know the structural and functional abnormality of kidneys, he added.
In the last stage kidney disease, generally frequent dialysis is done to clean the blood. Ultimately kidney transplantation is the option for many patients, he opined. Everyone should be aware of the fact that, there is no cure of kidney problems, but proper treatment of underlying condition with normal blood sugar, pressure and cholesterol would certainly halt the progress to more advanced stages of kidney disease, he advised.