
Symptoms of Kidney Disease in Diabetes
According to the National Kidney Foundation about 10-40 percent of people with Type 2 diabetes will develop kidney failure in their lifetime. Kidney disease, often referred to as nephropathy, is one of the many long-term complications of diabetes. Excess glucose in the blood can damage the delicate, small blood vessels in the kidneys that filter the toxins from our bodies. As a result, the kidneys cannot clean your blood properly and a build up of waste materials, water and salt can remain in your blood.
The kidneys don't just fail all at once; instead the disease is progressive and can take years to develop. The good news is if it is caught early, it can be treated and further damage can be slowed. There are 5 stages of kidney disease, depending on the severity of the disease. For more information about the stages of kidney disease, you can read on here: Stages of Chronic Kidney Disease
Some people do not experience any symptoms of kidney disease and instead, it is picked up on a blood test. If you have diabetes, your doctor should check for signs of kidney disease using a blood and urine sample about once per year. These are routine tests. If, however, you do experience symptoms of kidney disease, the symptoms are caused by either a build up of waste or fluid in the body or anemia.
Symptoms of Kidney Disease in Diabetes
Swelling or puffiness. This is called edema. It most commonly occurs in they legs, ankles and feet, but can also occur around the eyes, abdomen and less often in other parts of the body.
Trouble urinating (either being unable to go, or going more than usua
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