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    1. About Kidney Disease
      1. OVERVIEW
      2. Understanding Chronic Kidney Disease
      3. Kidney Disease Stages
      4. What Is a Nephrologist?
      5. What to Expect with CKD
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      7. In-Center Hemodialysis
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      10. Choosing Not to Treat
    3. Life On Dialysis
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    Find a Dialysis Center

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      1. About Kidney Disease
        1. Understanding Chronic Kidney Disease
          1. Symptoms
          2. Risk Factors
          3. Causes
          4. Diagnosis and Testing
          5. GFR Calculator
        2. Kidney Disease Stages
          1. Stage 1
          2. Stage 2
          3. Stage 3
          4. Stage 4
          5. Stage 5
        3. What Is a Nephrologist?
        4. What to Expect with CKD
        5. Kidney Disease Management
          1. Kidney Diet Basics
          2. CKD Medications
          3. Your Kidney Care Team
          4. Diabetes
          5. High Blood Pressure
        6. Understanding Acute Kidney Injury
          1. Acute Kidney Injury Treatment and Recovery
        7. How Kidneys Work
        8. Take a FREE CLASS on Kidney Disease
      2. Treatments
        1. Dialysis Basics
          1. How Does a Hemodialysis Machine Work
          2. Starting Dialysis
          3. Types of Dialysis Access
          4. Your Care Plan
          5. Dialysis Medications
          6. Monitoring Your Lab Results
        2. Benefits of Home Dialysis
        3. Home Peritoneal Dialysis
          1. What to Expect
          2. Getting Prepared
          3. PD Access
          4. PD Training
          5. PD Monitoring
          6. Your Care Team
        4. Home Hemodialysis
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          2. Getting Prepared
          3. HD Training
          4. HD Monitoring
          5. Your Care Team
        5. Sign up to Talk to a Home Dialysis Expert
        6. In-Center Hemodialysis
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          2. What to Expect
          3. Types of Vascular Access for Hemodialysis
          4. Your Care Team
          5. How to Choose a Center
        7. Transplant
          1. Finding a Kidney Donor
          2. Considering Kidney Donation
        8. Insurance & Managing Costs
          1. Understanding Medicare Coverage
          2. Understanding Medicare Advantage
          3. Understanding Employer Plans
        9. Choosing Not to Treat
      3. Life On Dialysis
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      4. Recipes & Nutrition
        1. Recipes
        2. Managing Your Diet
          1. Eating Well on a CKD Diet
          2. Eating Well on a Dialysis Diet
          3. Salt and Kidney Disease
          4. Potassium and Kidney Disease
          5. Phosphorus and Kidney Disease
          6. Talking With Your Dietitian
        3. Fluid Management on Dialysis
        4. Dialysis Diet Planning
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          4. A Chef’s Advice | Chef Aaron McCargo on Kidney Friendly Meals
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      Kidney Disease Management
      Kidney Disease Management
      OVERVIEW Kidney Diet Basics CKD Medications Your Kidney Care Team Diabetes High Blood Pressure
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      4. Diabetes

      The Connection Between Diabetes and Kidneys

      Share:

      Diabetes is the leading cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD), responsible for 44% of CKD cases. Diabetes—especially type 2 diabetes—is also the number one cause of kidney failure in the US. If you’re living with diabetic kidney disease, it’s extremely important to stay in control of and care for both your diabetes and kidneys so you can be your healthiest.


      What is diabetes?

      • Diabetes is a condition in which the body either doesn’t make enough insulin or isn’t able to use it effectively. This makes it hard to maintain healthy blood sugar (glucose) levels. 
      • People living with diabetes must often make diet modifications. They may need to take medication to keep glucose levels under control.
      • Uncontrolled diabetes can lead to other health problems beyond CKD. These include eye disease, heart disease, high blood pressure, nerve disease, foot health issues, and in rare cases, amputations.

      There are two types of diabetes—type 1 and type 2. About 30% of people with type 1 diabetes and 10-40% of those with type 2 diabetes will eventually develop CKD (source).

      Type 1 diabetes
      Living with type 1 diabetes means your pancreas doesn't make enough or any insulin. People are usually diagnosed with type 1 diabetes as children, teens, and young adults. Still, it can develop at any age.

      Type 2 diabetes
      Living with type 2 diabetes means your cells don’t respond normally to insulin. This is called insulin resistance. While your pancreas continues to make insulin, your body does not accept it. Type 2 diabetes is most often diagnosed in people over the age of 45, although it can develop at any age.

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      Are diabetes and kidney disease related?

      Diabetic kidney disease refers to a decrease in kidney function that occurs in some people who have diabetes. Diabetes is a risk factor for kidney disease. Over time, high sugar levels in the blood can cause tiny blood vessels in the kidney to become narrow and clogged. Without enough blood, the kidneys become damaged.

      Diabetes can also cause damage to the nerves in your body. If the nerves of the bladder are damaged, you may not be able to feel when your bladder is full. The pressure from a full bladder can damage your kidneys. If urine stays in your bladder for a long time, you may get a urinary tract infection. This is caused by bacteria, which grows rapidly in urine with a high sugar level. These infections can sometimes spread to the kidneys.

      People with diabetes may also develop high blood pressure. This is another leading cause of CKD. If you are diagnosed with kidney disease, it's important to know that you can take steps to manage CKD and thrive.

      What are the signs and symptoms of diabetes and kidney disease?

      Kidney disease and diabetic kidney disease share similar symptoms. You are unlikely to have symptoms with early diabetic kidney disease. Symptoms may begin with feeling tired or having less energy than usual.

      As the disease progresses, signs of diabetic kidney disease may include:

      • Poor appetite
      • Nausea
      • Weight loss
      • Dry, itchy skin
      • Muscle cramps
      • Puffiness around the eyes
      • Frequent urge to urinate
      • Fluid retention causing swollen feet and ankles
      • Difficulty thinking clearly

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      4 ways to manage symptoms of diabetic kidney disease

      It’s essential that you follow your doctor’s exact instructions for managing diabetes and kidney disease. In general, there are certain steps that should be part of your daily routine to control blood sugar. 

      1. Test and track blood sugar levels
        You can self-test your blood sugar (blood glucose levels) at home with a portable electronic device. This is called a blood sugar meter and uses a small drop of your blood. You can also use a device called a continuous glucose monitor (CGM).
      2. Manage blood pressure
        More than 80% of people with diabetes and CKD have hypertension (high blood pressure). Talk to your doctor about creating a treatment plan to help you take control of your blood pressure. Steps you can take include eating a healthy, low-sodium diet, exercising regularly, managing stress, and quitting smoking.
      3. Take your medications as prescribed
        Which kidney medications your doctor prescribes may depend on several personal health factors. These include your level of kidney function, which kidney disease stage you're in, and whether you're managing any other health conditions. Your doctor may also prescribe specific medications just for managing diabetes.
      4. Make healthy food choices
        Start by reading nutrition labels to help you select healthier options, such as those with lower sodium and sugar. High-fiber foods, such as whole grains and fresh fruits and vegetables, may help improve blood sugar levels. Talk to your doctor or dietitian to help you learn exactly what to eat and drink to follow a kidney-friendly diet with diabetes.
      Learn More About Managing Your Diet With Diabetes and Kidney Disease

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