Let’s get real – being a diabetic is like having a full-time job keeping your body in check. With the many things going on in your life, health can take a back seat. Whether you are busy carb-counting, reading food labels, checking your steps, preparing healthy meals, reading food labels, working a job and taking care of a family.
If you are like me, you may not have given much thought to your kidneys. They are the unsung heroes of your body working tirelessly, 24/7 to remove waste and excess fluids and excrete it as urine.
Don’t overlook this because I out of 3 adults with diabetes has kidney disease with the complication of high blood pressure.
As a diabetic, high blood sugar levels can damage those delicate blood vessels in your kidney’s allowing protein to slip through. Regular screenings are crucial because in the early stages there is no way for you to know this is happening. Without regular urine and blood tests, by the time symptoms show up, the damage is done.
To put this another way, think of your kidneys as the bouncers of your body whose purpose is to decide what gets filtered out and what gets to stay in. When excess sugar in the blood weakens the blood vessels in the kidneys, they, the bouncers get lax and (albumin) protein slips into the urine and trouble starts.
Albumin is protein and is found with a blood and urine test.
At first, it’s just a tiny leak into your urine– a tiny bit of protein, this is called micro-albuminuria. If left unchecked, this leak can turn into a full-blown protein spill called (macro-albuminuria), signaling that the kidneys are seriously struggling to keep up with getting rid of your bodies waste.
There is no reason to be alarmed. It is important to know the facts. The truth about letting your kidneys go unchecked is potential dialysis down the road. Dialysis is like a full-body workout, except instead of burning calories, you’re purging toxins from your body.
With hemodialysis, you’re hooked up to a machine that acts as an artificial kidney, removing the waste products and toxins from your body. This is done three time a week for 3–4 hours. It is common to feel exhausted for several hours afterward.
This is serious business.
Then there’s peritoneal dialysis, where your abdominal cavity becomes the dialysis machine. A sterile solution is pumped in, soaking up waste and excess fluids like a high-tech sponge, before being drained out and replaced. This can be done at home.
I am not in kidney failure however, I have spoken to friends who are. This is some of what they have to say about dialysis:
Hemodialysis Realities:
“I remember having to turn down invitations to friends’ events because they conflicted with my rigid dialysis schedule.”
“Some days after dialysis, all I could do was come home and sleep – like all my energy got zapped right out of me.”
“I missed being able to grab a casual burger and fries without having to scrutinize every single ingredient.”
“I dreaded the awful leg cramps that would seize up during almost every treatment.”
Peritoneal Dialysis Realities:
“Having this alien tube sticking out of my belly was definitely an adjustment I had to get used to.”
“I had a dialysis diary to record every medication, solution bag, and measurement – it was like a full-time job.”
– Feeling bloated, uncomfortable pressure, and hernias from constant fill/drain in the abdomen. “Some days I looked 9 months pregnant from all the fluid sloshing around inside me.”
Dialysis is no joke. It’s a demanding regimen that requires strict dietary restrictions and a rigorous schedule, three times a week. But for those with failing kidneys, it can be a lifeline, keeping them going until a potential kidney transplant becomes an option.
If you’re living with diabetes, don’t let this silent saboteur sneak up on you. Stay vigilant, follow your doctor’s orders, and make the necessary lifestyle changes – because protecting your kidneys is no laughing matter.
With a little diligence and a healthy dose of humor, you can keep this drama from playing out in your own body. Don’t let diabetic kidney disease pee on your parade.
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