Naseer Ahmad
The number of patients with kidney disease is rising rapidly. Treatment is expensive and patients have to go through a lot of hardships. Hence, prevention of kidney disease is crucial. ‘’Three things can contribute to kidney disease the first is high blood sugar, ‘says Jason C. Baker, MD, Endocrinologist and Assistant Professor of clinical Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College. ”if it remains high, it can lead to damage of the kidneys- both to the blood vessels that feed the kidneys and to a part of the kidneys that filters the blood.” High blood pressure and high cholesterol are two different things that can damage the blood vessels,” essentially putting pressure on the kidneys,” causing them to work harder and “to leak important things like proteins,” baker says. How can you avoid kidney disease? Keep your blood sugar controlled. Do that intensively and you can halve your risk of getting kidney disease, or halt it from getting worse if you already have it, studies show.One way to get your blood sugar under tight control is to test and monitor it often at home. Knowing what your blood sugar is before you eat and drink and knowing what it is 1 to 2 hours after is extremely important in understanding if you have eaten the appropriate food of beverage. In addition to eating foods that help you stay in control of your blood sugar, follow a lower-sodium diet such as DASH diet. Research shows that this plan, which emphasis vegetables, fruit, low-fat dairy whole grains, fish and nuts—and all limits salt, meat and sweets—helps lower blood pressure. Also, talk to your doctor about BP- lowering medications, such as ACE inhibitors, to see if they are right for you.
Early detection of kidneys disease and effective treatment can lead to cure, preventing the need for dialysis and kidney transplantation. One should not neglect symptoms like swelling of feet and face, blood in the urine, passage of stones and seek medical help immediately. However, 95 per cent of the times, kidney disease is silent and for timely detection, we need basic tests like a BP measurement, simple urine test and if possible, serum cretonne test.
Prevention strategies include restricting salt intake, drinking plenty of oral fluids, weight reduction in those who are over-weight, regular exercises (which is essential for the health of blood vessels and can protect the kidneys), avoiding tobacco and avoiding indiscriminate use of painkillers and antibiotics. Strict control of BP and sugar in those with diabetes and high blood pressure prevents the complication of kidney disease. Early detection of diabetes and high blood pressure and timely commencement of treatment is crucial. Also early detection of kidneys disease and effective treatment can lead to cure, preventing the need for dialysis and kidney transplantation. One should not neglect symptoms like swelling of feet and face, blood in the urine, passage of stones and seek medical help immediately. However, 95 per cent of the times, kidney disease is silent and for timely detection, we need basic tests like a BP measurement, simple urine test and if possible, serum cretonne test. The first two tests can be performed in remote areas too and should be performed annually.
ASK YOUR DOCTOR
• What are my blood sugar goals?
• What are my blood pressure goals?
• What are my cholesterol goals?
• What should I eat to control blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol?
• How can I exercise safely?
• Am I on my medications that can affect my kidney function?
• How frequently should I get tested for kidney function?
• How can I lower my blood sugar?
(Author is a dialysis technician. Views are his own, [email protected])
