How diabetes cause kidney failure?

QUESTION: How diabetes cause kidney failure?


ANSWER: Hi,

Kidney failure is caused by microangiopathy due the increased amount of glucose in the organism which is leading to an elevation of the fat acids and cholesterol.

This elevation is destroying the blood vessels’ wall and lead to atherosclerosis of the smallest arteries - condition called microangiopathy.

This condition is developing especially in kidney, eye and the peripheral nerves. Because of the microangiopathy, you have reduction of the blood stream in this particular area and for that reason, there is not enough oxygen and other substances need from the cells to live normally.

And, here comes the element of cells destruction. If we are talking about kidney, this microangiopathy leads to the destruction of the cells of the kidney.

Then, we are observing the inability of the kidney to filtrate urine, which describes kidney failure.

Important for you to know is that before the total kidney failure takes place, there are several symptoms, which are appearing consequently.

First of all, you have to notice changes in the level of erythrocytes in the blood tests, because kidney produces erythropoietin- hormone need from the bone marrow to produce red blood cells.

In addition, there are changes in the amount of urine per day. Actually, it is reduced, no matter the amount of water taken.

The last major symptom is the edema. At first the edema is appearing around the eyelid and after this it becomes generalized.

Therefore, diabetics are recommended to control their blood sugar as much as they can to avoid these irreparable complications.

All the best!

Dr.Alba