Diabetes and Kidney Disease (cont.)
Dialysis and Transplantation
When people with diabetes experience kidney failure, they must undergo either
dialysis or a kidney transplant. As recently as the 1970s, medical experts
commonly excluded people with diabetes from dialysis and transplantation, in
part because the experts felt damage caused by diabetes would offset benefits of
the treatments. Today, because of better control of diabetes and improved rates
of survival following treatment, doctors do not hesitate to offer dialysis and
kidney transplantation to people with diabetes.
Currently, the survival of kidneys transplanted into people with diabetes is
about the same as the survival of transplants in people without diabetes.
Dialysis for people with diabetes also works well in the short run. Even so,
people with diabetes who receive transplants or dialysis experience higher
morbidity and mortality because of coexisting complications of diabetes—such as
damage to the heart, eyes, and nerves.
Good Care Makes a Difference
People with diabetes should
- have their health care provider measure their
A1C level at least twice a
year. The test provides a weighted average of their blood glucose level for the
previous 3 months. They should aim to keep it at less than 7 percent.
- work with their health care provider regarding insulin injections,
medicines, meal planning, physical activity, and blood glucose monitoring.
- have their blood pressure checked several times a year. If blood pressure
is high, they should follow their health care provider's plan for keeping it
near normal levels. They should aim to keep it at less than 130/80.
- ask their health care provider whether they might benefit from taking an
ACE inhibitor or ARB.
- ask their health care provider to measure their eGFR at least once a year
to learn how well their kidneys are working.
- ask their health care provider to measure the amount of protein in their
urine at least once a year to check for kidney damage.
- ask their health care provider whether they should reduce the amount of
protein in their diet and ask for a
referral to see a registered dietitian to
help with meal planning.
Next: Points to Remember »
- ACE Inhibitors - Read about ACE inhibitors like Altace, lisinopril, enalapril, ramparil, Zestril and more. Information includes side effects, drug interactions, and pregnancy safety information.
- Hemoglobin A1c Test - Hemoglobin A1c test is used as a standard tool to determine blood sugar control for patients with diabetes
- Kidney Failure - Learn about kidney failure, in which the body has fluid retention, risen blood pressure, toxin build up and lack of red blood cells. Symptoms include fatigue, nausea, and apetite loss.
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