Diabetes, scientifically known as diabetes mellitus, is a disease that prevents the body from creating enough insulin. And sometimes, it becomes incapable of appropriately using normal amounts of insulin or using it optimally. Thus, an abnormally high blood sugar level is likely to cause various ailments.
If you have diabetes, it’s important to consult with the best diabetes doctors in Mumbai. This article will discuss the risks of diabetes and how it affects the kidneys. Let’s begin.
Diabetes – What are the Most Common Types?
The most common types of diabetes include – Type 1 and Type 2. While Type 1 diabetes is most commonly found in children, Type 2 is very common among people over 40 years. It is a widely prevalent disease and unfortunately, India is regarded as the diabetes capital of the world.
Type 1 diabetes is also known as insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus or juvenile-onset diabetes mellitus. In this type of diabetes, the pancreas cannot make sufficient insulin. Thus, patients are required to take insulin injections for the rest of their lives.
On the other hand, Type 2 diabetes is better known as adult-onset diabetes mellitus. It is also called non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. This type of diabetes makes insulin in the pancreas, but the patient’s body becomes incapable of using it. In such cases, high blood sugar levels are controlled through medication and diet control.
Nevertheless, some patients will need to take insulin. You should note that Type 2 diabetes is most prevalent amongst American Indians, African Americans, Asian Americans, and Latin Americans.
Uncontrolled diabetes takes a heavy toll on several organs. The kidney is one of them. Let us see the harmful effects of diabetes on kidney function.
What are the Symptoms of Diabetic Nephropathy?
Diabetic nephropathy shows no signs and symptoms in the early stages. However, visible signs in the later stages might include the following:
- High levels of protein in the urine
- Deteriorating blood pressure control
- An increased urge for urination
- Swelling of ankles, feet, eyes, and hands
- Confused or experiencing difficulty concentrating
- A significantly reduced need for diabetes medicine or insulin
- Loss of appetite
- Feeling uneasy and shortness of breath
- Persistent itching
- Vomiting and nausea
- Fatigue, etc.
What are the Risk Factors of Diabetes?
Patients who are living with diabetes are very likely to be associated with several risk factors. Some of them include the following:
- Hypertension or uncontrolled high blood pressure
- Hyperglycemia or uncontrolled high blood pressure
- High blood cholesterol
- Chain smoker
- Family history of kidney and diabetes disease
- Obesity, etc.
To Conclude
To reduce the risk of developing diabetic nephropathy, it is important to consult your doctor regularly and follow the treatment plan and diet regimen. Search for the best diabetes doctors in Mumbai to make appointments for diabetes management. And with highly effective treatment of diabetes, you can efficiently delay or prevent diabetic nephropathy. Besides, it can also help in managing other medical conditions and high blood pressure.
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