We all know diabetes, especially when it goes untreated, can wreak havoc on a body. Heart disease, nerve damage, oral, and mental health issues. Even Vision, hearing, and foot problems to name just some of the issues facing diabetics. It can also cause CKD, or Chronic Kidney disease. In fact diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure with 44% of new cases linked as the direct cause.
So how does diabetes cause chronic kidney disease you may ask? The high blood sugar most diabetics struggle with can damage the blood vessels in the kidneys, decreasing its effectiveness at filtering toxins from the body over time. Diabetics are also more likely to suffer from high blood pressure which is also very damaging to your kidneys. High blood pressure can restrict and narrow the blood vessels weakening them throughout the body including your kidneys. Diabetes can create a whole host of issues within your body and many of these can contribute to a decline in kidney function without proper treatment and care.Did you know that 1 in every 3 adults in America who have diabetes also have some form of kidney dysfunction? 1 in 3! Those numbers are huge and that is why early detection of diabetes and proper treatment is crucial to stopping a problem before it even begins. Currently there are 29 million people in the United States who have diabetes and of those approx. 8.1 million are undiagnosed meaning that there are so many Americans out there who aren’t diagnosed with diabetes and are currently not getting the treatment they need to keep their medical condition under control.
Early detection is the easiest and most effective way to help drastically decrease Chronic Kidney disease or End Stage Renal disease. Unfortunately once damage has already been done to your kidneys it's very hard if not impossible to reverse. So instead of letting ourselves get that far let's look at some early signs that could indicate you are developing diabetes so you can bring any concerns to your doctor early and stop CKD before it starts.
Some early signs you should know:
Urinate (pee) a lot, often at night
Are very thirsty
Lose weight without trying
Are very hungry
Have blurry vision
Have numb or tingling hands or feet
Feel very tired
Have very dry skin
Have sores that heal slowly
Have more infections than usual
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms. Especially if you are noticing more than a few, you should talk with your doctor about having your blood sugar tested. Early detection is the best way to manage diabetes. If you’re lucky enough to catch it very early (pre-diabetic), you can potentially prevent or, at the very least, delay this disease.
To learn more about how you can help your business and employees manage the costs associated with dialysis and other kidney care, reach out to us today. Let us show you how SCM can not only help you mitigate the costs but also ensure your employees get the care they deserve.
About the Author :
Morgan works with SCM in their marketing efforts to bring the very best information to all SCM customers and followers. Assisted by the amazing staff here at SCM, she's able to bring you the current news and trends that you need to know about!