The Relationship Between Diabetes and Kidney Disease
The Importance of Blood Glucose Management in Preventing Kidney Disease in Diabetic Patients
by Jennifer Peterson, DNP, APRN, LMT, FNP-BC
The new question is when will the second wave of COVID-19 hit? There’s speculation for a horrible fall season while others are predicting we will experience another wave in the winter, and some say it will simply continue for 18-24 months. Regardless of when it will hit or how long it will continue, as a nation we need to be prepared, especially if this second wave is going to be worse than the first as some predict. We must build immunity across the nation to quell the pandemic and for that to happen more people will need to contract the illness or we need to have a vaccine. Since we do not have a vaccine yet, unfortunately more people will become infected. As we now well know, people with chronic diseases are at a greater risk of complications from COVID-19. Proper management of chronic diseases and keeping them at bay are key to minimizing the devastating effects of COVID-19. Diabetes is one such chronic disease that needs to be managed properly.
What is kidney disease
When functioning properly, the kidneys filter waste products and excess fluid from the blood. Blood goes into the kidney through an artery, passes through clusters of small blood vessels (glomeruli) which filter the waste and fluids. The clean blood travels through a vein back to the body while the waste and excess fluid become urine. Your kidneys also help control blood pressure and generate hormones your body needs. High blood glucose and high blood pressure can harm the filters leaking protein into the urine. As damage increases, the kidneys become worse at cleansing the blood and waste builds up in your body. This could eventually lead the kidneys to stop working and damage cannot be reversed. Kidney damage is not something you can feel until it is too late, and you become ill. Therefore, it is imperative to prevent or halt the progress of kidney disease (JHU, n.d.).
What are the risk factors for developing kidney disease?
Poor glucose control, high blood pressure, diet, and inherited tendency are the four main risk factors (NKF, n.d.). Some ethnic groups are at higher risk of developing kidney disease: Native Americans, Hispanic/Latino, African-Americans (JHU, n.d.; NIDDK, 2017). Additionally, you are more likely to develop diabetic kidney disease if you smoke, eat foods high in salt, are not active, don’t follow your diabetes diet, are overweight, have heart disease, and have a family history of kidney failure (NIDDK, 2017).
How do I know if I have kidney disease?
Most people are asymptomatic until its too late. Have your healthcare provider perform urine and blood tests to confirm your kidney status. People with type 1 diabetes should be tested within five years of diagnosis and yearly thereafter. People with type 2 diabetes should be tested at time of diagnosis and yearly thereafter (ADA, 2019).
How can I prevent or halt the progression of kidney disease?
First and foremost, keep your blood sugar under control. Control your blood pressure so it reads less than 130/80. Lose weight, stop smoking, exercise, cut back on salt, limit alcohol, and follow a diabetic diet you have developed with your healthcare provider (JHU, n.d.; NIDDK, 2017; NKF, n.d.)
How can GlyCare help?
GlyCare is a team of specialty-trained diabetes management nurse practitioners that only manage patients’ glucose levels. They work in conjunction with physicians, nurses, and patients to ensure proper blood sugar management. The team can expedite glucose control and subsequently ensure it stays within goal range. GlyCare’s virtual health program can help patients manage their diabetes on an outpatient basis while our inpatient glycemic management teams can help manage patients with diabetes while in the hospital. Whether inpatient or outpatient, GlyCare is here to help.
About the author
Dr. Jennifer Peterson, Nurse Practitioner, is the Director of Quality Assurance and Integration for GlyCare. She has years of experience managing diabetes for patients in the hospital and now trains other nurse practitioners to do the same. Dr. Peterson also ensures GlyCare provides high quality services for all patients through a quality review program she created.
References
American Diabetes Association. (2019). Standards of medical care in diabetes – 2020. Diabetes Care, 43,1, S135-S136.
Johns Hopkins University & John Hopkins Health System. (n.d.) Preserving kidney function when you have diabetes. Diabetes Education #26.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK). National Institutes of Health. (2017, February). Diabetic kidney disease.
National Kidney Foundation (NKF). (n.d.) Preventing diabetic kidney disease: 10 answers to questions.
Learn more about partnering with GlyCare for a turn-key diabetes management service. For more information on how to incorporate either in-person or virtual diabetes management, contact us today.