(NC) Kidneys are vital to your overall health. Did you know that as many as 50 per cent of people with diabetes may show signs of kidney damage?
It’s true – kidney disease can be caused by diabetes, and can put you at high risk for heart attack or stroke. It may start slowly and progress over a number of years, and in the early stages you might not have any symptoms. But good diabetes and blood pressure management can prevent or delay the loss of kidney function.
Whether you have diabetes or not, try including the following in your daily routine:
- Eat a well-balanced diet.
- Exercise (ideally 45-60 minutes four to five times per week).
- Don’t smoke.
- Maintain a healthy weight.
- Limit daily alcohol to two drinks or less.
Remember – Most people don’t experience any symptoms in the early stages of kidney disease, so it is important to be screened regularly to detect kidney problems as early as possible. The Kidney Foundation of Canada recommends screening which includes blood pressure, blood creatinine and urinalysis to look for protein. It is also important for people with diabetes and declining kidney function to take medications to help control blood sugar that are appropriate for their kidney health.
Don’t take your kidneys for granted. Talk to your doctor about how you can protect your kidney health while managing your diabetes.
More information is available at www.kidney.ca.
