Diabetes is the leading cause of kidney failure. More than 247,000 people are currently living with kidney failure that resulted from diabetes.
Diabetes is categorized by high levels of sugar in the blood. One of the long-term side effects of these changes in the cardiovascular system is the destruction of small blood vessels throughout the body. Unfortunately, this leads to kidney damage which can lead to chronic kidney disease and kidney failure.
Diabetes with chronic kidney disease is nothing small. Patients with both conditions have to have a physician monitor them regularly. If you're a diabetic who isn't getting regular testing, you could have kidney problems and not know.
To learn more, keep reading.
What Is Diabetes With Chronic Kidney Disease?
As stated before, diabetes with chronic kidney disease (also known as diabetic nephropathy) is the manifestation of chronic kidney disease that stems from diabetes. It should be noted that you can develop chronic kidney disease whether you have controlled or uncontrolled diabetes.
The damage to your small blood vessels can still happen even if you're within optimal ranges. However, keeping your diabetes controlled can reduce your risk of developing chronic kidney disease.
Risk Factors for Diabetes With Chronic Kidney Disease
The number one risk factor for chronic kidney disease is having diabetes, either type one or type two. With this, there are a few other risk factors to consider:
- High blood sugar that is not controlled
- High blood pressure that is not controlled
- Smoking
- High cholesterol
Lastly, patients with a family history of diabetes with chronic kidney disease are more likely to develop the conditions themselves.
Causes of Diabetes With Chronic Kidney Disease
As mentioned earlier, diabetes could cause damage to the blood vessels that cluster in your kidneys. These blood vessels are responsible for filtering all of the waste from the blood in your body. Therefore, if these blood vessels become damaged, this can lead to decreased kidney function and even kidney failure.
Chronic kidney disease is a common complication of both type one and type two diabetes.
Poorly controlled diabetes is more likely to lead to this complication than well-controlled diabetes. However, anyone with diabetes could develop the condition.
Too much sugar in the blood could cause kidney damage and lead to high blood pressure. This leads to even more complications as high blood pressure can lead to more kidney damage. This cycle happens repeatedly as high blood pressure leads to kidney damage which leads to high blood pressure.
What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Diabetes With Chronic Kidney Disease?
The early stages of diabetic nephropathy don't come with any signs or symptoms. You could be developing chronic kidney disease and not know it until you're in the latter stages of development. This is why it's so important to get kidney lab tests done regularly, especially if you have diabetes.
If the kidney disease does develop into later stages, some signs and symptoms may begin manifesting:
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Proteinuria (protein in the urine)
- Lower extremity edema (swelling in the legs, ankles, and feet)
- Swelling in the eys
- Increased frequency of urination
- Reduced need for insulin or other diabetic medication
- Confusion
- Difficulty concentrating
- Shortness of breath
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Loss of appetite
- Fatigue
- Persistent itchy skin
If you have diabetes and you're experiencing any of these symptoms, you should make an appointment with your primary care physician or your endocrinologist. Either healthcare provider can examine your symptoms and interpret your test results.
How Is Diabetes With Chronic Kidney Disease Diagnosed?
To diagnose diabetic nephropathy, healthcare providers have to gather plenty of information.
First, they're going to ask questions about your personal and family history. They're going to ask about your habits and symptoms as well.
Then, they're going to order blood and urine tests to examine how controlled or uncontrolled your diabetes is. These tests can also help them examine your kidney health.
In addition to these tests, your healthcare provider may order a CT scan or an MRI to look at your kidneys. Lastly, they may require a biopsy if your kidneys do appear compromised.
The Lab Tests to Screen, Diagnose, and Monitor Diabetes With Chronic Kidney Disease
If you're looking to get diabetes with chronic kidney disease tests, Ulta Lab Tests has a few different panels to choose from:
Our comprehensive panel tests for the most biomarkers. With this panel, you'll get the best look at your diabetes condition and kidney health.
Here are the biomarkers that our comprehensive panel looks for:
- Apolipoprotein - a measure of proteins that bind to lipids in the blood
- C-Reactive protein - a general marker of inflammation
- CBC - a general panel that looks at red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets
- Comprehensive metabolic panel - a panel that looks at electrolytes in the blood
- Cystatin C with eGFR - a protein controlled by kidneys
- GlycoMark - a plasma test for monitoring glucose variability
- Hemoglobin A1C - a measure of blood glucose over the past three months
- Insulin - a measure of glucose-controlling hormone in the blood
- Lipid panel with ratios - a measure of lipids (fats) in the blood
- Microalbumin - a protein in the blood
- Phosphate - a measure of phosphorous in the blood
- PTH - parathyroid hormone
- QuestAssure - a measure of vitamin D in the blood
Getting all of these labs will help you and your healthcare provider make better decisions about your health.
Get Your Diabetes Tests With Ulta Lab Tests
If you have diabetes, you need to check the health of your kidneys. Diabetes with chronic kidney disease can lead to life-altering complications.
That's why physicians recommend that patients with diabetes get regular kidney testing. Luckily, Ulta Lab Tests offers the diabetes tests that you need. We offer highly accurate and reliable tests so that you can make informed decisions about your health.
Here are some of the benefits that you get to experience if you order your tests from Ulta Lab Tests:
- You'll get secure and confidential results
- You don't need health insurance
- You don't need a physician's referral
- You'll get affordable pricing
- We offer a 100% satisfaction guarantee
Order your diabetes tests today, and you'll receive your results securely and confidentially online in 24 to 48 hours for most tests. With your results, you and your healthcare provider can take preventative measures against chronic kidney disease before it can develop.
Take control with Ulta Lab Tests today!
