How to Keep Kidneys Healthy With Diabetes

When your kidneys are healthy, they can perform three functions. They rid your body of waste that you don't need, filter fluid and clean your blood. If you have uncontrolled diabetes, or high blood glucose along with high blood pressure, your kidneys can become damaged. Kidney damage doesn't have to happen when you have diabetes. There are ways to keep your kidneys healthy.

Instructions

How to Keep Kidneys Healthy with Diabetes

• 1

  Aim for normal numbers. You've probably heard this from your doctor, but it's true and extremely important. To keep your kidneys healthy you want to maintain normal blood sugar and blood pressure levels. For instance, when you wake up in the morning or before meals, you want your blood glucose levels to be between 70 to 130 mg/dL. When you begin to eat your meals, your blood sugar levels should be under 180 mg/dL. If you and your diabetes specialist have decided on different target numbers, then follow your prescribed targets. Also, make sure your regularly test your blood sugar with your blood glucose meter.

  Blood pressure that is too high can also damage your healthy kidneys. So make sure to keep your blood pressure below 130/80. Don't forget to keep your cholesterol under control, too.

• 2

  Get tested. Unfortunately, kidney damage can occur long before you notice that something is wrong. So, to keep your kidneys healthy make sure your doctor checks your urine and blood for kidney disease. With a microalbumin test, your doctor will test for small amounts of protein. A blood test will test for creatinine and measure your kidney function. If you have type 2 diabetes, you should be tested at least once a year. However, if you have type 1 then you should be tested every year starting 5 years after you were diagnosed. If your doctor finds kidney damage, you, may have to take angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) to slow kidney damage down.

• 3

  Make lifestyle changes. Keep your cholesterol levels at optimal range. Eat a healthy diet, cut back on salt and fatty foods. Become physically active, if you're not already. Check with your doctor on what exercises you should do.

• 4

  Take medication as directed. Make sure you take all the diabetes medication, like insulin, as prescribed and do not miss a dose. It could cause a spike or prolonged high blood glucose levels. Also, only take painkillers like acetaminophen occasionally. Daily use of medication can damage your kidneys. So if you have to take acetaminophen or painkillers to deal with chronic pain, like arthritis, consult with your doctor to find a way to control your pain without placing your kidneys at risk for damage, according to the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse (NDIC).