Diabetic Nephropathy
Diabetic nephropathy is the other name for kidney disease caused by diabetes.
Our kidneys are exceptional organs: they contain millions of capillaries (tiny blood vessels) that work hard to filter our blood and remove the toxic wastes in our body. However, when you have uncontrolled blood sugar level, this remarkable filtering system could break down.
You see, when you have unmanaged diabetes, the kidneys would have to filter too much blood. Years of extra hard work can make the filters “leak,” eventually releasing proteins that should have been used by the body. Please understand that proteins are big molecules – under normal conditions, they will not pass through the holes of the filters.
From having just small amounts of proteins in the urine (microalbuminuria), the situation may worsen. Eventually, it may lead to ESRD or end-stage renal disease when the condition is not treated.
Diabetic Retinopathy
It’s not surprising for someone to lose their vision due to sustained high blood glucose. This is because eye problems (diabetic retinopathy) are one of the long-term effects of uncontrolled diabetes.
Like the kidneys, our eyes have a lot of tiny blood vessels that bring nourishment to the “seeing part” of the eyes called the retina. With high glucose levels, these blood vessels could leak, develop blockages, or grow randomly. The bottom line is our retina wouldn’t be able to receive the blood it needs for us to see properly, resulting in eye problems.
It’s worth noting that in its early stages, diabetic retinopathy may have no symptoms at all. This is why eye check-ups are vital. To know more about diabetic retinopathy and to ascertain whether your diabetes is already affecting your vision, you can read this article:
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