Dr Mohit Khirbat, nephrologist, CK Birla Hospital, Gurugram (India) - said that diabetes is one of the main causes of chronic kidney disease (CKD), especially type 1 and 2 diabetes.
High blood sugar gradually damages the arteries of the kidneys, making it difficult for the organs to remove waste from the blood.
Dr Mohit Khirbat warns that if not treated promptly, diabetic kidney disease can lead to end-stage renal failure.
In addition, kidney disease also affects the body's ability to process insulin and blood sugar, making it more difficult to control diabetes.
According to Dr. Mohit Khirbat, normal kidney function helps control insulin levels in the blood. But in people with chronic kidney disease, insulin clearance is reduced, which can increase insulin levels in the blood.
This condition leads to frequent hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, which makes it more difficult to control diabetes.
Furthermore, high blood pressure is another risk factor that worsens diabetes-related problems, including heart disease and often kidney disease.
Fluid retention and electrolyte imbalances caused by kidney disease also make it difficult to maintain stable blood sugar levels. Because the kidneys are not able to process and eliminate medications as well, the risk of side effects is higher. Therefore, the medications used to control diabetes may also need to be changed.
Dr. Khirbat emphasized that the interaction between kidney disease and diabetes creates a vicious cycle, forcing people with both conditions to closely control their blood sugar, blood pressure, and kidney function to prevent the condition from worsening.
