Why Do Kidneys

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The kidneys are remarkable multi-function organs which play a critical role in regulating blood glucose levels. However, when glucose levels are too high, the kidneys can sustain damage, reducing their ability to filter glucose out of the blood stream. This is the reason why diabetes and your kidneys have a real love-hate relationship.

Kidney problems from diabetes can start out small and stay that way for years. In time, however, it can escalate and end in renal failure. Managing blood glucose levels is critical for maintaining healthy kidneys in diabetics.

In Normal Circumstances

The human body naturally breaks food down into its basic components during the digestion process. Glucose is one of those components. It gets absorbed into blood …show more content…
If glucose levels rise above that level, the excess gets expelled into the urine stream. An occasional spike of glucose is perfectly normal and the body will go back to normal functioning once glucose levels go back down.

In someone with diabetes, however, those glucose levels may not be going down.

Consistent High Glucose Causes Damage

One of the functions of your kidneys is to maintain the proper concentration of fluids in the body. When blood glucose levels start rising, and don't come down, it triggers a process known as diuresis. This process causes the kidneys to start absorbing water to increase urine levels. The increased volume of fluid stresses the microscopic blood vessels which act as waste filters. Eventually, this stress can cause protein, which does not normally get filtered by the kidneys, to leak through the filters into the urine stream.

Excess glucose also triggers certain chemical reactions which can damage the delicate structures within the kidneys. This can put further stress on the kidneys. Over time, if glucose levels remain high, the damage to the kidneys can continue to increase. The kidney's ability to do its job decreases.

Kidney problems from diabetes can cause a number of
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