Diabetes poses a major risk for causing Chronic Kidney Diseases (CKD), which makes it mandatory for diabetics to undergo screening, at least once a year, to check for the functionality of kidneys. Closely followed by diabetes is hypertension, which exists among 20 to 25 per cent of CKD patients. Nearly 31 per cent of CKD patients have type-2 diabetes.
There is an ‘unholy nexus’ between kidney and heart ailments, experts maintain. “If a patient has kidney ailment, then his or her heart condition worsens. And if they have a heart ailment, then their kidneys deteriorate. Chronic kidney diseases progress slowly, incrementally, are irreversible and patients have to be very careful with their lifestyle,” advices senior nephrologist Dr. Sanjay Maitra.
The senior kidney specialist was delivering a talk on ‘Lifestyle-related diseases: impact on kidneys’, organised by The Medical Aware and Responsible Citizens of Hyderabad (The MARCH) on Sunday. “In general, non-communicable diseases like heart ailments, diabetes, hypertension and lung diseases directly impact and cause kidney diseases,” Dr. Maitra said.
Doctors suggest that regular screening to test kidney functioning is vital.
“The basic test for kidney ailments for diabetes is the presence of albumin, a protein. If it is more than 30 mg/day (milligram per day) in urine, it means patients may have kidney ailment. The problem with kidney ailments is the lack of visible symptoms, which makes the patients lax,” said another senior nephrologist Dr. Dilip Babu.
In a recent health lecture on ‘Check Kidneys before they fail’ organised by Public Gardens Walkers Association, Dr. Dilip Babu said that lifestyle modifications are a must. “Rigorous one-hour exercise, at least four to five times a week to control obesity, quitting smoking, reducing alcohol consumption, eating more fruits and vegetables are a good starting point,” Dr. Babu pointed out.
Both the doctors, however, were clear about the controlling measures needed to be taken by the patients.
“Smoking, alcohol consumption, sodium or salt consumption, lack of exercise, uncontrolled blood pressure and sugar have to be kept under check to prevent damage to kidneys,” the kidney experts pointed out.
