DIABETES
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Diabetes and Kidney Disease Knowledge is power
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by Andrea Norgate, Clinical Transplant Coordinator, Ajmera Transplant Centre, University Health Network
The kidney is an amazing organ. It removes waste from our blood through filters, and this waste becomes part of our urine. Protein and red blood cells are too big to pass through a healthy kidney’s filtering system and they stay in the blood where they belong. 6 / Kidney Living / Fall 2021
iabetes causes our body’s glucose to fluctuate and at times, when the glucose is high, our kidneys work extra hard to filter our blood. This extra work, over time, can cause damage to the kidneys. Keeping your glucose in a normal range prevents the kidneys from working too hard. It is also one of the biggest challenges that people with diabetes face. Glucose control can be difficult and frustrating; you are not alone. Here are some key take away points: It’s not your fault Glucose control is difficult, and yes, sometimes impossible. Having diabetes, whether type 1 or type 2, is a job in itself (with no pay!). There’s always room for improvement and at times, you can feel responsible for your kidney disease. Give yourself a break. All we can do is try. Reach out to peers, get yourself kidney.ca
