Reprinted Articles

Diabetes is a disease which is classically identified by the high glucose levels it brings about in the blood, which leads to a number of complications in the body, many of which are long-term and even fatal. Most of these complications are caused by the high levels of glucose in the blood - a result of the body’s inability to make use of this glucose as energy to nourish and sustain itself. The high glucose content of the blood inflicts severe damage to the blood vessels, leading to conditions like diabetic retinopathy, nerve damage and even heart disease. An equally potent, but much lesser known condition brought about by diabetes is Proteinuria, which like diabetes, is slow and deceptive in its development.

Proteinuria, as the name suggests, is a condition where the urine excreted by an individual contains excessively high amounts of proteins due to an anomaly in the functioning of the kidneys. Kidneys are responsible for the elimination of waste products produced by your body by filtering them out and leaving behind only the essential nutrients which are later assimilated into the body. Your body relies on the proteins in the food you eat for muscle growth and repair.

In a healthy body, the protein particles are too big to be discarded with the other waste material and are thus retained by the body. However, when an individual is afflicted with diabetes, his kidneys are negatively affected by blood-vessel damage that it suffers and thus is unable to retain these protein particles. As a result, the body loses out on the essential building blocks it needs to sustain itself and grow, thus impairing the victims physical health in both the short and the long term.

In the early stages of Proteinuria, the sole protein which is excreted by the body is albumin. As this disease advances, several other forms of protein escape into the urine as well, indicating a further retardation in the functioning of the kidneys. Over time, this condition develops even more severe complications and finally leads to kidney failure.

The blood-vessel damage that diabetics suffer from makes their particularly susceptible to Proteinuria and it is highly recommended that you undertake routine checks to arrest this disease at its nascent phase. Research has also established that the risk for individuals suffering from Type 1 Diabetes is the same as those who are afflicted with Type 2 Diabetes. Proteinuria tests examine your urine for traces of protein, and especially the kind of protein excreted, which in turn will determine how severe your condition is.

Victims of Proteinuria also display several physical symptoms like foamy urine and an unusual swelling in their hands and feet. However, waiting for these symptoms to develop before testing for Proteinuria may not be as effective, as these conditions are only palpable when the condition is tremendously exacerbated.

The treatment which is prescribed for diabetes-induced Proteinuria is in effect, the very precautions recommended to diabetics to keep their blood sugar under control. This is because the blood vessel damage caused by diabetes does reverse over time, if the blood glucose levels are maintained at a stable level. If the diabetic has also been diagnosed with high blood pressure, then certain medicines like angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin receptor blockers have been known to aid the process of renal healing and recovery. Although diverse, all complications which arise out of diabetes are still alike in the fact that they stem from a mismanaged condition. The best way to avert these complications is to assume control of your diabetes today! This one step could be a valuable one to take in ensuring you a long, healthy and fulfilling life!

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