Tips to Prevent Kidney Damage: Diabetes is a disease which gradually ruins the body. If the sugar level remains uncontrolled, then other organs of the body start getting damaged.
Diabetic patients have a higher risk of kidney damage than healthy people. According to doctors, kidney problems are increasing rapidly in diabetic patients due to wrong eating habits and carelessness. Small habits are causing serious damage to the kidneys. If these habits are changed and sugar level is kept under control, then kidney problems can be prevented.
Dr. Ashwini Panigrahi, nephrologist at Apollo Dialysis, told HT That when the blood sugar level remains high for a long time, it damages the small blood vessels of the kidneys. Due to this, the filtering capacity of the kidneys gradually starts decreasing. This is the reason why kidney damage becomes a progressive problem in diabetic patients. However, this process can be slowed down to a great extent by eating right. Some people make small mistakes in eating habits, due to which the sugar level becomes uncontrolled and causes serious damage to the kidneys.
These mistakes are harming the kidneys
The doctor said that diabetic patients often make some common mistakes in their diet, which can prove dangerous for the kidneys. The biggest mistake is consuming too much salt. Packaged foods, salty snacks, pickles and ready-to-eat items contain high amounts of sodium, which puts extra pressure on the kidneys by increasing blood pressure. Apart from this, preservatives and unhealthy fats present in processed food like chips, instant food and packaged meat also harm the body.
Nowadays people are taking high protein diet to increase muscles, but it can be dangerous for diabetic patients. Excess protein puts additional burden on the kidneys and if the kidneys are already weak, it can further aggravate the problem. Apart from this, consumption of excess sugar and refined carbohydrates increases blood sugar rapidly, which increases the risk of kidney failure in the long run. Diabetes patients should minimize sugar intake.
How to prevent kidney damage?
Nephrologists say that kidneys can be protected by adopting the right diet. For this, reduce salt intake and stay away from processed food. Fresh and balanced home-made food is the best option. Include green vegetables, whole grains, pulses and healthy fats in your diet. Eat fruits also, but in limited quantity. Apart from this, keep protein intake balanced. For diabetic patients, only eating right is not enough, but regular checkups are also equally important. It is very important to drink enough water, monitor blood sugar and get kidney function test done from time to time.