In the body there are two kidneys, which lie along the sides of the spinal column in the abdominal cavity. They are shaped like beans, but rather a size close to oranges. In each kidney leads the blood of one large artery called. Renal artery. Artery divides into numerous small blood vessels (capillaries) throughout the kidney. In the outer part of the body along these capillaries form a ball (glomeruli).
Essential for the production of urine
Each of vascular clusters acts as a filter. The structure of the glomeruli allows divert waste materials, water and salt from the blood to the small channels called tubules, but while retaining blood cells and proteins in blood. Each channel of the appropriate glomeruli together form nephron. Nephron is the basic structural and functional unit of the kidney . Each kidney is about one million nephrons. Part of the water and salts through the channels still absorbed back into the bloodstream. The liquid which remains at the end of each channel is then called urine. It also gets into the renal pelvis and passes through the ureters into the bladder.
Other kidney function
The kidneys filter waste from the bloodstream substances to be passed into the urine .
They participate in the regulation of blood pressure. Partly amount of water excreted from the body as urine, and partly through the production of hormones that are involved in blood pressure control.
They produce the hormone erythropoietin, which stimulates bone marrow to form red blood cells. This is necessary to prevent anemia (anemia).
They help maintain proper blood levels of salts and chemicals (e.g., sodium, potassium, calcium and phosphate). Their imbalance could cause problems in other parts of the body.
The onset is gradual difficulty
Symptoms of kidney disease in diabetics are at first vague and unspecific. Patients report a feeling of fatigue, have less energy than usual, and just not feeling well. With progressive disease may appear: the difficulty of clear thinking , poor appetite, weight loss, dry skin and the itching, muscle cramps, fluid retention in the body, causing swollen legs and ankles, swelling around the eyes, the need to urinate more often than usual pale appearance due to anemia, nausea.
Prevention in advance
All people with diabetes have a higher risk of developing kidney disease. However, a large research study showed that there are certain factors that increase this risk. Among them:
poor control of blood sugar (glucose) in the blood, the length of time over which you have diabetes, being overweight, smoking, alcohol use, high blood pressure, male sex.
Keep an eye on that blood sugar levels were normal. Maintain a healthy weight and blood pressure checked. Try to live a healthy life. All this will reduce your risk of developing kidney disease.
Source: Diary diabetika.cz