Do you ever think that the weather we talk about the most is probably the most, but some things, such as urine, may be a bit blushing to talk about, but they are really important.
Did you know that some small changes in your urine could be a distress signal from your body!
1. Warning of abnormal urine: the formation and risk of foamy urine
When it comes to changes in urine, the easiest thing to observe is that there is suddenly more foam in the urine, and it is the kind that persists for a long time. In this case, most likely it is not because you drank less water or were tired the day before, but it may be a sign of proteinuria.
To put it simply, your kidneys are sifting through the blood by leaking proteins that shouldn't be leaking, and these proteins come together to form foam on the surface of your urine.
This problem should not be underestimated, and it is a clear sign of impaired glomerular filtration. The glomeruli, as cute as the name sounds, is actually a very important part of the kidneys, responsible for removing waste and excess water from the blood.
If this function fails, the protein will be mistakenly excreted from the body, and over time, the damage to the kidneys will become more and more severe.
2. Increased nocturia: a signal of renal impairment that cannot be ignored
Many people may think that they get up at night to go to the toilet because they drink too much water at night, but this is not necessarily. If you find yourself urinating even more at night than during the day, and this becomes the norm, it could be a sign of tubular damage.
The work of the tubules is to reabsorb useful substances that have been filtered by the glomeruli and should have remained in the body. If the tubules are damaged, these substances cannot be recovered effectively, resulting in increased urine output at night. It's not just about affecting your sleep quality, it's a warning of impaired kidney function.
These two manifestations, foamy urine and increased nocturia, are your body's alerts to you that your kidneys may be under attack.
According to mainland studies, 20%-40% of diabetic patients will develop diabetic nephropathy, which may eventually require kidney dialysis to sustain life as the disease progresses.
In particular, patients with type 2 diabetes and those with type 1 diabetes who have had a disease course of more than 5 years need to be screened for glucose and kidney at least once a year, including urine routine, urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR), and serum creatinine (calculated eGFR), which is essential for early detection and treatment of diabetes and kidney.
3. Diabetes and kidney disease: the dangerous link
Diabetes, which sounds a little awe-inspiring, is actually related to kidney disease. When diabetic patients have poor blood sugar control for a long time, the high sugar environment can cause damage to blood vessels, especially those small blood vessels, such as the glomeruli in the kidneys.
Once these glomeruli are damaged, they slowly lose their ability to filter blood and remove waste and excess water from the body.
This condition is medically known as diabetic nephropathy, also known as diabetic kidney. There is a process in the development of a diabetic kidney, which is divided into five stages. In the first stage 1-2, the glycemone may not be too obvious, and many patients may not be aware of it.
But don't think that just because you don't feel it means you're fine, the damage to your kidneys may have started quietly. By the time it reaches stage 5, which is the uremia stage, the situation is serious, and many patients may need to rely on kidney dialysis as a life-sustaining measure.
In mainland China, 20%-40% of diabetic patients will have diabetes kidney. That's not a low percentage, meaning that one to two out of every five people with diabetes are at risk of impaired kidney function.
What is the bell that this data gives us? That is, diabetic patients should pay special attention to their kidney health, regular check-ups, early detection, and early treatment.
4. Early diagnosis and management of diabetic nephropathy
If you want to detect sugar kidneys early, you need to have regular check-ups. Urinalysis, urine albumin-creatinine ratio (UACR), and serum creatinine can help.
The urine routine can check for abnormal components in the urine, such as protein or blood cells, and the UACR is used to measure the ratio of albumin to creatinine in the urine, which is high, indicating that the filtration function of the kidneys is impaired;
Serum creatinine is another important indicator of kidney function, which is measured by the calculated eGFR (glomerular filtration rate).
These tests are especially important for people with type 2 diabetes, who are at higher risk of kidney damage. For patients with type 1 diabetes who have had a disease course of more than 5 years, it is also essential to have at least one diabetes screening per year.
These tests may sound complicated, but they are essential for early detection and management of the kidney sugar and can be done to protect the kidney before the condition progresses to the point where dialysis is required.
So, how to manage the sugar kidney? First of all, blood sugar control is the foundation. Eating right, exercising regularly, and taking the necessary medications can help control blood sugar.
Secondly, high blood pressure is also an important factor in kidney disease, so it is equally important to control blood pressure. In addition, we should also pay attention to a low-salt diet in our lives to reduce the burden on our kidneys.
5. Diabetes and kidney disease: a dangerous entanglement
Diabetes isn't just about blood sugar, it's a worrying link to kidney disease. When diabetic patients do not control their blood sugar properly, those insignificant high blood sugar levels can silently damage blood vessels, especially the small and fragile glomerular blood vessels in the kidneys.
Once these glomeruli are damaged, their filtering function gradually declines, causing protein to leak into the urine, forming proteinuria, which is an early sign of kidney damage.
The damage doesn't happen overnight, but slowly and insidiously until one day, the problem becomes too serious to avoid. In mainland China, about 20%-40% of diabetic patients will develop diabetic nephropathy, which is a proportion that cannot be ignored.
And, as the disease progresses, it may be necessary to rely on kidney dialysis to stay alive in advanced stages.
Therefore, it is particularly important for patients with type 2 diabetes and those with type 1 diabetes (especially those with a disease duration of more than 5 years) to have targeted glucose and kidney screening at least once a year.
6. Urine test: open the window of good health
Urinalysis is a simple but informative window. Through this window, the doctor can make a preliminary judgment whether your kidneys are healthy or not.
For example, an increased number of white blood cells in the urine may indicate an infection, and an abnormal number of red blood cells may point to stones or other kidney disease. Elevated protein levels in the urine are early signs of kidney damage.
Urine albumin/creatinine ratio (UACR) is particularly critical in this process. It helps doctors assess the extent of proteinuria and make a judgment about the severity of kidney damage.
The eGFR (glomerular filtration rate), calculated from the level of creatinine in the blood, is a more accurate reflection of the kidney's filtering function.
Don't take it lightly when you notice that your urine is unusually foamy or has increased nocturia. It could be that your body is trying to tell you: the kidneys need help.
Prompt visits to the hospital for urinalysis, UACR, and eGFR are essential for early detection of underlying kidney disease and prevention of the development of uremia.
summary
Remember, the body is the capital of our life, and health is the real long-term wealth. We should be vigilant about the health signals that are hidden in the details of our daily lives and take proactive measures to maintain them.
In our busy lives, don't forget to have regular health check-ups, especially for people at risk of chronic diseases, which is an indispensable responsibility and obligation.