5 Practical Ways to Manage Diabetic Kidney Disease

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5 Practical Ways to Manage Diabetic Kidney Disease

Diabetic kidney disease magnifies the challenge of staying healthy because both conditions (diabetes and chronic kidney disease) are incurable. The only way to prevent them from progressing to a dangerous stage is to control them with practical strategies.

Dr. Deon Middlebrook and our team at Deon D. Middlebrook MDPC specialize in diabetic kidney disease. We provide all the support you need, from teaching about diabetes and kidney disease and how to manage them to offering advanced medical care.

However, maintaining optimal health depends on your daily choices. Issues like the foods you eat, if you’re overweight, and whether you exercise or smoke have a significant influence on controlling blood sugar and preventing ongoing kidney damage.

Here are five practical steps for keeping diabetic kidney disease well-controlled.

1. Revamp your diet

Monitoring the amount and type of carbohydrates you eat is critical for managing diabetes. Carbohydrates determine if your blood sugar rises or stays at a steady level.

Your blood sugar spikes when you consume foods and beverages sweetened with added sugar and foods made from processed grains like white bread and white rice.

Complex carbs like (most) fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and beans contain fiber and starches that gradually release sugar into your bloodstream.

You also need to make some dietary changes to help your kidneys stay healthy. Depending on the stage of your kidney disease, you may need to eat less salt and reduce potassium, protein, and phosphorus. We can recommend dietary changes based on your needs.

2. Control your blood pressure

Having diabetes doubles your risk of developing high blood pressure (hypertension). Hypertension accelerates kidney damage, pushing you toward kidney failure at a faster pace.

Lifestyle changes are the first step in lowering blood pressure. The following steps reduce your blood pressure and may help you avoid medications:

  • Reducing salt
  • Eating more potassium-rich foods (fruits, vegetables, beans, fish, and lean meat)
  • Losing weight
  • Stopping smoking
  • Avoiding alcohol

The American Heart Association recommends limiting yourself to 1-2 drinks daily.

3. Stay active

Regular exercise naturally lowers blood sugar and blood pressure, making it essential to a lifestyle plan for managing diabetic kidney disease. Exercise also helps you lose weight, reduce stress, and sleep better — benefits that also have a role in managing diabetic kidney disease.

Aim to exercise for 30 minutes daily, at least five days a week. Alternate between strength training and aerobic exercises like walking, jogging, cycling, dancing, and swimming.

4. Stop smoking

Smoking makes it harder to control your blood sugar. It also damages blood vessels, increases blood pressure, and is a top cause of blocked, hardened arteries (atherosclerosis).

Atherosclerosis combined with blood vessel damage from high blood sugar damages your kidneys. As a result, smoking speeds up diabetic kidney disease, making it advance more rapidly to kidney failure.

As an addictive substance, nicotine affects your brain chemistry and causes withdrawal symptoms when you try to stop. As a result, it's hard to quit. Talk with us if you need help to stop smoking.

5. Take medications as prescribed

In the early stages of diabetic kidney disease, lifestyle changes may control blood sugar, lower hypertension, and protect kidney health. However, many people need medications to manage the condition, especially if it progresses.

Medication only works if you take the correct dose on the prescribed schedule. If any issue stops you from taking your medications, whether side effects or financial challenges preventing you from getting refills, reach out to us so we can help.

Managing diabetic kidney disease takes a team

Though lifestyle changes are challenging, they’re crucial if you want to stay healthy and avoid life-threatening complications. Our team is here to provide the ongoing support you need.

Connect with us today and schedule a consultation by calling Deon D. Middlebrook MDPC or clicking our online booking button.