A general practitioner, Dr Kayode Ahmed, on Friday, said adverse medical conditions such as diabetes and blood pressure could increase the risk of kidney disease for individuals with such ailments.
Ahmed, who is the Medical Director of Mercyland Hospital, Amuwo, Lagos, said in Lagos that high level of blood sugar enabled the kidney to filter too much blood, which could lead to microalbuminuria.
He explained that “in the kidneys, there are millions of tiny blood vessels (capillaries) with even tinier holes in them, which act as filters.
“As blood flows through the blood vessels, small molecules such as waste products squeeze through the holes and the waste products become part of urine.
“Diabetes can damage this system because high sugar in blood makes the kidneys to filter too much blood, which becomes too hard on the filters.
“Over the years, the filters will start to leak and useful protein is lost in the urine, known as microalbuminuria.”
The medical doctor said that the key to avoid severe kidney trouble was to recognise early symptoms of kidney disease by observing changes in urine such as blood in the urine.
He said change in the number of times urine was passed could also be a symptom.
He, however, said “it is not everyone with diabetes who develops kidney disease.
“Another factor that could influence kidney disease development include genetics.”
He advised that the best way for individuals to avoid kidney disease was to keep diabetes and blood pressure under control
“And to do that, diet is very important; people must learn to avoid sedentary life and eat balanced diet.
“The consumption of junk and fast foods should be moderate as such foods are mostly the culprits.”
