Diabetes? ... Check Your Kidney Condition!

On March 14, World Kidney Day, Focus on Kidney Health Instead of Sweet Candy

According to Statistics Korea's "2022?2072 Future Population Projections" released last year, the population aged 65 and over in 2022 accounted for 17.4% of the total population, an increase of 1.7% compared to 2020. By the end of December 2023, the population aged 65 and over reached approximately 9.7 million, accounting for 18.9% of the total population, and it is expected to exceed 20% by the end of this year, entering a super-aged society.

2024 'World Kidney Day' Poster.

In such an accelerating aging society, the increase in chronic diseases among the elderly is emerging as a socio-economic issue alongside the decline in the quality of life for older adults.

Chronic diseases are illnesses that persist for at least three months, characterized by repeated improvement and deterioration, and are causes of various complications. They are influenced by unhealthy lifestyle habits such as smoking, alcohol consumption, diet, physical activity, as well as genetic factors like family history.

Chronic diseases often develop gradually without noticeable symptoms and are difficult to cure once diagnosed. Hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and diabetes are representative examples. As we approach a super-aged society, it is necessary to consider not only chronic diseases but also their accompanying complications.

According to the National Health Insurance Service's statistics on diseases of public interest, the number of diabetes patients increased by 14.73% from 3,213,412 in 2019 to 3,687,033 in 2022 over three years. From 2012 to 2014, at least 1.5 million people died annually from diabetes, and reports predict that by 2035, the global number of diabetes patients will reach approximately 590 million. Diabetes is a common disease but is difficult to treat, requiring consistent management.

Moreover, diabetes is known as a disease with a high risk of complications. Diabetic kidney disease, a representative complication caused by diabetes, is known to occur at about twice the rate compared to those without diabetes.

Glucose, the most basic energy source for our body, requires the hormone insulin to function properly. Diabetes is a metabolic disease caused by insufficient insulin secretion or decreased insulin function due to various reasons.

Diabetes, characterized by high blood glucose levels, damages various blood vessels in the body if not properly managed. In particular, when the tiny blood vessels in the kidneys, called glomeruli, are damaged by diabetes, proteinuria occurs due to impaired glomerular function. If this condition worsens and waste products are not properly excreted, it can progress to chronic kidney disease.

Unlike general diabetes, diabetic kidney disease involves changes in insulin requirements and the presence of proteinuria or microalbuminuria in the urine. The risk of hypoglycemia also increases due to oral hypoglycemic agents. Additionally, poor blood pressure control or orthostatic hypotension is common, and the risk of accompanying coronary artery disease, peripheral vascular disease, and retinal disease increases.

The problem is that there are no symptoms in the early stages. Since diabetes slowly negatively affects kidney function, it is important to properly recognize diabetes and its complications and to undergo continuous treatment and management once diagnosed. If neglected, the kidneys may lose their function, leading to end-stage kidney disease requiring treatments such as dialysis or kidney transplantation, necessitating special caution.

Kim Minji, Head of the Artificial Kidney Center at Daedong Hospital (Nephrology Specialist), said, "Chronic hyperglycemia and insulin resistance caused by diabetes itself negatively affect the kidneys, but hypertension, hyperlipidemia, obesity, and smoking along with diabetes are also risk factors for diabetic kidney disease. It is important to maintain a healthy lifestyle to prevent chronic diseases by paying attention to your health." She advised, "If you have underlying conditions, continuous treatment and management with your primary care physician are essential, and it is helpful to undergo thorough examinations at medical institutions capable of multidisciplinary cooperation, including endocrinology, nephrology, and cardiology departments."

The second Thursday of March every year is "World Kidney Day," jointly initiated by the International Society of Nephrology and the International Federation of Kidney Foundations. Various organizations conduct campaigns promoting preventive management guidelines such as ▲ consistent treatment of hypertension and diabetes ▲ maintaining appropriate body weight ▲ regular physical activity ▲ eating less salt ▲ quitting smoking and limiting alcohol ▲ adequate hydration ▲ regular urine and blood tests ▲ careful medication use.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.