What is it about ?
The kidneys are made up of millions of microscopic filters (the glomeruli). Blood flows continuously through these filters. Filters permanently clean the blood: they rid the blood of excess waste and water, and keep the amount of salts within certain limits. What is in excess is evacuated via the urine.
Sometimes these filters are damaged. This destabilizes the water balance in the body. Some wastes can build up in the blood. The filters can let out elements that would not normally pass through the filter, such as proteins or red blood cells for example. The blood then contains too little protein, and these proteins and red blood cells are found in the urine.
If the kidney filters keep getting damaged, they eventually don’t work at all. In this case, the waste remains in the blood, which can be toxic to the body.
People with diabetes are at greater risk of kidney damage. They have too much sugar in the blood, which affects the blood vessels in the kidneys. Smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol (high cholesterol) and being overweight also damage the blood vessels in the kidneys.
Most often, kidney damage does not initially cause symptoms. But blood and urine tests can already reveal abnormalities. The presence of protein in the urine (proteinuria) is usually the first sign.
How is the diagnosis made?
The doctor will check your urine regularly (for example every year) that there is not too much protein in your urine. To do this, you will need to collect your first morning urine in a small pot. This sample will then be analyzed in the laboratory.
If your urine contains too much protein, the doctor will ask you to take a second sample for a check-up. Urinary tract infection, exertion, fever, or reduced pumping function of the heart can give false results.
Your doctor will also take your blood regularly (for example every year) to check how well your kidneys are working.
What can you do ?
Eating a healthy diet and participating in physical activity help prevent obesity and keep blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels low. This reduces the risk of kidney damage and cardiovascular disease.
Limit your alcohol intake.
Try to quit smoking. This is very important, because tobacco damages the blood vessels and causes a deterioration of the filter function of the kidneys.
A dietitian can possibly help you compose a suitable diet. With advanced kidney damage, it is important to reduce the amount of protein in the diet. This is done systematically under the supervision of a dietitian.
What can your doctor do?
It is essential to have good blood sugar control. If necessary, the doctor will adjust your diabetes medicines. For example, metformin should be reduced or avoided if the kidneys are working too poorly.
If your blood pressure is too high on average, your doctor will adjust your treatment for hypertension.
If there is too much protein in your urine, your doctor will start some type of blood pressure medication (angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors or ACEIs), even if your blood pressure is normal.
If the amount of protein in the urine increases too much or if the blood values indicate a decrease in kidney function, the general practitioner will refer you to a kidney specialist (nephrologist).
Want to know more?
- Eat better – Christian mutuality
- Nutri-Score – SPF Public health, food chain safety and the environment
- Stop smoking. It’s possible – Tabacstop – Foundation against cancer
- Alcohol, the point on your consumption – Stop or else?
- Metformin – CBIP – Belgian Center for Pharmacotherapeutic Information
- Converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEI) – CBIP – Belgian Center for Pharmacotherapeutic Information
- Kidney disease: interventions for care – INAMI – National Institute for Sickness and Invalidity Insurance
Are you looking for more specialized help?
- Smoking Assistance Center (CAF®) – FARES – Respiratory Affections Fund
- Tobacco specialists – FARES – Respiratory Affections Fund
- Find a registered dietitian – Professional Union of French-speaking dieticians
- Find a nutritionist doctor – Belgian Society of Nutritionist Doctors
- Alcohol aid – Le Pélican & Le center ALFA
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