People who have diabetes often have kidney problems as well. Around 40% of folks with diabetes develop a condition called diabetic kidney disease.
In the United Kingdom, nearly 5 million people have diabetes. These people are four times more likely to need heavy-duty treatments like kidney dialysis or a kidney transplant.
Current Treatment and Its Limitations
There’s a drug called spironolactone that doctors use to control high blood pressure. It also seems to help people with diabetic kidney disease. This drug can prevent proteins from leaking into a person’s pee, which is good.
But, there’s a catch. Spironolactone can lead to other health problems like too much potassium in the blood. Because of these potential side effects, doctors are often careful about using it.
Exciting Research Findings
A group of scientists from the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom decided to learn more about how spironolactone protects the kidneys.
They discovered that it helps to protect a layer on the surface of blood vessels in the kidneys. This layer is known as the glycocalyx, and it’s very crucial for our kidneys’ health.
To understand this, the researchers took kidney samples from patients. They developed a new method to see if the depth of the glycocalyx layer changed.
Their method showed two things: diabetes can damage the glycocalyx layer, and spironolactone can prevent this damage.
An Unexpected Discovery
The team also discovered something unexpected. Spironolactone can slow down a group of enzymes known as matrix metalloproteases.
These enzymes can harm the glycocalyx layer. By slowing them down, spironolactone helps to keep the glycocalyx layer healthy, which stops kidney disease from getting worse.
The Next Steps
The researchers are now interested in exploring other drugs that can also slow down the matrix metalloproteases enzymes.
They’re hopeful that these drugs might help people with kidney disease, but without the side effects of spironolactone. This could lead to improved treatments for people with diabetic kidney disease.
Keeping Your Kidneys Healthy
If you have diabetes, you can do certain things to keep your kidneys in good shape:
- Make sure your blood sugar levels are under control. High blood sugar can harm your kidneys.
- Keep your blood pressure in check. It should be 130/80 mm Hg or lower.
- Eat healthy foods. Include plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins in your diet. Try to avoid too much salt and saturated fats.
- Exercise regularly. Try to get in at least 30 minutes of physical activity on most days.
- Don’t smoke. Smoking can harm your blood vessels and raise your risk of kidney disease.
- Follow your doctor’s instructions about taking your medicines.
- Get regular tests to check how well your kidneys are working.
This research is a big step forward. It brings hope for new and better treatments for diabetic kidney disease.
Dr. Matthew Butler and his team conducted this study, and it was published in JCI Insight.
If you care about high blood pressure, please read studies about a common and unrecognized cause of high blood pressure, and this small habit can greatly benefit people with high blood pressure, cholesterol.
For more information about kidney health, please see recent studies about drug duo that may treat kidney failure, and results showing these vegetables may protect against kidney damage.
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