Chronic kidney disease is one diabetes complication that is easy to ignore. The body seems to be working fine and all is well. So most do believe but the truth is what is believed is far from close. For while people are merrily living their lives, the extra glucose in the blood is doing its dirty job destroying the body and threatening the heart, eyes, nerves and the kidneys.

Diabetes can damage this filtering system making the tiny blood vessels unable to do their filtering job. When these are blocked, the impurities stay in the blood and some of the proteins and nutrients are lost in the urine. That is why the doctor checks the urine to see if valuable protein is lost.

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) or chronic renal disease is a silent but potentially deadly disease that's non-discriminating and can strike anyone at any time because of its affinity for going months or even years undetected.

It often goes unchecked because the individual is unaware of the subtle symptoms of the disease until it's too late and the kidneys are in end-stage renal disease (ESRD). End-stage renal disease is characterized by a 90% loss of kidney function - and once diagnosed, the only life-saving remedy is a kidney transplant or permanent kidney dialysis.

Chronic kidney disease symptoms often mimic other illnesses like fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue and the flu. Feeling tired and weak, a loss of appetite, difficulty sleeping, difficulty concentrating, unexplained nausea and a swelling in the feet and ankles are just a few of the symptoms of this disease.

Besides a general feeling of being unwell, advanced kidney disease sufferers experience accelerated atherosclerosis, accelerated bone loss (loss of calcium and phosphorus), and are more likely to develop cardiovascular disease than the general population.

Symptoms

Self-vigilance and education are vital to maintaining kidney health and keeping chronic kidney disease in check. Just a few of the things you can do to avoid kidney disease and keep your kidneys healthy is to invest in early detection - request a regular urinalysis and blood

test through your family doctor (protein and serum creatinine can be detected in early tests), and also work to lower your triglyceride and cholesterol levels, because triglycerides are a fat and fats make kidney mobility more difficult.

Paula began to be aware that her cat, Beau, was drinking more water than usual. Not just once, but for several consecutive days. She knew that excess thirst could be a sign of illness, so she made an appointment with Beau's vet for some tests. Urine and blood analysis made it clear that Beau was in the initial stages of acute kidney disease. But Beau was a lucky kitty.

There are many excellent products on the market that will help you boost your cat's ability to fend off illness, some intended specifically to prevent feline kidney symptoms from appearing in the first place.

But if you believe you've already detected any of the symptoms of kidney failure in your cat, schedule a vet visit immediately. With early detection, your cat has the best chance of surviving and living a long and happy life.

Just like us, cats are subject to sickness and stress. And, just like us, there are many things that can be done to maintain their good health. One all too common ailment befalling cats is kidney failure, symptoms of which are similar to those in humans.

Treatments

There are many excellent products on the market that will help you boost your cat's ability to fend off illness, some intended specifically to prevent feline kidney symptoms from appearing in the first place.

But if you believe you've already detected any of the symptoms of kidney failure in your cat, schedule a vet visit immediately. With early detection, your cat has the best chance of surviving and living a long and happy life.

The factors behind kidney disease can include inherited defects, infections, toxic substances and simply growing older. Though the exact cause of your cat's kidney disease can be tricky to establish, with careful testing by your vet, it's possible that it can be managed.

Diet and nutrition also plays an important role in treating the disease. A low-protein, low-phosphorus and low-sodium diet is advisable to help regulate or slow down the progression of the disease.

The kidneys are organs that filter blood to maintain the balance of chemicals, remove the waste products and eliminate them as urine. The kidneys also regulate blood pressure, regulate the production of body fluid and produce hormones that stimulate the production of red blood cells.